The shocking speed at which coronavirus is being spread has affected television, such that live audiences have already been cut from live daytime shows from “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC, 9 a.m.) and “The View” (ABC, 11 a.m.). Today, it will happen on “Today” (NBC, 8 a.m.).
Shows that tape early, from “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (Syndicated, see local listings) to “Jeopardy” to “Wheel of Fortune” appear to still have audiences, but they’ve stopped taping before audiences as well. Empty studios will appear in the coming weeks.
Starting Monday, home audiences will start to notice studios emptied of crowds. There will be no live audiences for late night shows hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah, Samantha Bee and John Oliver. Bee went without an audience Wednesday.
Los Angeles-based talk shows seem less affected so far, but there are some weird developments there as well. Pete Buttigieg, for example, guest hosts tonight’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC, 11:35 p.m.).
March Madness will indeed be mad, with games played in empty arenas, if at all. That’s because the NBA cancelled all games until further notice. That affects the pair of NBA games planned for tonight on TNT, Boston at Milwaukee and Houston at Lakers. (They’re likely to go with more “Supernatural” or “Bones” reruns instead).
You could also watch the previously scheduled “Forrest Gump” (Encore, 10 p.m.) to show love for its beloved star, who announced Wednesday he and his wife have coronavirus.