More than two dozen television series based in Southern California have been put on a prolonged hiatus amid requests for a pause in production activity as COVID infection rates rise in Los Angeles County.
Warner Bros. TV confirmed on Thursday that series productions such as the comedies “Mom”, “B Positive”, “Bob Hearts Abishola” for CBS and the dramas “Shameless” (Showtime) and “You” (Netflix) will not resume. filming next week as scheduled. The studio plans to return in the week of January 11, but will be evaluated as conditions evolve.
Universal TV also pressed for pause in six comedies – “Mr. Mayor ”,“ Kenan ”,“ Good Girls ”and“ Brooklyn Nine-Nine ”; HBO Max “Hacks”; and “Never Have I Ever” from Netflix. UTV is also planning a January 11 return date for most of its shows, although “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” is not expected to resume recording before January 18.
20th Television and Walt Disney’s ABC Signature have extended production gaps in 16 shows: “911” (Fox); 911: Lone Star (Fox); American Crime Story: “Impeachment” (FX); “American Horror Story” (FX); “American Housewife” (ABC); “Big Shot” (Disney Plus); “Black-ish” (ABC); “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC); “Last Man Standing” (Fox); “With love, Victor” (Hulu); “Mayans” (FX); “Mixed-ish” (ABC); “The Orville” (Fox); Rebel (ABC); “Station 19” (ABC); “This is us” (NBC). None of Disney’s programs are expected to return to production before January 18.
Sony Pictures Television extended the hiatus from ABC’s “The Goldbergs” and Netflix’s “Atypical”, which were due to resume production next week a week ago. “Danger!” and “Wheel of Fortune” are yet to resume recording in the week of January 11, as previously planned.
Spokesmen for Disney, Warner Bros., Sony and Universal TV declined to comment.
The measures follow CBS Television Studio’s decision to extend the holiday production hiatus after Los Angeles County suggested that filming in LA be suspended amid an increase in active coronavirus cases.
“While music, TV and film productions are allowed to operate, we ask that you strongly consider taking a break from work for a few weeks during this catastrophic increase in COVID cases,” wrote representatives of the public health department in an e-mail of 24 December, according to FilmLA. “Identify and postpone high-risk activities and focus on low-risk work for now, if possible.”
According to the LA Times, Los Angeles County peaked on Wednesday in a single day, with 262 coronavirus-related deaths, exceeding 10,000 of those deaths since the pandemic began.
(In the photo: “Bob Hearts Abishola” from CBS)