This Is Us creator reveals show is delayed due to Covid crisis in LA but asks fans to ‘hang in there because the next few episodes are big ones’
The This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman has revealed there will sadly be a delay in filming due to a Covid surge in Los Angeles, where the much-loved show is filmed.
US Weekly reported that fans of the series had to make do with a repeat episode, which will air on Tuesday 19 January, due to the unforeseen delay in production.
Fogelman tweeted on Tuesday: ‘No new episode of #ThisIsUs tonight – Covid-related production delays in LA have forced us to delay a few weeks.
Be patient: This Is Us creator reveals show is delayed due to Covid crisis in LA but asks fans to ‘hang in there because the next few shows are big ones’
‘But the next few are big ones, and we are close, so we hope you’ll hang in there with us. Sorry!’
The show will also air another repeat episode on Tuesday 26 January.
This Is Us is one of many hit shows which was forced to push their return to work back a week after a surge of cases in Los Angeles.
Creator Dan Fogelman tweeted on Tuesday: ‘No new episode of #ThisIsUs tonight – Covid-related production delays in LA have forced us to delay a few weeks.
Sorry! He assured fans to ‘hang in there’ due to the delays which were taken upon the advice of the L.A. County Department of Public Health
On December 28, the L.A. County Department of Public Health released a statement which asked productions to consider closing.
It stated: ‘Although music, TV and film productions are allowed to operate, we ask you to strongly consider pausing work for a few weeks during this catastrophic surge in Covid cases.
‘Identify and delay higher risk activities, and focus on lower-risk work for now, if at all possible.’
Topical: This Is Us has addressed the ongoing coronavirus pandemic throughout the fifht season of the show
Milo Ventimiglia, 43, who plays Jack Pearson, spoke to Us Weekly ahead of the season five opener to discuss the changes made to production for safety purposes.
He revealed that the cast isn’t allowed on set while they’re not filming and can’t spend much time around the crew.
However, he added that the show still has intimate scenes and the actors simply trust that everyone is being as safe as possible when not filming.
‘Pod life’: Chrissy Metz showed off the ‘pods’ separating the cast from one another in between filming scenes between herself and Justin Hartley recently
He told the site: ‘I trust Mandy [Moore] and how she goes about her life away from work, and I think Mandy trusts me for how I go about my life away from work.
‘We’re always mindful of that. But no, you’re not going to see a Jack dummy or a Rebecca dummy — or Mandy kissing the Jack dummy or Milo kissing them Mandy dummy. It’s not gonna be that!’
This Is Us will return with new episodes on NBC Tuesday, February 2, at 8 p.m. ET.
Staying safe: The cast took a selfie from inside their pods, including Sterling K. Brown