Yahoo News Coronavirus Concerns Sees ‘The Amazing Race’ Halted By CBS, For Now; ‘Survivor’ Not In Production
Click here to read the full article.
Thanks to the coronavirus, The Amazing Race is not running right now.
“Due to increased concerns and uncertainty regarding the coronavirus around the world, CBS and the producers of The Amazing Race have taken the precautionary measure of temporarily suspending production on the 33rd season of the series,” the network said today. “All contestants and production staff are in the process of returning home.”
More from Deadline
CNN Host Seemingly Compares Bernie Sanders' Campaign To Coronavirus
This Week In Music: SXSW Says The Show Will Go On, Offers Tips On Hand-Washing
Having already filmed only a trio of episodes in the UK, the 33rd season of the series from CBS TV Studios, Earthview, Jerry Bruckheimer Television and ABC Studios was barely into production before becoming the latest entertainment industry project to catch a chill, so to speak.
“At this time, no Racers or anyone on the production team traveling with them have contracted the virus or shown symptoms, and we are not aware of anyone being exposed to it,” CBS added Friday.
“Out of an abundance of caution, everyone involved in the show will continue to be monitored when they return home,” CBS noted as the World Health Organization upped the coronavirus to a “very high” global risk and the stock market took another plunge. “The health and well-being of the Racers and the production team are our top priorities.”
At least 83,000 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in more than 50 countries around the globe. Lacking a premiere date for the well-completed 32nd season of TAR, CBS has plenty of time to get the barely started 33rd season up and running again.
Survivor, CBS’ other well-traveled reality show, is not in production on another upcoming South Pacific-set season, sources said.
With millions on the line for NBC, eyes are peeled to see if the Summer Olympics could be postponed or moved from Tokyo. “The safety of our employees is always our top priority, but there is no impact on our preparations at this time,” the sports division of the Comcast-owned network proclaimed this week.
In the past few days, the Japanese government has closed all schools in the land of the Rising Sun as coronavirus cases rise in the island nation.
Schools aren’t the only places shutting the doors in Japan.
“Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea have decided to proceed with an extraordinary closure from Saturday February 29, 2020, through Sunday March 15,” said a statement from the Oriental Land Co., operator of the House of Mouse parks, as Deadline reported yesterday.
This follows Paramount pushing back the release of hit Sonic the Hedgehog in China and the anticipated delay of the opening of Disney’s massive live-action version of Mulan in the Middle Kingdom, where Beijing has shuttered all movie theaters in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the nation at its epicenter. Last week MGM cancelled the April premiere and China publicity tour for its James Bond movie No Time to Die.
On February 24, the Venice shoot of Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible 7 was stopped as the COVID-19 disease spread rapidly in Italy.
Earlier today Green Day walked away from nine dates in Asia and superstar K-pop group BTS canceled April dates in its hometown of Seoul, South Korea. Other bands canceling performances in the region include NCT, GOT7 and Winner.
News of The Amazing Race suspension was first reported by Variety.
Best of Deadline
Hong Kong Filmart Postponed Due To Coronavirus Fears; Event Moves Two Weeks Before Toronto
Peacock Programming: List Of NBCUniversal Streaming Service’s Series, Films, Sports, News & More
Stan Lee's Legacy: Ranking The Hollywood Heroes Co-Created By The Marvel Comics Icon
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
