The fires sweeping through Los Angeles ware forcing a significant change to CBS‘ primetime schedule.
The broadcast network was supposed to premiere a reboot of the game how Hollywood Squares Thursday evening, but has decided to push the premiere to next Thursday, Jan. 16.
The game show features celebrities seated in an oversized tic-tac-toe board, filled with lighthearted banter with the contestants. The tenor of the show was seen as tonally inappropriate given the devastation in parts of L.A. county. In addition, the CBS stations in and around L.A. have been in rolling coverage of the fires.
The new version of Hollywood Squares is hosted by CBS Mornings co-anchor Nate Burleson, with Drew Barrymore serving as the center square, joined by other celebrity panelists. The CBS morning show previewed the premiere Thursday, suggesting that the decision to push back the premiere was made after the morning show aired this morning.
Hollywood Squares is the first primetime series to be impacted by the fires. Tapings of late night shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live! and After Midnight had shut down on Wednesday.
In place of the Hollywood Squares premiere, CBS will run reruns of George and Mandy’s First Marriage at 8 p.m., and Ghosts at 8:30 p.m.