CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless” have joined ABC’s “General Hospital” in suspending production amid the coronavirus pandemic. The decision to suspend comes as new restrictions were put in place by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti for even more social distancing to help slow the impact of the epidemic. Bars, restaurants and movie theaters, among others, have either closed or have been contained to take out and delivery services to help reduce large gatherings.
The production suspension for both soaps is effective today, Tuesday, March 17, and will remain in place for at least the next two weeks, Deadline reports. Both series are dark on Mondays. “GH” began its production hiatus on Monday, March 16, and expects to return to production beginning Monday, April 13, pending the outcome of the pandemic over the next several weeks. It’s unclear at this time whether “B&B” or “Y&R” will have enough episodes at the ready should the suspension be extended. It’s understood that “GH” has at least seven weeks’ worth of episodes at the ready during its suspension.
“Days of our Lives” remains the only daytime soap without an official word on whether it’ll suspend production following a wave of production suspensions throughout Hollywood and worldwide for pilots, films and television series amid the coronavirus pandemic. The soap is dark this week with no clear word on when production will resume, according to stars Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans via Instagram. The series already has at least seven months of episodes already filmed due to its year’s old production cycle leaving it with plenty of room should a decision to suspend be announced.