Pardon my language, but coronavirus has already officially fucked the theatrical business, with theaters closing for the foreseeable future and studios releasing straight to VOD. And with all the production suspensions, it appears that the global pandemic is ready to royally screw network TV, as well.
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According to Vulture, it appears that the various networks (CW, NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX) are looking at the distinct possibility that all of the scripted series that are currently on hold due to the COVID-19 outbreak might not resume filming before the end of the TV season. In its most basic terms, it means that a large number of series that you know and love won’t have proper season finales, as these production delays will likely mean the end of filming this season.
While there’s no official announcement, the report claims that various anonymous executives are expecting that networks will begin announcing that production will be completely halted for this season in the days to come. While some series, such as “Modern Family,” have already wrapped their seasons before this outbreak, there are many that haven’t, meaning that their current seasons will end without a proper finale.
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What does this mean? Well, it changes on a case-by-case basis. For shows like “Law & Order: SVU” and other procedurals of that nature, it won’t mean much, as the episodes are fairly self-contained anyway. When you’re talking about the CW Arrowverse superhero shows, for example, that means plots that have been building to an epic conclusion might not reach that finale this year. And finally, for shows like “Supernatural,” which are in their final season and haven’t yet finished filming the finale, it’s unclear. Will networks work to bring the cast and crew together months from now to film a finale? Or will that be too cost-prohibitive or lead to scheduling conflicts? There’s no answer yet.
As for cable networks, they’re not normally bound by typical season cycles and schedules, with most filming complete seasons before the first episode airs. So, those delays can work themselves out eventually.
Long story short, network TV, as we know it, is just as badly hit as the film industry. And in this time when so many people are home, hoping for new episodes of TV to keep them busy, it appears that we’ll be greeted by re-runs.
