S.W.A.T., Abbott Elementary, Hacks & More Pause Production Amid L.A. Fires

Hacks, S.W.A.T., Abbott Elementary, and more television productions have been paused amid the Los Angeles wildfires. At the time of writing, Los Angeles County is being threatened by multiple wildfires, with the most dangerous being the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire in Altadena. The Sunset Fire also briefly caused evacuations throughout Hollywood. These fires have resulted in multiple casualties and the destruction of more than 2,000 buildings. Their impact on the entertainment industry has included the delay of the 2025 Oscar nominations by two days.

Per Deadline, multiple television sets have ceased production amid the Los Angeles wildfires. As of the morning of January 9, shows such as Hacks, Grey's Anatomy, Abbot Elementary, S.W.A.T., and NCIS have temporarily shut down production amid uncertain weather conditions and the threat of both the spreading fires as well as smoke inhalation. The latest shows to join the temporary shutdowns are S.W.A.T. and Spider-Noir. Below, see a full breakdown of the shows that have officially shut down:

What This Means For Impacted Television Shows

Ongoing Seasons May Not Be Affected

Ultimately, it remains to be seen how long these production shutdowns will last. Deadline reports that at least one series is gearing up to return to production within a few days. However, it is unknown how long the fires themselves will last as they continue to threaten communities around Los Angeles and force evacuations. In addition to the danger they pose to shows' cast and crew, this could logistically complicate productions with increased traffic, more intense safety measures, a likely inability to shoot outdoors, and cast and crew handling their own evacuations.

However, these shutdowns may not last longer than a few weeks. At the time of writing, the Eaton Fire is not contained, but its growth has been slowed to the point that evacuation orders have been lifted in the surrounding areas of Glenoaks Canyon and Chevy Chase Canyon. If the Palisades Fire is brought to a similar state of containment, studios may deem it safe to resume production, in which case, shows – especially those that have not yet premiered like the upcoming Spider-Noir – will likely be able to maintain their current schedule or only have a few episodes delayed.

Our Take On The Television Production Delays

The Fires Have Had A Top-To-Bottom Impact

The Los Angeles Fires have had an impact on the community and the world at large, in ways both major and minor. The delays of shows like Hacks, S.W.A.T., and Abbott Elementary are among the more minor consequences of the devastation. However, the fact that this shutdown could potentially shake up the schedule of many beloved television programs such as the long-running Grey's Anatomy speaks to the intense ripple effect that disasters like the Los Angeles fires have, and will hopefully help raise awareness among communities across the country and the globe about those in need amid the ongoing blazes.

Source: Deadline