Warner Bros. Television Group announced the news in a statement that read, "With the rapidly changing events related to COVID-19, and out of an abundance of caution, Warner Bros. Television Group is halting production on some of our 70+ series and pilots currently filming or about to begin. There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on any of our productions, but the health and safety of our employees, casts and crews remains our top priority. During this time, we will continue to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control as well as local officials and public health professionals in each city where our productions are based."
The production company Fremantle announced on March 13 that effective immediately, both shows will stop filming in front of live studio audiences in a bid "to help minimize the risk of exposure" of the coronavirus.
The decision follows similar moves made by other studios regarding news programs and talk shows In Los Angeles and New York. In addition, days earlier, co-judge Howie Mandel, a known germaphobe, was photographed arriving to an America's Got Talent wearing a hazmat suit.
In a letter penned by executive producers of the ABC medical drama, the cast and crew was told, "Out of an abundance of caution, production is postponed on Grey's Anatomy effective immediately. We are going home now for at least two weeks and waiting to see how the coronavirus situation evolves."
The production company Fremantle announced on March 13 that in a bid to minimize exposure to COVID-19, production on The Price Is Right, whose format relies on live audiences, will be suspended for the short term. In addition, the company is also postponing the start of production for season two of Card Sharks.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night With Seth Meyers will suspend production through their previously planned hiatus, which was scheduled for the week of March 23.
"The safety and well-being of our employees is our top priority. Considering the current escalation of the coronavirus, production will be put on hold, indefinitely. However, the office will remain open for you to pick up any materials or personal items. In place of live shows we will air repeats and we will continue to monitor the situation with the CDC and city officials to determine the best time to return and produce live shows again. Thank you for everything you do and please stay safe!" the talk show said in a statement.
Disney postponed the theatrical release of several titles, including the live-action Mulan, The New Mutants and Antlers.
The concert behemoths suspended all their current tours, which include Billie Eilish, Celine Dion, Jason Aldean, Cher, Kiss, Post Malone, Blake Shelton, Green Day, Madonna, My Chemical Romance and more.
"We founded the Tribeca Film Festival as a way to heal our community after the devastation of the 9/11 attacks in 2001. We were determined to overcome our fear and anxiety by joining together. It is in our DNA to march forward while caring about our community," said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder and CEO of Tribeca Enterprises, in a press release. "We have made the difficult decision to postpone the 19th Tribeca Film Festival (April 15-26) based on the announcement by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that events of 500 people or more are banned due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of the public while also supporting our friends, filmmakers and storytellers who look to Tribeca as a platform to showcase their work to audiences. We will be back to you shortly with our plans."
A press release issued on Thursday, March 13 read, "Under the direction of Governor Andrew Cuomo, Broadway shows in New York City will suspend all performances immediately in support of the health and well-being of the theatregoing public, as well as those who work in the theatre industry. Performances will commence the week of April 13, 2020."
Days before that deadline, the Broadway League announced that the 41 Broadway theaters would remain closed at least through June 7.
Starting Saturday, March 14, Disneyland Park and Disneyland California Adventure Park in Anaheim, Calif. will cease operations through the end of the month. Disney announced it would continue paying cast members through the closure period.
Universal Studios Hollywood has also since followed suit, announcing in a statement, "The health and safety of our team members and guests is always our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution and in response to the guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health, Universal Studios Hollywood will temporarily close beginning Saturday, March 14. The theme park anticipates reopening on March 28 as we continue to monitor the situation."
"We are very disappointed to announce the postponement of this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony," Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President Joel Peresman said in a statement. "Our first concern is to the health and safety of our attendees and artists and we are complying to the direction of the local and state authorities and common sense. We look forward to rescheduling the ceremony and will make that announcement at the earliest convenience."
On March 11, one of the world's favorite actors revealed that he and his wife, a fellow actress and musician, were diagnosed with COVID-19 in Australia. Pre-production on his latest film, an Elvis Presley biopic, had recently begun pre-production work in the country.
It was announced on March 11 that the NBA season is suspended. Two players, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz, later tested positive for COVID-19.
Major League Soccer announced they have suspended match play for 30 days, effective immediately, and will communicate plans to continue the 2020 season at the appropriate time. The National Hockey League has also suspended its remaining games. The NCAA has canceled its men's and women's basketball tournaments. Meanwhile, major League Baseball has canceled the remainder of spring training, while the start of its regular season, originally set to start on March 26, was postponed by at least two weeks.
Ahead of its scheduled May release, it was announced F9 will now debut in April 2021.
"Well, here we are. March 12, 2020, sitting in a bus parked outside Wells Fargo Center, making a statement we never thought we'd have to make," the performers said in an announcement. "After the mandatory postponement of our Philadelphia show, and several others in the coming weeks, we have made the collective decision (with our team and health officials) to postpone the spring leg of THE (ARENA) TOUR. These shows mean the world to us, and it was important that they be postponed and not canceled, but more than the shows, our fans mean the world to us, and protecting their safety is the number one priority. We want the shows to be memorable, and not experienced with fear."
"One of the things I'm most proud of is that people have said our movie is one you have to see all together. Well due to the ever-changing circumstances of what's going on in the world around us, now is clearly not the right time to do that. As insanely excited as we are for all of you to see this movie…I'm gonna wait to release the film til we CAN all see it together!" director, writer and co-producer John Krasinski announced. "So here's to our group movie date! See you soon!"
"We have been made aware that a team member from Riverdale, which is produced in Vancouver, was recently in contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19," a statement from Warner Bros. Television read, which was sent to E! News. "The team member is currently receiving medical evaluation."
In a statement shared with E! News, the ceremony said, "The Kids' Choice Awards scheduled for March 22, 2020, in Los Angeles is being postponed in consideration of the safety and well-being of every person involved with the show, which is our top priority. We will have further information about a new date in the future."
"Based on the most recent news and out of an abundance of concern, we have made the difficult decision to postpone this year's PaleyFest. While we were looking forward to presenting another stellar lineup of PaleyFest events, the safety of our event participants, guests, and staff is the highest priority," a statement read, which was shared with E! News. "We are exploring options to reschedule the festival and all ticket purchases will be honored for the new dates."
CBS recently announced they were delaying production for a couple of months. "Due to concerns and uncertainty surrounding the spread of COVID-19 globally, CBS and the producers of Survivor have taken the precautionary measure to delay production on the 41st season, which was set to begin filming later this month in Fiji," a statement read. "Pending worldwide events, the plan is to return to production on May 19th. The health and safety of the castaways and production members is our top priority."
Sashay away, coronavirus! "DragCon's first priority is always the health and safety of everyone involved and we've been actively tracking the situation around the coronavirus. The situation in California (and the world) is rapidly changing, with new information coming out everyday," a statement read on DragCon LA's website. "Unfortunately, there's no way for anyone to know what the situation will be like in May. Due to that uncertainty, and out of an abundance of caution, we've decided that it's in the best interest of the talent, staff, and attendees to cancel RuPaul's DragCon LA 2020."