Los Angeles Wildfires Disrupt Hollywood, Forcing Critics Choice Awards Postponement and Widespread Production Halts
The devastating wildfires raging across Los Angeles County have dealt a significant blow to the entertainment industry, forcing the postponement of the Critics Choice Awards, halting film and television productions, and canceling numerous premieres and awards season events. Tens of thousands have been evacuated, two lives have been lost, and the impact on Hollywood continues to unfold.
The Critics Choice Awards, originally slated for January 14th, will now take place on January 26th. The ceremony, a crucial event in the film awards season, will still broadcast live on E! from the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport, with streaming available on Peacock the following day. This postponement marks another disruption in a string of cancellations caused by the rapidly spreading wildfires.
The impact extends far beyond the Critics Choice Awards. Numerous television productions have paused filming, including popular shows like "The Price is Right," "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," and "After Midnight." “The Price is Right” films at Haven Studios in Glendale, currently within an evacuation zone. Both late-night shows aired repeat episodes, impacting scheduled appearances by guests like Cynthia Erivo, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Timothée Chalamet, and Fernanda Torres. The status of future tapings remains uncertain.
Scripted shows have also been significantly affected. Production on popular series such as “Hacks,” “NCIS,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Suits LA,” and “Ted” has been temporarily suspended. FilmLA, the organization responsible for issuing filming permits in Los Angeles, has withdrawn permits in several heavily affected areas, including Altadena, La Crescenta, La Canada/Flintridge, and unincorporated Pasadena. Further permit revocations and resource limitations are anticipated as the fires continue to burn.
The wildfires have also extinguished the sparkle of several high-profile Hollywood premieres. The premiere of "Unstoppable," a biographical wrestling drama starring Jennifer Lopez and Jharrel Jerome, was canceled. Similarly, the premiere of "Better Man," a Robbie Williams biopic, was also called off by Paramount. "The Last Showgirl," featuring Pamela Anderson, saw its Thursday screening canceled just ahead of its wide release. Screenings for awards contenders like Netflix’s "Emilia Pérez" and Searchlight Pictures’ "A Complete Unknown" were similarly affected.
The disruption has also rippled through the awards season calendar. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Tea Party, a key networking event for Oscar hopefuls, was canceled. The American Film Institute (AFI) Awards luncheon, recognizing the year’s top 10 films, has been postponed indefinitely. Even the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards nominations announcement, originally planned as a live event with Joey King and Cooper Koch, was reduced to a press release.
Beyond the industry disruptions, the fires have forced evacuations and caused significant personal losses. Actor and Pacific Palisades honorary mayor Eugene Levy evacuated his home, describing the smoke as "black and intense." Actor James Woods tearfully recounted the loss of his home in a CNN interview. Reality star Spencer Pratt and actor Cameron Mathison both confirmed the destruction of their homes via social media. While Jamie Lee Curtis reported her home was safe, she lamented the devastation of her neighborhood. Mark Hamill described a harrowing last-minute evacuation from Malibu, with fires burning on both sides of the Pacific Coast Highway. The fires continue to pose a significant threat, Underscoring the human cost alongside the industry-wide repercussions.
