The Price Is Right halts production for two weeks due to Coronavirus fears
- The syndicated CBS game show joins the growing list of television productions to go dark as the novel Coronavirus continues to spread worldwide
- All Broadway shows, major film releases, the NBA and NHL sporting seasons have all been canceled or postponed as well
- As of now, fellow game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel Of Fortune are continuing to shoot, but without live in-studio audiences
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The Price is Right, a staple of daytime television and the premiere live game show on the air since 1972, will halt production for two weeks in an effort to stem any potential spread of the worldwide Coronavirus epidemic.
As TMZ reports, the show is joining a long and growing list of similar productions that are suspending further tapings.
While other game shows like Jeopardy! and Wheel Of Fortune are able to continue producing episodes without live in-studio audiences and a minimal production staff on-site,
Going dark: The Price is Right will halt production for two weeks in an effort to stem any potential spread of the worldwide Coronavirus epidemic
This is already the second time this year the game show has suspended production — last month, the program went on temporary hiatus after host Drew Carey’s ex-fiance Amie Harwick was murdered by her deranged ex-boyfriend.
Other programs that have been forced to change formats and move forward minus live audiences due to Coronavirus fears include The View, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Live! With Kelly And Ryan.
Variety show America’s Got Talent will also tape all of its auditions without a studio audience until further notice.
The news comes just days after AGT judge Heidi Klum fell ill right before a taping was supposed to begin, reportedly due to the common cold.
A special show: While other game shows are able to continue filming without in-studio audiences, The Price Is Right is dependent on a raucous live audience to provide contestants
Worldwide phenomenon: The beloved show is joining a long and growing list of similar productions that are suspending further tapings
As with countless other companies, AGT’s host network NBCUniversal sent out a company-wide memo this week suggesting all employees start working from home.
As for The View, co-host Joy Behar announced Thursday that she was taking a break from the show, saying, ‘I’m in a higher risk group because of my age, but I’m perfectly healthy.’
‘I don’t look my age,’ Behar, 77, said, ‘but I’m actually up there – the number makes me dizzy.’
Whoopi Goldberg, Meghan McCain and Sunny Hostin will continue their hosting duties, but without the usual live studio audience presence.
Taking a break: The View co-host Joy Behar (center) announced Thursday that she was taking a break from the show, saying, ‘I’m in a higher risk group because of my age’
On the show, Joy said her daughter Eve, 49, convinced her to take the safety first approach.
She said she will be off of the show for at least one week, then will reevaluate her decision.
These decisions come as officials are urging people to work from home, and avoid clustering in groups as a means of containing the virus.
In the United States, more than 1,500 cases of the ailment have been reported, with officials expecting a spike when mass testing commences.
Other shows that have halted production include ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and Apple’s The Morning Show, which have shut down for at least two weeks each.
The Netflix feature film The Prom has also suspended production on the Paramount lot in Los Angeles.
There is also speculation that the Tony Awards could be postponed or canceled as well due to the Coronavirus.
She looks 20 years younger: ‘I don’t look my age,’ Behar, 77, said, ‘but I’m actually up there – the number makes me dizzy’