Late Night Shows Will Continue Without Crowds

Published on March 11, 2020

A large majority of Late Night Shows will continue to tape without live audiences. Most of the major late night hosts will keep performing. The only chance is no audience. A few hosts in Los Angeles are keeping the crowds involved. For the most part, late night comedy will be audience-free for a while. It’s due to the coronavirus.

Colbert and CBS

Starting next week, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will film without an audience. The show will go on, as this is showbusiness. How strange will it be to watch a comedy show without a crowd? Almost defeats the purpose of comedy. So far, there haven’t been any coronavirus-related issues at the show. Still, CBS and Colbert want to take caution and be prepared. CBS released the following statement: 

“Beginning Monday, March 16, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will film without a live, in-studio audience. This move is being made out of an abundance of caution regarding the spread of the COVID-19 virus and the uncertainty of the situation for future weeks. Per guidance from New York City officials, CBS and The Late Show are doing their part to help decrease the potential rate of transmission in our communities. There have not been any specific developments at The Ed Sullivan Theater to cause concern for audiences with plans to attend the show tonight, tomorrow, or who have attended in recent weeks.

For several weeks, the team at the theater has been taking all necessary precautions to protect everyone who enters and works in the theater with enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures. For the past several weeks, The Late Show producers have consulted daily to share information with other New York-based late night shows, who will also be moving forward without an audience.”

The Daily Show 

Most likely, Trevor Noah will do just fine without an audience on The Daily Show. He’s not always about jokes, and he can have great conversations without an audience necessary to participate. Like CBS and Colbert, March 16th is when the show will move forward without a crowd. Comedy Central released the following statement: 

“Our top priority is the safety of our guests and staff. Beginning Monday, March 16th, Comedy Central’s NY based late night series, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, will film without a live, in-studio audience. This move is being made out of an abundance of caution and concern regarding the spread of the COVID-19 virus and per guidance from New York City officials to take appropriate actions. There have been no developments at The Daily Show’s studio to cause concern for audience members who have plans to attend the show tonight or tomorrow. Measures have been taken to protect everyone who enters and works in the office and studio with enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures.”

HBO’s John Oliver 

HBO has joined CBS and Comedy Central in keeping audiences out of their theaters, which usually seat a few hundred people. Too many people in one spot these days. John Oliver, according to HBO, will continue airing without an audience:

“We are taking this precaution in accordance with best practices as outlined by New York City officials. We will continue to monitor the situation.”

No word if Real-Time With Bill Maher will keep going without an audience. 

Fallon and Meyers 

NBC is putting safety first as well. Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, like their peers, will stay on schedule and keep taping shows. NBC wants to be a part of the solution with the coronavirus by doing what’s best: 

“The safety of our guests and employees is our top priority. As a precautionary measure, starting Monday, March 16, we have decided to suspend live audiences for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night With Seth Meyers. Per guidance from New York City officials, the company is hoping to do its part to help to decrease the rate of transmission in our communities. Our shows will continue filming on their regular schedule, and currently, there will be no impact on air dates.”

How will certain shows play without crowds? Obviously, all late night shows have signs and people telling crowds constantly to keep laughing and clapping during their tapnings. They’re a part of the energy and performance. As for Jimmy Kimmel and James Corden, ABC and CBS said they’re going to wait and see. They’re monitoring the situation. The two Los Angeles-based hosts will continue performing to crowds. Samantha Bae from TBS and Andy Cohen from Bravo, however, will perform without crowds, too.

Stay tuned for more updates on the coronavirus.

Jack Giroux is a Staff Writer at Grit Daily. Based in Los Angeles, he is an entertainment journalist who's previously written for Thrillist, Slash Film, Film School Rejects, and The Film Stage.

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