TV Shows Stay on Course Despite War

By Stephen M. Silverman

10/08/2001 at 12:51 PM EDT

Pre-empting the Emmys for suddenly seeming inappropriate in light of the world crisis may have thrown CBS and the ceremony's producers into a tailspin last Sunday, but, according to a sampling of network representatives contacted by PEOPLE.com on Monday, other TV shows are not anticipating changes or cancellations being made in their regular programming. "No," a Fox entertainment spokesperson said unequivocally when asked if the American attack on Afghanistan would alter upcoming scheduling to reflect the current mood of the country. Similarly, "Survivor III" on CBS "is going ahead as planned," according to Michelle Hooper, the show's publicist. She would not hypothesize on whether or not there could be a world-events scenario that might alter that plan. One case in which a TV episode was revised -- and re-shot -- in light of the Sept. 11 hijackings and attacks is this week's segment of "Friends." In it, Monica (Courteney Cox Arquette) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) arrive at the airport with time to spare before their honeymoon flight. "A lot of it had to do with how ridiculous it was for crazy, obsessive Monica to get there three hours in advance," the show's executive producer, David Crane, told the Philadelphia Inquirer. Before Sept. 11, he acknowledged, "That would have been ridiculous. It's not ridiculous now."