When COVID-19 hit on a massive global scale in early 2020, film and TV productions were forced to either shut down or change to remote format including your favorite reality shows.
There is no doubt that it has impacted reality TV productions in significant ways as the situation forced producers to find creative ways to continue filming their shows or work around the safety protocols when they shoot on set.
Let's explore COVID-19's impact on reality TV below.
The Immediate Impact of COVID-19 on Reality TV
Several reality shows were in the middle of filming in March 2020 when the COVID-19 shutdown happened.
The Voice and American Idol switched to remote format for the rest of their respective seasons. The contestants and judges have to work on the show at their homes including the finale.
The live finale of Survivor season 40 was done in a remote format as Jeff Probst did his hosting duties with a complete set at the garage of his house.
Meanwhile, The Amazing Race had to shut down filming as they were in production when COVID-19 spread around the world. The contestants and crew were in Glasgow, Scotland when the decision was made to suspend. It eventually resumed more than a year later in September 2021.
Filming Gets Delayed/Suspended
Some of the reality TV shows that were supposed to begin production around March 2020 decided to delay their start until a later time and a protocol was in place on how they can resume filming safely.
Shows like So You Think You Can Dance, The Bachelorette, and Bachelor in Paradise delayed the start of filming until the summer or fall of that year when the COVID-19 safety protocol for TV productions was in place.
Networks also moved their release window to a later time as the shows would not be able to release on time as a result of the delay.
Some of the shows that were also suspended are American Ninja Warrior, The Real Housewives of New Jersey, and Survivor (which was planning to shoot their next season in Fiji).
Safety Protocol in Reality TV Productions
Months after the COVID-19 shutdown, some of the reality TV productions were able to resume filming and implemented safety protocols to ensure that they could avoid spreading the virus around the set.
Some shows are filmed in a "bubble" where the contestants, host, and crew are sequestered in a single location until they wrap.
Everyone who worked on set was also required to take COVID-19 tests. If they turn out to be positive, they will be quarantined and won't be allowed to work until they recover.
The shows that film in front of a live studio audience were either taped with a limited audience or no audience at all and they proceed with the usual format despite the glaring absence of a live audience. The auditions for the shows were also changed to an online format.
However, in the years since then, safety protocols have slowly been implemented less as the world returns to normal. Production for reality TV shows has gone back to pre-COVID-19 days today.
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