The coronavirus pandemic is has officially impacted US reality television.
CBS has temporarily shut down production of Season 33 of The Amazing Race as the number of cases of coronavirus increase worldwide. The move was undertaken “out of an abundance of caution.” The respiratory virus has not impacted anyone directly involved with the show.
“Due to increased concerns and uncertainty regarding the coronavirus around the world, CBS and the producers of The Amazing Race have taken the precautionary measure of temporarily suspending production on the 33rd season of the series,” a CBS spokesperson told Variety.
“All contestants and production staff are in the process of returning home,” said the statement. “At this time, no Racers or anyone on the production team travelling with them have contracted the virus, or shown symptoms, and we are not aware of anyone being exposed to it. Out of an abundance of caution, everyone involved in the show will continue to be monitored when they return home. The health and well-being of the Racers and the production team are our top priorities.”
The 33rd season of the competitive reality show, which sends pairs of contestants racing around the world, was only a couple of weeks into production. Three episodes had been filmed so far, according to a Variety source. The contestants had visited England and Scotland prior to the suspension of the production. Season 32, the upcoming season, has already been filmed and completed, although it does not yet have a premiere date. No new production start date for Season 33 has been determined.
