After months of production shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both TV and film projects are slowly beginning to ramp up work again. Of course, many studios and networks have now instituted rigorous safety precautions to ensure the safety of the cast and crew, including regular COVID testing. However, one ABC drama has now suspended production for a while due to an inconsistency in tests results.
Work on the second season of ABC’s For Life just began in New York last month but, this past Friday, the show had to shut down production. According to Deadline, multiple people on the show tested positive for COVID-19 but, when they were tested again, the results came back negative. As a result, production was halted for the rest of the day and was set to start again today, Monday, September 14. But the trade is now reporting that Sony Pictures TV has opted to suspend production for two weeks in order to comply with government guidelines.
Deadline also mentions that For Life is believed to be the first television show to return to production in New York. As the trade points out, the state has stringent COVID-19 guidelines, so it would make sense that Sony Pictures Television wants to exercise caution given the circumstances.
Aside from the sophomore ABC series, Sony Pictures TV also has a number of other shows that are currently in the midst of production. These include Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, S.W.A.T., The Goldbergs, The Good Doctor and For All Mankind, though none of these shows film in New York.
CBS TV Studios is also taking steps to restart production on some of its biggest shows following the initial shutdown in March. Just recently, shows like Blue Bloods, Charmed and SEAL Team received the green light to get back in front of the cameras. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. TV is getting back to work on hit series like The Flash and Riverdale.
Overall, a number of Hollywood productions have had relative success in restarting production and have continued in some pretty unique ways. The Bold and the Beautiful has even gone as far as to use latex mannequins when it comes to kissing scenes. This is definitely evidence that the global health crisis has shaken up the way TV shows operate, but it can’t be denied that these are effective ways to keep actors safe.
And of course, safety certainly seems to be at the top of Sony Pictures TV’s mind when it comes to For Life. A lot of us would like for our favorite shows to return sooner rather than later, but you can’t argue with studios just wanting to do their due diligence.
For Life Season 2 is expected to air sometime during the 2020-2021 television season.
