Coronavirus: 'Jeopardy', 'Wheel of Fortune' to film without audience, 'Ellen' to screen attendees for virus
The outbreak of Coronavirus has shaken major global industries, including the world of entertainment. From canceling live shows to controlling public events, theater gatherings, or postponing major attractions, show business is looking at major upheavals as we speak. And to conform to the changing practices, the US television industry is also reconsidering how they produce their programs.
Many networks are altering their taping protocols and making significant changes to their production process. For instance, game shows like ‘Jeopardy’ have removed the audience aspect of it altogether. According to TMZ, production sources say that as of March 10, both US shows 'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel Of Fortune' will be filmed without live audiences, firstly to prevent the spread of the virus and also to protect Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek, who is battling stage four pancreatic cancer.
Another latest show ‘One Day at a Time’ is taking precautions and has decided to tape episodes without any presence of studio audience, due to concerns regarding coronavirus. The show is currently in its fourth season and will air with its latest episode on Pop TV on March 24, 2020. The show is a reprisal of Norman Lear’s 1970 sitcom. Some episodes of the upcoming season are yet to be shot but now, they will go without the audience being present on the set.
Taking such taping protocols into consideration, ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ will allow its audience in after they are properly screened. The hit talk show, produced by Warner Bros. is being very stringent with its audience screening. As shared in a recent interview, the production house has certain protocols that have to be followed.
According to the report, the guests on the show have to confirm that neither they nor their family members have traveled to China, Iran, South Korea, or Italy, or any place/s as instructed by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control).
This protocol issued by Warner Bros. also includes taping changes of shows like the ‘The Bachelor’, ‘The Voice’, ‘Mom, and ‘The Real’. ‘The Wendy Williams Show’ will also go forward without a studio audience.
However, it would be wrong to say that only shows with live audience are experiencing this big change in their production due to the Coronavirus scare. In fact, as reported, Disney has shut down the production of its new series, ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’, which was being shot in Prague, after the local schools and institutions closed down due to epidemic.
Television programs are now running a public awareness notice and disclaimer, regarding the change of production policies and more.
The global epidemic cases have now touched 116,000 with more than 100 countries affected and more than 4,000 people dead. This change in production processes and policies is the industry’s attempt to keep the disease at bay and help create awareness.