The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and several other late-night shows, temporarily suspend production. The move comes following the recent spread of the coronavirus, which has turned into a worldwide pandemic. As countries such as Italy have been quarantined with businesses shut down, the United States takes active measures to limit the spread. California governor, Gavin Newsom, recently announced a ban on public gatherings of over 250 people, and we have seen the indefinite closure of amusement parks and the postponement of several events such as the NCAA basketball tournament and NBA season.
The effects of the virus have been widespread, and the entertainment industry has suffered. Production has halted on projects such as Mission Impossible 7 and the new Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Movie premieres and release dates have also been reassessed, and films like A Quiet Place Part II, which was set to release next week, will now hit theaters months after initially planned.
The entertainment industry is taking yet another blow as TV Line reports that Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers will suspend production of their late-night shows. Both The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers will halt filming effective this Friday. Although the original plan was to continue filming these with no live audiences, cancellation of the shows is the best and safest decision for everyone involved. These tapings were set to begin on Monday, March 16th. Production is set to halt for the next two weeks.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert joins Fallon and Meyers in closing its doors until the end of March. This development is just one of many recent changes that have directly affected the television industry. There have been no live audiences present at the most recent tapings of game shows like Jeopardy!, and studios like Warner Bros. are taking careful precautions at screenings of their sitcoms and other talk shows. Anyone who has traveled to a Level 3 designated destination for the coronavirus in the past three weeks is forbidden from attending.
The change in plans for these late-night shows comes as no surprise considering all the developments that have been made and announced within the past few days. Government officials, companies, and the public are all taking the threat of the coronavirus very seriously. Following these guidelines and protocols, which are being established, is essential in mitigating the spread of the virus. Although it was a tough decision to make, the teams involved in The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers took the necessary steps to do what is in the best interest of their employees and the public.
Source: TV Line