With the proliferation of Omicron and the rise of new Govt lawsuits, the possibility of postponing the Grammy Awards again and the desire to move to an outdoor space such as the Hollywood Bowl is said to be under discussion at the Recording Academy.
Co-executive producer Raj Kapoor, along with CBS executive Jack SUSS MAN and academy director Harvey Mason Jr. are said to be talking about the issue from a production standpoint. There are many complex issues to go through here, but we understand that artists are starting to reject it. The idea is to hold the show as previously planned.
In terms of the size of the Grammy product (cast, presenters, television and stage crew, security, food and beverage service), logistics considerations are, at a minimum, enormous. "With such a large group," one member of the academy responds, "I did not know the exterior was very safe."
If the academy decides to broadcast again without an audience, of course, the options will vary. The closest source to the project confirms that "everything is under discussion".
An Academy spokesman declined to comment on the matter.
Omicron has wreaked havoc on all sorts of public events. The NBA, NFL and NHL handle the big spike in cases that require isolation, game postponements and strict protocols. The final stop of iHeartRadio's jingle ball tour in Miami was canceled after the Govt explosions erupted to several top artists. Broadway was particularly badly affected, with more than a dozen productions canceling shows and some, especially Jack Little Bill and Waitress, being completely shut down. Hundreds of holiday flights were canceled. C O V I D's 'fifth rise' has sparked a number of new cases in Los Angeles, and although a small percentage require hospitalization, there are still concerns about the hospital's effectiveness.
With only 15,000 people coming to the filming on New Year's Day in Times Square, we were told that the flight crew and crew had to isolate themselves several days in advance at a New York hotel. As one of the key players in the direct field has pointed out, it is almost impossible to create a secure “bubble” because of the stunningly high transmissibility of the Omicron variant and the many employees.
Last week, Broadway shows such as Hamilton, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, and Mrs. Doubt fire had called off shows due to personnel testing positive, while the Radio City Rockets called their shows off 'due to increasing challenges from the pandemic.'
On the concert circuit, the iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball Tour saw DOJO Cat cancel her appearances after she tested positive, while Megan Thee Stallion withdrew from a show in Atlanta after members of her staff were exposed to the virus.
In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday that the amount of people allowed to attend New Year's Eve celebrations at Times Square will be limited to about 15,000 from a usual number of 58,000.
'There is a lot to celebrate, and these additional safety measures will keep the fully vaccinated crowd safe and healthy as we ring in the New Year,' said de Blasio.
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