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Wednesday, 17 March, 2010 0:55 AM

The Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour is one of the Best Things to do in Los Angeles

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Learn how bullet holes are made to release blood and much more during the Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour.

BURBANK, Calif. -- Warner Bros. was founded by four Warner brothers in 1918. On the VIP studio tour, guests first will watch a 10-minute introduction of all the movies and TV shows that were in production here. Some of the TV shows include Friends, Gilmore Girls, The Mentalist and Cold Case. Some of the movies that are shown are Miss Congeniality, Risky Business, Dirty Harry and Harry Potter.

Then, visitors will get on a tram and the tour guide takes you on the lot.

There is a street called Anytown U.S.A., which is used for several different shows. There are generic houses where they paint and put new hardware on the structure to accommodate the shows.

For example, Warner Bros. has a jungle set where there are lots of trees and a pond which was used in The Last Samarai.

There are 30 sound stages located on the front lot. Stage 29 is where the George Lopez Show is taped and where The West Wing was taped. Stage 27 is where the show Cold Case is taped. We entered Stage 25 where The Big Bang Theory is filmed. Each day, the tour takes you to a set of a TV show, but only if they are not filming that day.

We also went to the vehicle lot where we saw Shaguar, which was driven by Tom Cruise in Austin Powers. Also there was the Gran Torino, which is on loan from Clint Eastwood. Your free picture is taken here inside the vehicle lot with a scary background.

Lastly, there is a museum where there is memorabilia from film and TV shows. There are two levels to this museum. Harry Potter's costumes and props fill the entire 2nd floor.

As you exit, you return to the gift shop to pick up your free photo and maybe some souvenirs.

The tour lasts two and a half hours. Tickets for the VIP tour are $48 and may be ordered online at warnerbros.com/vipstudiotour/.

It is probably the best tour in Hollywood, however, it is the most expensive of all the studio tours. This tour is unique because you get to get off the tram and watch the crew working on costumes, sign making and painting backdrop sets.

Note: It is OK to bring a camera. However, there are certain times when it has to be stored and locked in the tram.

Click here for more information on the Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Cold Case production offices

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Each sound stage has a plaque on the outside that indicates which movies or TV shows were filmed inside.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

A large painting area for props and set dressing.