Coronavirus: From Al Roker’s kitchen to Stephen Colbert’s bathtub, TV hosts respond to the pandemic

Trevor Noah shared video of himself singing from balcony like confined people in Italy

The coronavirus might be keeping TV hosts from working as usual, but they’re finding creative ways to respond to the news cycle.

Stephen Colbert, Al Roker and Trevor Noah have all tried new things in the face of the pandemic.

Colbert, whose late show has suspended production, shared a new 10-minute monologue on Tuesday – taped from his bathtub.

He’s seen in the clip dressed in a blazer and white shirt, lying down in a bathtub filled with bubbles.

“Welcome to my bathroom. I’m your host Stephen Colbert,” he says at the beginning of the video, mimicking his show’s format.

“You’re watching a very special social distancing edition of The Late Show, or as I call it, The Lather Show, with Scrubbin’ Colbert.”

The Today show's Al Roker, who's staying home after a staff member on the programme's third hour tested positive for Covid-19, did a weather report from his own kitchen on Tuesday.

Roker used electronic equipment and was able to avoid contact with NBC staffers to set up the segment.

As for Trevor Noah, whose Daily Show has also halted production, he shared a video of himself singing from his balcony, echoing clips shared on social media in which Italians on lockdown played music and sang in harmony while still observing social distancing.

In the humorous video, Noah is heard singing the beginning of "A Whole New World" from the Aladdin soundtrack – but is unceremoniously told to "shut the f*** up" by a neighbour after just a few words.

"Nothing can break the human spirit. Except that guy. That kinda hurt. Will try again tomorrow," the host wrote on Twitter.