If you've never attended the taping of a TV show, I highly recommend it. The whole process is fascinating, and, no matter how many times you've seen the show at home, it's always different than what you expect.

Last night I went to a taping of Inside the Actors Studio, Bravo's long-running interview series. I've watched dozens of episodes over the years -- I've even dreamed about host James Lipton -- but I never thought too much about how the shows are put together. It's a longer and more complex process than you might think.

My evening:

6:15 p.m. My friend Amanda and I arrive in line outside Pace University, where the series is filmed. Most people in line are students. We're psyched about the evening, particularly because there's a good guest: Hilary Swank.

6:25 p.m. The taping starts at 7, so we assumed we'd get out around 8, since the TV show lasts about an hour. Right? So wrong. We're informed Actors Studio tapings can go anywhere from two to four hours, depending on the guest. Holy cow. We start downing Altoids, knowing that's all we'll be eating for awhile.

6:45 p.m. We get our tickets and are sent to another, longer line. Several Pace students ahead of us start harmonizing for no apparent reason. A dude with a goatee asks if we'd like to buy a pack of cigarettes for $2 that "taste like Marlboros." We politely decline.

6:55 p.m. We enter the studio. I tell Amanda it's about the same size as the one for The Jerry Springer Show, and she says I probably shouldn't say that too loudly. In front of me is a chair reserved for "Kedakai Lipton," James Lipton's wife.

7:05 p.m. The audience continues to file in. In front are a few rows of chairs, reserved for acting students. (Many are chatting and seem to know each other from class.) Behind them are people like me, with reserved seating. On the balcony are general seats, where I think a lot of folks in the standby line ended up. Swank's standby didn't look too bad, but I'm guessing it was bananas for De Niro and Johnny Depp.

7:12 p.m. A producer arrives onstage and asks us to applaud on a level from one to 10. He thanks us for coming and says tomorrow's Actors Studio guest is -- wait for it -- Bon Jovi. What?

7:15 p.m. A woman walks onto the stage and places Lipton's blue notecards on a small table. The audience whistles and applauds. The woman smiles; I'm guessing the blue cards get mad love every time.

7:19 p.m. James Lipton walks onstage to a standing ovation.

7:21 p.m. Lipton introduces Swank, and we stand again. She looks genuinely happy to be here. After we sit, the host immediately launches into the interview -- i.e. "Where were you born?" -- and doesn't look back.

7:29 p.m. Swank points out her mother, brother, assorted nephews and family members are in the front row. It's cute, and Mama Swank pipes up several times throughout the show. Lipton remarks that his favorite shows are the ones where relatives attend.

7:53 p.m. After a lengthy conversation about Swank's childhood, Lipton mentions The Next Karate Kid. Ha! It leads to an interesting discussion, though: Swank says during her audition she was told she was a good actress but not the prettiest. For the part, she had to cover her forehead with bangs and minimize her lips. Lipton is aghast.

8:15 p.m. I won't recap the entire Swank interview here, but it's interesting to note that Lipton spends about 25 minutes discussing Boys Don't Cry. (There's absolutely no time limit on this show whatsoever.) At one point, Swank cries when talking about the movie's impact. Lipton says it's one of the few moments he has been left speechless during an interview.

8:25 p.m. I realize if one series were ripe for a "director's cut DVD" release, it's this one. What happens to all these extra hours of footage? Lipton reveals that when Robin Williams was a guest, he was onstage for five and a half hours. Unbelievable.

8:47 p.m. The Million Dollar Baby questions last about as long as the Boys Don't Cry chat. A few audience members get up to use the restroom, which is permitted, as long as you do it quietly. A girl near me takes copious notes in her composition book, which is cool ... though I do wish she'd stop muttering "uh huh" after Swank's every sentence.

9 p.m. An audience member's watch alarm goes off. Crew members glare in our general direction.

9:20 p.m. I haven't seen Amelia (nor has most of this crowd), but the duo's discussion about Earhart's life is animated and interesting. This is partly because Lipton peppers his conversation with truly bizarre personal anecdotes. On this night alone, I learn that Lipton a) has studied ballet; b) was good friends with Pilates creator Joe Pilates; c) lived in the same California apartment complex as Swank; and d) once helped fly the Concorde in a dense fog. The dude is full of wacky facts.

9:50 p.m. After about two and a half hours, Lipton ends the interview. Swank and the host didn't take a single break during taping -- no makeup touches, no bathroom breaks, nothing. (This is odd for TV, but I think it makes for a better discussion.)

Lipton adds that any non-students who'd like to return for the "classroom portion" of the show are welcome to do so. This part of the show includes the student Q&A and the popular Bernard Pivot questionnaire.

Amanda and I look at each other. We love Lipton. After tonight, we really adore Swank. But we also love food, and this show could very well last into a fourth hour.

I'll hear Hilary Swank's favorite curse word with everyone else, when the episode airs next month.

Until then ... see you tonight for Bon Jovi?