The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is causing a widespread shutdown of television production in North America, according to multiple reports today.
Among the latest victims: ABC’s “General Hospital” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
The long-running soap opera is suspending production Monday until April 10, but because the show tapes its episodes long before they air, fans will still be able to watch new episodes during the crisis, according to a report in Variety.
ABC said Kimmel’s show is being halted because it’s in the “best interest of the staff and crew to suspend production on the show beginning Monday, March 16. We will continue to monitor this and hope to be back on the air with new shows Monday, March 30.”
Netflix has shut down all scripted film and TV production in the United States and Canada, according to Variety. Warner Bros. Television Group has halted production on over 70 series and pilots, Disney TV Studios has done the same with 16 pilots and a handful of current shows, and CBS, Paramount and Showtime are currently evaluating their shows.
In New York, “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers” are suspending production through their previously planned hiatus, which was scheduled for the week of March 23. They had previously planned to shoot without an audience.
Here is a partial list of the other shows being affected, according to Variety:
— HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher,” which is taped at CBS Television City at 7800 Beverly Blvd., will tape without a live studio audience beginning Friday, March 13.
— CBS has halted production on “The Price is Right,” which relies on a live studio audience.
— Production of the syndicated talk show “The Wendy Williams Show” has been suspended.
— The CBS shows “NCIS,” “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “NCIS New Orleans” have halted shooting.
— NBC has temporarily stopped work on “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago Med,” and “Chicago P.D.”
— ABC has suspended production on “Grey’s Anatomy.”
— The CW Network has halted production on “Supergirl,” “Batwoman” and “The Flash.”
The outbreak has also caused Disney Studios to shut down work on several films, the company said Friday.
Production and pre-production on “The Last Duel,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Home Alone,” “Nightmare Alley,” “Peter Pan & Wendy” and “Shrunk” have shut down temporarily.
