California Wildfires Aren’t Just Bad For People

Not the most socially conscious headline, I know.

The Southern Cali wildfires that have ejected 250,000 people from their homes has taken its destruction national, disrupting several television series which shoot in the area.

According to reports, the crew of 24 suffered a number of physical ailments afflicting their eyes and breathing, leading to the cancellation of Monday’s shoot. Jack Bauer used the day off to thwart the fires, allegedly putting out fires at a rate equivalent to 721 firemen.

Meanwhile on the set of The Riches the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were unable to help with traffic control after being called upon to escort firemen into the fire. Given their priorities, one can only assume they’ve never seen The Riches. Luckily, the Santa Clarita Film Commission stepped in, avoiding any delays that might hinder the shoot.

While Californication star David Duchovny is done shooting, his home is close to the fires.

Mother Nature proved to be a big fan of NCIS. The show’s set, which is the closest to the fires had no hitches in their shooting schedule. Mother Nature has bad taste in television.

Cold Case on the other hand, which has drawn the ire of right-wing religious groups had its sets repeatedly knocked over by the winds, forcing the crew to relocate. One has to wonder if it’s a coincidence or if Mother Nature is a fundamentalist Christian.

And according to The Hollywood Reporter, Big Shots got rid of a “a cycling sequence,” that was set to be shot today.

As an aside, I have several friends who live in the Southern Cal all of whom are safe, but some of whose homes are in danger. But I’m of a mind that sometimes, in the face of tragedy we cannot avoid, a little humor can go a long way.