LA Wildfires Force Shutdown of Hollywood Productions and Events
The relentless wildfires tearing through the celebrity haven of Pacific Palisades and other regions have instigated a halt in Los Angeles productions. Key award season events slated for this week have also been shelved. Originally scheduled for this Sunday in Santa Monica, the Critics Choice Awards have been deferred to January 26, CNN reports.
"This unfolding tragedy has profoundly impacted our community. Our thoughts and prayers remain with those fighting the fierce fires and all who have been affected," expressed Critics Choice Awards CEO Joey Berlin in a statement.
The Critics Choice Awards were poised to be the second significant televised Hollywood award show of the 2025 season, following last weekend’s Golden Globes. Housed at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, the venue is not far from Pacific Palisades, where flames have decimated over 1,000 structures and scorched upwards of 5,000 acres. Santa Monica residents have also received evacuation alerts.
The ongoing Southern California wildfires have led to the cancellation of numerous glamorous Hollywood occasions and red carpet premieres. The 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards' in-person nominations announcement was scrapped on Wednesday morning, instead disseminated via press release.
The annual AFI Awards luncheon, initially planned for January 10, will be rescheduled. Furthermore, the BAFTA Tea Party, a critical Oscars race event set for January 11 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, has been canceled, the organization disclosed.
Additionally, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences postponed the Academy Award nominations announcement from January 17 to January 19 and extended the Oscars voting period. This extension aims to provide Academy members, many residing in LA, additional time to submit their votes. (The Oscars nomination voting commenced Wednesday morning.)
Hollywood productions have been compelled to pause filming due to high winds, smoke, and perilous fires. Over a dozen LA-based shows have suspended production, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, including "Grey’s Anatomy," "Hacks," "Suits L.A.," "NCIS," and "The Price Is Right." Late-night shows such as ABC’s "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and CBS’s "After Midnight" will also halt production on Wednesday, according to Variety, which notes that the situation will be reassessed for Thursday’s shows.
