The contestants are expected to perform on an outdoor stage at a drive-in theater that allows the judges to watch the performances while social distancing.
- Jul 2, 2020
AceShowbiz - "America's Got Talent" has resumed production on an outdoor stage to allow judges Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel space to watch performances while socially distancing.
Just six episodes of the popular TV talent show had been completed before filming ground to a halt during the audition stage in mid-March (20) as the coronavirus pandemic began, but series creator Cowell was determined to find a way to allow successful contestants the opportunity to compete as normal and continue shooting season 15.
Production picked up again last week (ends26Jun20) ahead of "America's Got Talent" live episodes, with the show moved out of its usual location at Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre to an outdoor set-up in Simi Valley, California, where officials designed a stage to look like a drive-in movie theatre.
The first post-shutdown instalment will feature the four judges entering the venue in separate cars, before taking their seats in socially-distanced director's chairs, as they make their picks for the Judge Cuts segment, which has been reduced from the usual four episodes to just one, airing in the U.S. on 28 July (20).
Meanwhile, the production plan's new safety precautions also include mandatory face masks for everyone on set when not talking on camera, individuals handling their own microphones, and crewmembers sticking to their specifically assigned areas throughout shooting to prevent intermingling between different teams.
Officials have yet to decide where the live shows will be filmed, but producers are reportedly trying to find a way to include an audience of some sort during the episodes, which are due to start on 11 August, according to TheWrap.
