Normally at this time of year, broadcast’s scripted television would be back in full production. However, COVID-19 has other ideas about that. This year, the only shows back at work are game shows, reality TV, and soap operas.
Well, that is about to change soon. Deadline is reporting that S.W.A.T., the midseason show that just made it back on the fall lineup, is expected to start filming tomorrow in Los Angeles. By the end of the month, it could be joined by The Goldbergs. These Sony produced shows join their studio brethren Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Shark Tank, The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Young and The Restless in production.
Y&R joins B&B and will begin airing new episodes starting on August 10th, according to CBS.
There is one more Sony show getting ready to go back to work, and that is The Good Doctor in Vancouver. It is not the only show that tapes in Canada that is gearing up to begin filming. So is Supernatural, The Flash, Riverdale, A Million Little Things, and Charmed. When Calls the Heart went back into production last week with Jack Wagner.
That is north of Hollywood to the west, Family Feud will forego an audience in Atlanta later this month per The Wrap. Up north in New York City, The Blacklist is not being blacklisted from filming.
All of these shows will constantly be testing the cast and crew to make sure they are still coronavirus negative. It will be costly, but not producing new episodes is even more expensive. However, human lives are priceless, and they will do everything they can to protect them.
Back in March, all of the scripted television production was forced to stop shooting because of the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, the Governor of California said that filming could resume, and The Bold and the Beautiful was the first show to get back to work.
After a slight testing hiccup, they were back at full time. The Daytime Drama has done such a good job that CBS says that they will start airing new episodes starting on Monday, July 20th. Here is a little spoiler about what we can expect from their first show back. On Monday, July 20, catch up on the latest drama surrounding the Forrester family. Katie (Heather Tom) fills in Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) on how Quinn (Rena Sofer) sabotaged Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Ridge’s (Thorsten Kaye) reunion party. Then, Zoe (Kiara Barnes) and Carter discuss her whirlwind romance with Thomas (Matthew Atkinson), how he was exposed for his manipulations and lies at their wedding, and how Hope (Annika Noelle) and Liam (Scott Clifton) were able to overcome everything and reunite. Finally, Zoe and Carter learn about Sally’s (Courtney Hope) illness and what Wyatt (Darin Brooks) and Flo (Katrina Bowden) did when they found out.
My hat is off to them. The Soap Opera is getting new shows on the air before any of the other scripted soaps get back into the production. Both The Young and the Restless and General Hospital have had their start dates pushed back, while Days of Our Lives is taking the summer off.
I have never watched B&B, even though an HS alum is on it, but I am going to check it out to see how they handle working during the COVID-19 era. Will you be tuning in?
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Before Days of Our Lives made Kristian Alfonso a star, she wanted to be one in The Star Maker. She looks the same now as she did when she was 17 in that 1981 movie.
Keep watching the movie to see a 24-year-old Melanie Griffith.
Back on April 14, 1983, Kristian Alfonso made her debut as Hope Williams on Days of Our Lives. Today, the actress revealed that after 37 years, she will no longer be calling Salem home.
Days of Our Lives has been a vital part of both my personal and professional journey. I am forever grateful to NBC and the late Betty Corday, who took a chance on me many years ago and changed my life. I have built some lifelong friendships with my extraordinarily talented castmates. Days has one of the hardest working crews in all of television, many of whom have become part of my extended family. I feel blessed and honored to have been invited into people’s homes for over three decades. However, it is now time for me to write my next chapter. I will not be returning to Days when it resumes production in September. I’ve already filmed my last episode several months ago. Finally —to the incredibly loyal fans of Days — many of you have been with me on this journey from the beginning. I cannot thank you enough for your generosity, love and support. I could not have done it without YOU!!!
No word if they will be writing her off or recasting the role. I am assuming by what she wrote, they are killing off the beloved character. As we know in Salem, no one stays dead including Hope. The actress has left the show before and came back, so I would not be surprised if we see her again on the Daytime Drama at some point.
Alfonso did not say what she will be doing next. Since she is 56, she still has plenty of good acting years ahead of her. Who knows, maybe she can share the camera with Lisa Rinna again on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Just like the two of them shared Bo on DOOL. Sadly, it was Robert Kelker Kelly for some of it. Why did anyone think he could replace Peter Reckell?
That is neither here nor there. Are you going to miss Hope?
A week and a half ago, The Bold and the Beautiful went back into production after being on hiatus for three months because of the coronavirus pandemic. They had a successful first day, but they had to take a few days off because the testing facility they used gave them inaccurate COVID-19 results. Once that problem was resolved, they have been back nonstop since last week.
Since they seem to have gotten the kinks worked out, its companion show, The Young and the Restless is going back to work next Monday.
Now that the two CBS Soap Operas are back on the job, General Hospital is getting ready to do the same. According to Deadline, they are hoping to start filming again in mid-July.
Unlike the other Daytime Dramas, Days of Our Live still has a few more months of new episodes in the bank. Therefore, we don’t know when they will get back to work. The other three shows have been without new episodes on the air for over a month. In the Soap world, that is an eternity to a Soap fan.
