Grey’s Anatomy, Station 19, The Rookie Among Handful of ABC Series Pausing Production Due to Omicron
The current Omicron-fueled COVID surge sweeping the nation has put a crimp in several TV series’ post-holiday returns.
At least three Los Angeles-based ABC dramas — including Grey’s Anatomy, Station 19 and The Rookie — have delayed the restart of production as a result of the resurgent pandemic. Grey’s and Station 19, which were set to resume production on Jan. 10, will instead resume shooting on Jan. 12.* The exact length of The Rookie‘s delay is unknown.
According to sources, ABC Signature — the studio behind Grey’s, Station and Rookie — took the step out of an abundance of caution, and not due to any show-specific COVID outbreaks. As of now, the temporary work stoppage is not expected to impact any of the show’s on-air schedules.
A rep for ABC Signature declined to comment for this story.
Additionally, ABC’s lone daytime soap, General Hospital, has also delayed its resumption of production until next week.
The U.S. on Tuesday tallied more than a half a million new COVID cases. The uptick is being driven largely by the highly transmittable (albeit less lethal) Omicron variant.
Meanwhile, execs at CBS, NBC, Fox and The CW are said to be approaching their shows on a case-by-case basis.
* An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Grey’s and Station 19 were scheduled to return to work this week.
I’m not surprised. I’m sure that we’ll be seeing lots of delays and maybe even outright cancellations of shows not already in the can. That is life these days.
Omicron registers one death at every 2,000 confirmed cases. Pretty much any other disease is more lethal. Just like colds or stomachaches exist, we need to learn to live and let live. This is life now.
THANK YOU! Our descendants are going to laugh at us for the COVID overreaction in the early 20th century!
That’s not going to happen. Know why?
We’re in the 21st Century genius.
Goodness me, what a mistake of them to make LOL.
Yes, I meant ’21st century.’ It was just a typo, genius. (And not the proper use of comma to separate the word preceding ‘genius’-which you had missing).
Over 850,000 dead Americans. LOL. And nearly 5.5 million dead worldwide. ROTFLMAO. Just like a tummy ache.
Please, read before replying. The current dominant variant, Omicron kills one in every 2,000 people confirmed sick. COVID originally killed one in 50.
Assuming your descendents make it if they aren’t vaccinated. There has been no overreaction.
Yes, but the problem is that the omicron version does easily infect people and may put them out of work for at least a week. The producers do not know who or how many. So it could easily cause disruptions with both actors and crew members who cannot be replaced. Until we achieve a higher rate of full vaccinations, this is a problem that will stay with us for a while.
But you can still get and spread it even while vaccinated…the vaccinations are not helping, if they were we wouldn’t be talking about ANOTHER round of boosters. Unfortunately COVID is apart of life wether we want it to be or not, it’s going to be something we have to learn to live with.
The vaccines do help people from suffering serious illness if they contract it. Rare is the triple vaccinated person who ends up hospitalized from COVID.
However, I do agree that we may have to learn that the risk of contracting it is there. And I say this as a strong supporter of vaccinations. Been lucky enough to never get it myself but my friends who did, before and after vaccines? It’s night and say difference. But I still had a small NYE gathering. Friends who in 2020 would keep a 6 ft distance in a backyard were maskless watching movies with me. We’ve all reached the point where we said “It seems likely we can’t run from it, and we all have jobs where we could get it, so may as well socialize”.
Or you could be smart and not socialize while hospitals are on the brink. Guessing you’d expect a bed and top notch care if you are gasping for air, all while you pretend right now it’s no big deal.
Your selfish wants aren’t important right now.
Unfortunately you don’t get to play god with those who may have(Or have family) with a pre existing health condition which makes them vulnerable.
Omicron kills less than the common cold. Or car accidents. Or obesity… Living is more than simply not dying. It’s clear this isn’t going away. it’s not callous to point out it’s just what life is now.
Covid is not going to go away, you’re absolutely correct. It will mutate countless times over the years. And you are correct that society has to move on. But society has a duty to protect its most vulnerable and ensure the appropriate measures are in place for them. If this means making workplaces covid secure for those with medical conditions then that will have to become the new normal for now.
Why is THEIR problem OUR problem? They can shut in or live in a plastic bubble for all I care. I’m sick of catering to other people.
Willingness to protect the most vulnerable is a foundation of a great nation. Society can absolutely be judged on how they treat the weakest most vulnerable people. If we throw these people to the wolves so to speak, what does that make us?
👍🏻
Let’s hope others you depend on see this and treat YOU that way. Oh, that’s right, you’re special and should get all YOU want. I’m sick of selfish fools like you who won’t do the minimum in a global pandemic as you feel entitled.
Grow up.
Humans wouldn’t have made it this far is we didn’t learn a long time ago that banding together works far better than being a selfish jackhole. Go live alone on a deserted island and live off nothing but what that land provides if you don’t wish to be a decent person who cares about others. You’re whining about “catering” to others while demanding that people cater to you. Lastly, you should speak to a therapist about your weird obsession with the plot of Earth you live on.
Hospitals are overwhelmed. And this could become another more lethal variant.
Just remember your words and don’t run to a hospital when you can’t breathe, learn to live with that.
Maybe stick to chatting about TV and not virology mmmkay?
CBS, ABC, and FOX are all programing some reruns against the Olympics – so there’s a small “window” they have to work with already.
I had omicron during Christmas and literally the worst part of it was the fever. If they’re vaccinated, they should be fine. Just cut out the sex scenes and other close contact activities like making out if you’re that worried. Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19 won’t suffer from it if they do,
I should add that delaying it by a WEEK isn’t that horrible. But still.
What about the families that these actors go home to at night?
Don’t bother getting Grey’s back on. The writers have destroyed it .
They should wrap Rookie up. The show just doesn’t have it anymore. Just check the ratings.
I respectfully disagree! I LOVE the show!
The Rookie. I can leave it or not Cant stand the stand some of the characters. Lucy especially and Nathan F is looking really bad with the makeup. they use on him
Go ahead and end GA. However, move Miranda to Station 19 and maybe do a spinoff that goes back in time and looks like a 1970s General Hospital… Call it Greys Hospital. It is time to end it tho.
There not going to end there number 1 drama unless Ellen is done.
That’s why I think it would be fair to say for every season there’s not an upfront announcement about Ellen leaving its safe for another year. It could be that after the current season ends there’s a renewal for a short final season and the actress makes her announcement then.
I’m only interested in more Greys Anatomy if Ellen leaves
Thankfully, ABC Signature (and parent company Disney) executives are blessed with common sense. Not a single television show is more important than the health and safety of their employees. We must all do our part to get vaccinated/boosted and adhere to stricter Covid protocols!
I remember they delayed the production last year by a week as well. It’s like they needed an extra week for people to quarantine after coming back from vacation.
Vivo in Italia non parlo inglese I’M sorry , volevo dire che è giusto interrompere le produzioni come Station 19 Greys e altri della ABC che a me piacciono tanto questa variante “OMICRON” E molto infettiva qui in Europa siamo all’apice, usare le mascherine FFP2 molto più protettive , auguri
Sorry sono Italiana non parlo inglese .trovo giusto interrompere questi programmi come Station19 Greys e altri per la pericolosità di OMICRON molto più invasiva ma non quanto il delta .Purtroppo in Europa siamo all’apice verso la fine di gennaio. Tanti auguri a voi.
That was the worst season of GA every. when history looks back we can look at this left wing writers utopia as how bad this entire was and how draconian and backwards and fascist this entire time was.