Safety first! Sony Pictures Television announced popular TV game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are heading back to production with redesigned sets that keep precautions for COVID-19 in mind.
Social distancing matters in stopping the spread of COVID-19, and the evergreen TV favorites Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are committed to safety for both cast and crew. The coronavirus pandemic affected the production for both game shows, causing shutdowns back in March. Wheel of Fortune, currently hosted by Pat Sajak, 73, and 63-year-old Vanna White, is all set to enter into a new season, its 38th since the first premiere in 1975. Meanwhile, Jeopardy!, which has tested the general knowledge of America through over 8000 episodes, will welcome its 37th season with host Alex Trebek. Apart from safety concerns regarding both the contestants and the crew, Trebek’s health was also a major point of distress amongst the show’s fans. Trebek, 80, has been battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, but shared some positive news about his recovery back in March. Since then, Jeopardy & Wheel of Fortune fans have been waiting for an update about Trebek's prognosis and the future of both legendary shows with bated breath.
On Wednesday, a spokeswoman for Sony Pictures Television confirmed in an exclusive statement to CNN that the shows will definitely resume production. “Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! are returning to the studio to tape episodes for the shows’ upcoming seasons,” said the studio representative. "The productions have protocols in place in accordance with current government guidelines to protect contestants, staff, crew, and talent from the spread of COVID-19." The representative also added that while some things may have changed behind the scenes and on set to keep everyone safe, fans can expect to see no major differences in the classic formats of both the shows that they’ve come to love over the years. People also reported that the wheel from Wheel of Fortune will be back with a makeover to reflect the new normal. This redesigned wheel will ensure that contestants are standing six feet apart. Jeopardy! also will have a few tweaks in terms of the set arrangement. The podiums are going to be further spaced out to maintain a safe distance between future contestants and Trebek.
To further ensure the safety of the cast and crew, it will henceforth be mandatory for the contestants to be tested for COVID-19 before setting foot into the studio. The crew will reportedly also be tested regularly. Although on-camera personalities won't wear masks, off-camera staff will be required to wear personal protective equipment or PPE gear.
Keeping the well-being and health of contestants, staff, and crew in mind is the top priority for both shows given the current situation. It was earlier reported that Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune would stop filming with live studio audiences on March 10, but the shows eventually ceased production altogether on March 16 as the number of coronavirus infections kept rising. Fans who have been enjoying throwback episodes of their favorite games shows while waiting for new seasons to air are certainly excited at the news that both Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune will return to our TV screens soon.
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