It's only a couple of hours after sunrise on a recent morning and, already, that frequent work-from-home question pierces through a fatigued internet connection.
"Edwin, can you hear us?"
He can't. But it's a temporary hiccup _ one that'll happen a few more times under these unusual circumstances. Because if you thought your virtual work meeting had its occasional twitches, try producing an hour of prime-time scripted television that way.
It's what the team behind the CBS legal drama "All Rise" is doing as it creates an episode to close out its stunted season. Edwin Hodge, who has a guest role in the episode as the brother of the defendant, is having some technical difficulties. But nothing signing off and signing back in can't fix.
Most of Hollywood's productions powered down mid-March in response to the coronavirus outbreak, including "All Rise." But some broadcasts _ including talk shows, news programs and last week's "Parks and Recreation" special _ have managed to carry on by producing content from the safety of home. "All Rise," which is produced by Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, becomes the first prime-time scripted program currently on air to join the remotely produced bandwagon with Monday's episode.
"It's ingenuity in the face of a situation," says executive producer and the episode's director, Michael M. Robin. "A good chunk of our audience are going to watch this, and they're going to actually watch our characters go through what they're going through."
