Sandy snarls Kimmel, Letterman, Fallon shows

The massive storm hitting the East Coast is wreaking havoc with New York TV production today. Here are the details from USA Today:

Jimmy Kimmel, who was to have taped five shows in Brooklyn, his hometown, starting Monday, canceled at least the first, which was to have featured guests Chris Rock, Kelly Ripa and Alicia Keys. “Though it pains us to do it, JFK from Brooklyn tonight is cancelled,” he wrote on Twitter. “I’m disappointed too, but we want you to be safe.” ABC will expand “Nightline” to one hour with storm coverage.

Also dark were most syndicated talk shows, including “Live With Kelly and Michael” and “Katie” (“Rachael Ray” was on planned vacation). A week before the election, Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” also will substitute repeats tonight. “Tomorrow’s tapings are TBD and will be evaluated as the day and storm track progresses,” says channel spokesman Steve Albani.

Exceptions: CBS’ “Late Show With David Letterman” still plans to tape tonight’s show, without an audience, though it moved taping an hour earlier, to 3:30 p.m. ET, with guest Denzel Washington. It also plans to tape tomorrow, without an audience. And NBC’s “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” is “all systems go,” says NBC’s Rebecca Marks.

As for prime-time series, CBS’ “Elementary,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Good Wife,” “Person of Interest” and midseason drama “Golden Boy” all suspended production Monday. New York City officials pulled outdoor filming permits, and while studio soundstages were unaffected, “We don’t want to get in people’s ways,” says network spokesman Chris Ender, who also cited “logistical issues” including power and transportation.

The latter is a key reason why many talk shows have shut down: With New York’s mass-transit system suspended, there’s no easy way to shuttle studio audiences to show tapings.