Netflix Delaying ‘The Gray Man’ Production Amid Surging California COVID-19 Cases

On Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced what should have been good news: The state’s number of new daily cases dropped to 29,633. That’s down more than 20,000 since the state hit its all-time high of 53,711 on December 15 and substantially lower than the 7-day average of about 37,000.

SAG-AFTRA, the Joint Policy Committee and the Producers Guild of America on Sunday recommended a "temporary hold on in-person production" amid the pandemic.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterAmid surging COVID-19 cases in Southern California following the holidays, SAG-AFTRA, the Producers Guild of America and the Joint Policy Committee are together recommending a “temporary hold on in-person production in Southern California.” Together, the organizations represent thousands of actors, producers, commercial advertisers and ad agencies.“Southern California hospitals are facing a crisis the likes of which we have never seen before,” said SAG-AFTRA president

Kirk Cameron rang in the New Year by continuing to defy a stay-at-home order issued in Southern California. The "Growing Pains" alum, 50, has come under fire several times in the last month for reportedly hosting gatherings despite shutdowns in the state.Two caroling events Cameron helped organize last month featured dozens of gatherers standing closely and without masks.

UPDATED with latest: Friday was by far the deadliest day of the pandemic in California. On Wednesday, California saw a frightening new high of 432 Covid-related deaths. Thursday’s number dipped slightly to 428. On Friday, the number of lives recorded lost to the virus rocketed to 585. That’s a 37% rise in one day.

Samuel Little, whom the FBI  says was the most prolific serial killer in US history, died in prison Wednesday at age 80.

California Covid-19 Update: Governor Gavin Newsom announced a phased reopening plan for the state’s schools.

In Covid-19 ravaged California on Christmas Day, remaining ICU capacity for the first time fell to zero across the entire state.

Jeremy Miller is not impressed with his former “Growing Pains” little brother.

A coronavirus patient is accused of beating his 82-year-old hospital roommate to death with an oxygen tank in Lancaster, Calif., last week because he was upset with his Catholic prayers, according to authorities. The victim shared a two-person room at Antelope Valley Hospital with the suspect, 37-year-old Jesse Martinez.They were both undergoing treatment for COVID-19, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“We are experiencing a modest decline in the rate of growth over the past few days,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom as he addressed the state of the state’s Covid-19 numbers on Wednesday. He then called the 39,069 new cases reported “a modest indication of some possible sign of some good news.” The governor also announced that the 7-day test positivity rate had “declined slightly” from 13.3% to 12.6%

Netflix has ordered a sequel to this season’s breakout holiday hit, A California Christmas!

Almost exactly two weeks after California Governor Gavin Newsom announced what became a new lockdown for most of the state’s population, the daily number of new cases has fallen for five successive days. Granted, those numbers are dropping from an all-time new daily case high for the state — or any state, for that matter — of 53,711 announced last Wednesday.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterAfter the unexpected popularity of the new Netflix movie “A California Christmas,” the holiday romantic comedy is getting a sequel.Ali Afshar’s ESX Entertainment, the production company behind the film, has fast tracked pre-production for the follow-up, which will be titled “California Christmas: City Lights.” Filming is expected to begin in early 2021 in various parts of northern California, including Petaluma, Sonoma County and surrounding areas.Netflix

On Monday California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that many areas of the state would likely see an extension of his 3-week stay-at-home order which is set to expire in Southern California on December 30.

Fez is a future dad! Wilmer Valderrama announced on Monday, December 21, that his fiancée, Amanda Pacheco, is pregnant with their first child.“#ItsJustUs3Now,” the That ‘70s Show alum, 40, captioned an Instagram slideshow with the model, 30.In the social media upload, the California native’s bare baby bump was on display in an unzipped jacket.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom still at No. 1.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, at No. 1, while the holiday movie A California Christmas comes in at No.

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix has pushed the pause button on The Gray Man while the picture is in pre-production, out of Covid concerns. I’ve heard that while sets are being built in Long Beach, there were a few positive tests as Netflix goes through rigorous protocols, though insiders deny this was the reason for the push.

At the end of a week where health officials have related grim scenes from hospitals across California, there comes the announcement that available ICU capacity in the state has fallen to just 2%. That’s a staggering statistic in a state of 40 million people amid a pandemic.