Massive storm swamps New York TV tapings

• Jimmy Kimmel canceled at least the first of his five Brooklyn tapings
• Letterman will tape, early, without a studio audience
• Prime-time series shooting was also curtailed by Sandy

The massive storm hitting the East Coast is also wreaking havoc with New York TV production.

Most talk shows and prime-time dramas produced there were shut down Monday, and will probably be dark Tuesday pending updated weather conditions, which are expected to worsen as Monday progresses.

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. A week before the election, Comedy Central's The Daily ShowWith 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, also with no audience.

As for prime-time series, CBS' Elementary, Blue Bloods, The Good Wife, Person of Interest and midseason drama Golden Boy all suspended production Monday and Tuesday. 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.

As for Monday night's TV schedule, CBS pulled its original series lineup, fearing extensive pre-emptions from East Coast stations for weather coverage, and will air repeat comedies and a weather-related news special at 10 ET/PT. NBC has decided to air original episodes of The Voice and Revolution, as scheduled, but will repeat both series later this week. ABC plans its normal schedule. And Fox, which will air an X Factor repeat tonight thanks to the early end to the World Series, has decided to air its first live broadcast of the singing contest, planned for Thursday, on Wednesday at 8 ET/PT instead. The top 16 finalists will compete.