January 9, 2025: The ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County have had a significant impact on the entertainment industry, with numerous TV productions halting filming as a precautionary measure. According to The Hollywood Reporter, more than a dozen shows have paused production, and some filming permits for affected locations have been withdrawn.
Among the shows temporarily suspending filming are:
- Max’s Hacks
- NBC’s Happy’s Place and Suits LA
- Apple TV+’s Loot
- Peacock’s Ted
- CBS’s After Midnight, NCIS, NCIS: Origins, The Neighborhood, Poppa’s House, and The Price Is Right
- ABC’s Doctor Odyssey, Grey’s Anatomy, and Jimmy Kimmel Live
- The Rookie (produced by Lionsgate TV and 20th Television)
- Warner Bros.’s Abbott Elementary, All American, and The Pitt
The Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank has also been closed for safety reasons, leading to suspensions of filming for several shows based there. Additionally, major industry events, including premieres and awards screenings, have been scrapped, with the Critics Choice Awards being postponed as a result of the fires.
These disruptions have caused significant upheaval within Hollywood, with the wildfires’ rapid spread affecting both the production schedules and safety of those working on these projects.
In response to the crisis, U.S. President Joe Biden has pledged federal support to aid the recovery efforts. On social media, Biden assured affected communities that the federal government is committed to providing relief. He announced that he had approved California Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration, which allows for federal assistance to supplement response efforts.
In one post on X (formerly Twitter), Biden wrote: “We’re prepared to do anything and everything, as long as it takes, to contain the Southern California fires and help reconstruct. But we know it’ll be a hell of a long way. The federal government is here to stay as long as you need us.”
In another, he added: “I’ve approved Governor Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration and ordered Federal assistance to supplement response efforts in areas affected by wildfires, ensuring impacted communities and survivors have immediate access to funds and resources to begin their recovery.”
The fires have not only caused widespread damage to homes and businesses but have also deeply affected the entertainment industry. As the situation develops, both the local community and those within Hollywood remain hopeful that relief and recovery efforts will help mitigate the destruction caused by the ongoing blaze.
