World Record Talk Show Goal: Mike Anderson Thinks Big

Mike Anderson on the set of The Not So Late World Record Show

Here he is at hour seven.

A desk is Mike Anderson's new home for the next few days as he attempts a 66 hour talk marathon on The Not So Late World Record Show. The classic talk show format is in place, but the steady stream of guests and the sleep deprivation is a recipe for a trippy surreal scenario. Many people wonder just how long Anderson can maintain sanity under his set conditions.

We visited the set of The Not So Late Show at 3:30 am when the show is seven hours into its stint.  At least ten audience members are required as part of the rules of the show. Some of the audience doze on couches and chairs, others wander to a food table near the back of the room.

Preparations for this event were made weeks in advance and included booking a round the clock audience who attend in four hour shifts. A small crew of people orchestrate cameras and commercials, and a producer checks on batteries in Anderson's microphone and to see if the host needs food or water.

We observe Anderson's technique as he converses with everyday Lawrencians. He draws interesting insight from the mundane. Amazingly, his questions and responses are still spot on after hours of constant banter with guests. Pizza Shuttle delivery people talk about bowling, members of a book club talk about what they read, and a traveler talks about the Czech Republic.  A staff member from Larryville Artists makes a guest appearance and chats about the art scene in Lawrence.

On a commercial break, Anderson confides to our staff that he is worried about preserving his voice for the duration of the show.

As we leave the studio, we encounter people who are part of the next shift of audience members.  They just might witness the undertaking of a world record.

These people stayed up all night waiting for their shift as audience members