The View aired without a live studio audience for the first time in its more than two decades of being on the air.
Wednesday’s episode kicked off with business as usual before the co-hosts addressed the situation, with Whoopi Goldberg saying, “For the first time ever, as you can see if you looked around, we made the decision not to have a studio audience. And this is unprecedented.”
The co-host went on to discuss the coronavirus, the reason for nixing an audience, and specifically noted that the number of confirmed cases in the United States recently surpassed 1,000.
“Given the current developing situation in New York City, we have made the decision to suspend live audiences from attending our news broadcasts and talk shows,” a Walt Disney Television spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
The move will also be extended to other ABC shows such as Good Morning America; Strahan, Sara and Keke; Live with Kelly and Ryan; and Tamron Hall, in addition to The View. It’s unclear how long the programs will film without audiences.
The co-hosts also pointed out that The View continued having an in-studio audience upon returning to the air following a weeklong break after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Other popular shows, including Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, and The Amazing Race, will also temporarily be filmed without live audiences.
