Hot Bench Leaves LA for Connecticut, Highlighting TV Production Exodus

**Hot Bench**, CBS Media Ventures’ popular courtroom show, is relocating from LA to Connecticut to secure a 30% tax credit, amounting to $3.5 million in savings. This move reflects a larger trend of productions leaving California due to financial pressures, as the television industry faces rising costs and shrinking budgets. The fate of the show’s judges amid this transition remains uncertain as competition for tax incentives intensifies nationwide.

In a notable shift in the television landscape, CBS Media Ventures’ long-running courtroom show, Hot Bench, is making the leap from sunny Los Angeles to Connecticut for its upcoming season. With financial incentives playing a key role, this move is poised to generate substantial savings, estimated at around $3.5 million annually thanks to a generous tax credit of 30%. This decision comes amid hard times in the industry characterized by rising production costs and challenging budgets, leading many shows to leave California in search of greener financial pastures.

As the show embarks on this new chapter, uncertainty hangs over the fate of its judges — Michael Corriero, Rachel Juarez and Yodit Tewolde. Their participation in the relocation remains unclear, underscoring the shifting dynamics of a once-stable landscape. A spokesperson for CBS Media Ventures acknowledged the pressures facing the industry, stating, “Given the industrywide economic challenges, we have made a budgetary decision to shift production of Hot Bench to Connecticut.”

Across Hollywood, productions are feeling the pinch, with figures showing a nearly 20% decline in Los Angeles production this year alone. Despite California Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement of increased tax credits for the film and TV industry, the lure of better incentives in states like Georgia and Australia has prompted several high-profile relocations, echoing a larger trend of unscripted shows becoming “production nomads.” This quest for economic viability places Hot Bench in the company of other recent transplants, such as MasterChef, which moved to Australia, and various other shows that succumbed to the tax incentives offered by other regions.

The sonic landscape of daytime television is changing, with The Kelly Clarkson Show having recently shifted from Los Angeles to New York, and only a handful of daytime shows remaining rooted in the California tradition. As CBS navigates these turbulent waters, Hot Bench aims to secure its future and maintain its status as the leading original courtroom show — even if that means abandoning the glitz of Hollywood for the charm of Connecticut.

In this evolving narrative, the challenges of the industry serve as a backdrop for a show that has captivated audiences for over a decade, now faced with the exciting possibilities that accompany change and relocation.

The relocation of **Hot Bench** represents a broader trend in the television production industry, where rising costs and diminishing budgets have prompted many shows to uproot from their traditional bases in Los Angeles. Economic pressures and advantageous tax incentives in other states are significantly influencing these decisions, highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by productions in California. The shift also indicates a potential reconfiguration of the unscripted television landscape as shows balance the costs of production against the potential financial advantages of relocating.

The move of **Hot Bench** to Connecticut is a significant reflection of a declining trend in LA-based productions, driven by economic factors and shifting tax incentives. As shows seek financial sustainability, many are forced to reassess their geographic ties, embarking on new journeys that could redefine the television space as we know it. With such transitions comes uncertainty but also promise, brightening the horizons for both the show and its devoted audience.

Original Source: deadline.com