COVID-19 + NYC Real Estate
Mariska Hargitay on the set of “Law & Order: SVU,” which has been filmed all over NYC for a mind-boggling 22 seasons. (NBC/Getty Images)
Action! After a pandemic pause, television and film production resumed in Los Angeles on June 12, with plenty of COVID-19 protections in place. Lots of major shows are shot here in NYC, too — with major stars attached. So, what TV shows film in NYC? Who stars in them? And when will they get back to work? Read on to find out.
When Will TV Production Resume in NYC?
How about now! As part of the city’s reopening, the NYC Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting began accepting new film-permit applications for production activity to resume after June 30. But, as in L.A., there are a lot of coronavirus-related restrictions in place.
Permits will only be allowed for productions with 10 or fewer cast and crew members present. Parking permits will be limited five or fewer vehicles. The closing of public streets and sidewalks will not be allowed. And filming too close to COVID-19 response locations (such as hospitals or testing centers) or restaurants with outdoor seating is also prohibited.
So, as any New Yorker who has seen their whole neighborhood taken over by a shoot can tell, things are certainly not back to normal yet. But it’s a good start for an industry that’s a big piece of the city’s economy.
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What TV Shows Film in NYC?
Glad you asked! There are quite a lot of TV shows filmed here in NYC. Here are just a few of the scripted television shows that had permits to film within the five boroughs before coronavirus hit.
“Billions”
Paul Giamatti and costar Toby Leonard Moore on the set of “Billions.” (Bobby Bank/Getty Images)
This Showtime hit stars Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti as a district attorney investigating a hotshot hedge-fund manager. Currently in its fifth season, the show is actually based on Preet Bharara, who was the real-life U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2009 to 2017. Giamatti is one of the many celebrities who live in Brooklyn Heights.
“The Blacklist”
Already in its eighth season, this NBC FBI thriller features three-time Emmy winner James Spader. Despite being set in Washington, DC, it is filmed in a studio in Manhattan — the very same one where Law & Order shot for 20 years.
“City on a Hill”
The city in question is Boston, but much of it is filmed in NYC. This Showtime series stars Kevin Bacon, and movie stars certainly don’t come any bigger than that — unless of course you count the show’s executive producers, Ben Affleck and Brooklyn Heights resident Matt Damon.
“The Equalizer”
All hail the queen! Queen Latifah stars in and produces CBS’s new reimagining of the classic show from the 1980s. Her character is, to quote Deadline, “an enigmatic figure who uses her extensive skills to help those with nowhere else to turn.” She is joined by Chris Noth, Mr. Big himself from one of the most iconic NYC shows ever, “Sex and the City.”
“The Flight Attendant”
Kaley Cuoco and Zosia Mamet filming upcoming thriller “The Flight Attendant” in NYC. (Jose Perez/Getty Images)
Speaking of iconic shows, this HBO Max miniseries stars Kaley Cuoco, Penny from the long-running mega-hit “The Big Bang Theory,” and Zosia Mamet, from the NYC classic “Girls.” Cuoco plays the upcoming thriller’s eponymous flight attendant, who is involved in a murder mystery overseas and met by FBI agents when she lands in NYC.
“Harlem’s Kitchen”
Here’s a show that’s both filmed in NYC and about NYC. Soon to debut on ABC, the show stars Delroy Lindo, currently making waves in diehard New Yorker Spike Lee‘s recent film “Da 5 Bloods.” As the name implies, it takes place in a Harlem restaurant, and it’s got real-life Harlem restaurant cred: It’s produced by chef Marcus Samuelsson of Red Rooster.
“Katy Keene”
Lucy Hale as “Katy Keene,” filming in the most NYC location of them all: Grand Central Terminal. (Jose Perez/Getty Images)
This CW show, starring Lucy Hale as an aspiring New York City fashion designer, is a spinoff of the Archie Comics–inspired series “Riverdale.” The character of Katy Keene has appeared in comics since 1945, but this show, going into its second season, is just about as modern as they come.
“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
“Law & Order: SVU” star Ice-T on set in March 2020, just before TV production was halted for the pandemic. (Jose Perez/Getty Images)
Commonly known as “SVU,” this long-running franchise is about to enter its 22nd season on NBC. Yes, 22 seasons: It’s practically an NYC micro-economy all on its own! Star Mariska Hargitay and her husband, actor Peter Hermann, gave Architectural Digest a tour of their gorgeous UWS townhouse in 2019.
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Rachel Brosnahan in period costume on the NYC set of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” (Jose Perez/Getty Images)
This Emmys juggernaut — it has won 16 statues and been nominated for countless more — takes place largely in a lovely prewar apartment on the Upper West Side. Winners have included stars Rachel Brosnahan and Tony Shalhoub, who is actually an UWS resident in real life. The show is headed into its fourth season on Amazon.
“Pose”
A riveting FX drama that has NYC woven into its DNA. The plot follows the city’s underground ballroom culture in the 1980s, and it has catapulted star Billy Porter to fame (and fashion infamy!). The Broadway veteran, who won a Tony for his performance in “Kinky Boots,” has now followed it up with an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a featured slot in 2020’s NYC Pride celebration.
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