‘Superstore’ And 14 Other Shows With Coronavirus Storylines

The COVID-19 Pandemic upset several different industries in 2020 and continues to have major effects around the globe. However, after production on every show and movie shut down in March due to the Coronavirus, Hollywood decided to come back stronger than ever, by not only incorporating the pandemic into their new safety guidelines and procedures but storylines as well.

Several TV shows, both new and returning, have already incorporated elements of the pandemic into their storylines. Some episodes have already aired, while more are still to come—but all have found one way or another to make sure the Pandemic is given some attention. Check out the full list below.

“9-1-1" (FOX)

The show confirmed in May that it planned to incorporate the Pandemic into the Season 4 storyline in some way, with showrunner Tim Minear telling TV Line that first-responder shows like “9-1-1" would be better off addressing it and that there will be some reference to it.

“The characters on the screen will have gone through what the audience has gone through,” he said. “There may be flashbacks that will show what our people went through at the height of the [pandemic], but by the time we resume physical production, that means the world will have figured out how to start opening for business again.”

“9-1-1: Lone Star” (FOX)

Transatlantic travel concerns forced series star Liv Tyler to drop out of the show ahead of its second season, and a new character, Paramedic Captain Tammy Vega, portrayed by Gina Torres, is set to join the cast. Deadline revealed in September that the character will be one who comes out of retirement because of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“All Rise” (CBS)

The show, which is set to begin its sophomore season, filmed its Season One finale virtually in order to close the storylines. The episode, which aired in May, saw Judge Lola (Simone Missick) presiding over a virtual trial that saw two brothers in a dispute over a stolen car.

“Black-ish” (ABC)

The show’s seventh season also tackled life during the pandemic, as Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) tried to cope with the way life has changed, as well as still raising their children, during such uncertain times in the fourth episode. It was also tackled in other episodes as well.

“Connecting” (NBC.Com)

The show was produced entirely through the lens of the pandemic, following a group of friends as they tried to still keep their relationships strong as they’re forced to stay apart. The show was one that even one of the stars, Otmara Marrero, who portrayed Annie, didn’t expect to make.

“I feel like I was expecting people to make a pandemic show but I wasn’t expecting to want to be part of it,” she told International Business Times. “Because, I don’t know, I’m really sensitive, and I was just like, ‘When is it too soon?’ The empath in me just couldn’t get over the fact that it’s still a very real thing and I personally know two people that have passed from corona.”

Of course, Marrero later changed her mind as she learned more about the show, later deciding to fight to be a part of it.

“...I enjoyed it. It was good writing. It didn’t feel like network TV and it felt smart and it felt like it hit the right marks to make it relatable, but to also not exploit the situation. So then I was like, Okay. Well, all right, I’ll put myself on tape and see what happens.’ And then I did, and I got a call back. And then at that point, I was a little invested and I was like, ‘{Expletive], now I’m fighting for a job I didn’t want to begin with so here we go.’”

“The Conners” (ABC)

The pandemic framed some of the topics covered during Season 3 of the ABC “Roseanne” spin-off series, with the Oct. 28 episode tackling topics such as the election and Halloween, and showed the family banding together to give the kids a chance to still trick-or-treat, albeit from the safety of their own home.

“The Good Doctor” (ABC)

The show, covering the life of an Autistic doctor, Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore), will premiere its fourth season on Nov. 2—and a trailer shows he and the rest of the staff not only dealing with the Pandemic as front-line workers but also shows how quarantine is affecting their personal lives, with Shaun trying to adjust to his relationship being entirely virtual now that he can’t physically be with his girlfriend.

“Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) and “Station 19 “(ABC)

The Shondaland juggernaut show, which is returning for a 17th season, will do a special crossover event with the other show, which is entering its fourth season. The three-hour event will air beginning at 8 p.m. EDT on Nov. 12. A promo also shows both shows honoring essential workers and thanking them for their service.

“NCIS: New Orleans” (CBS)

The upcoming Nov. 8 premiere will tackle the virus as Tammy (Vanessa Ferlito) and Carter (Charles Michael Davis) investigate a death and come into contact with those who have been infected with the virus, while Wade (CCH Pounder) begins to deal with a large number of bodies in the morgue because of the pandemic.

“New Amsterdam” (NBC)

In an interview with NBC 5 Chicago, star Ryan Eggold, who survived his own battle with COVID-19, addressed that the pandemic and how it affected both the doctors and the patients would be a part of the storyline.

“The Resident” (FOX)

When the medical drama series returns for Season 4 in 2021, it too will deal with the pandemic, specifically focusing on the early days of the outbreak and the effect it had.

“Shameless” (Showtime)

“Shameless” won’t be coming to an end without addressing the Pandemic. The Gallagher family’s final hurrah will feature the family’s struggles as they too deal with COVID-19, The Wrap reports.

“Superstore” (NBC)

Season 6 of the comedy series is starting off with Amy (America Ferrara) seeing her exit plans to move to California for a new job delayed (Ferrara will exit the show in the second episode Variety reports), but the pandemic will also be felt in other ways, as the Cloud 9 employees tackle social distancing and panic-induced purchases of canned food and toilet paper.

“This Is Us (NBC)

The drama series, which is known for tackling tough issues and unveiling major surprises on its fans, tackled the pandemic and ongoing racial justice issues in its Season 5 premiere—and even showed cast members wearing masks and using social distancing measures in scenes.

Additional reporting by Nicole Massabrook.