Baby Shark takes on hand-washing; Oprah says she’s playing it safe

From finding ways to help others cope to sheltering in place to cancelling events, here’s a look at some of the ways the entertainment industry is reacting to the spread of the coronavirus, which most people recover from but can cause severe illness in the elderly and those with preexisting medical conditions.

‘BABY SHARK’ CHALLENGE: WASH YOUR HANDS, DOO DOO

Sorry parents, ‘Baby Shark’ is making a comeback — for a good cause.

Pinkfong’s “Baby Shark” — that jingle earworm that every toddler seems to know — has been reworked to teach good hygiene to combat COVID-19.

The company has debuted the “Wash

Your Hands With Baby Shark” video and started a dance challenge to encourage families to upload videos of their children washing hands to the song.

“Wash your hands/doo doo doo doo doo/Wash your hands,” go the new lyrics. “Grab some soap/doo doo doo doo doo/Grab some soap.” Videos are tagged with #BabySharkHandWashChallenge.

Pinkfong uploaded its original version of “Baby Shark” with an accompanying dance and colorful cartoon video to YouTube in June 2016. It has now been viewed over 4.6 billion times, making it one of YouTube’s top five watched videos of all time.

OPRAH PLAYING IT SAFE

Oprah Winfrey says she’s playing it safe when it comes to the rapidly spreading coronavirus.

The 66-year-old entertainment icon told The Associated Press on Friday that she has been quarantining and practicing social distancing at her home — even if that means longtime partner Stedman Graham has to stay in the guest house.

“I have now-grown girls from South

Africa here (but) Stedman’s on lock down at the guest house. He’s still there, asking: ‘When can I come? When can I come to the main house?’ He’s still got, hmm, till Monday,” she said.

Earlier this week Winfrey posted a video of her talking to Graham as he poked his head outside of the guest house window.

She said he must stay in the guest house because he had been recently flying and they’re trying to be safe.

“I’m getting ready to take him some food down there now for lunch. But I’m playing it as safe as I possibly can. Nobody goes out and nobody comes in,” she said.

R. KELLY SEEKS RELEASE FROM JAIL, STATING SAFEY REASONS

R&B singer R. Kelly cited the novel coronavirus in asking a federal judge Thursday to free him from a federal jail in Chicago as he awaits trial on child pornography and other charges, a court filing by his lawyers saying scant precautions to stem the spread of the virus behind bars put Kelly’s life at risk.

Sanitizer and even soap is hard to come by in the Metropolitan Correctional Center, with most of its 700 inmates held in small, two-man cells that make the kind of social distancing called for to thwart the transmission of COVID-19 impossible, the filing in U.S. District Court in Chicago says.

Kelly, 53, faces several dozen counts of state and federal sexual misconduct charges in Illinois, Minnesota and New York, from sexual assault to heading a racketeering scheme aimed at supplying him with girls. The Grammy Award winning singer has denied ever abusing anyone.

While the MCC barred most visitors on March 13, there are few detectable protocols for screening lawyers, guards and new detainees still entering the facility to check if they might be infected, the filing says. The visiting floor has sanitizer, but a sign next to the single bottle available says, “STAFF ONLY;” and a bathroom on the same floor often has no soap, according to the filing.

“The health risk to Mr. Kelly, because of his age and existing health issues, especially considering the conditions at the MCC, necessitates his release on bail,” it says. RINGO SAYS NO-NO-NO-NO

For the first time since the early days of The Beatles, Ringo Starr has postponed his All-Starr Band tour until 2021.

“In 30 years, I think I’ve only missed two or three gigs nevermind a whole tour,” the former Beatles drummer said.

“But this is how things are for all of us now, I have to stay in just like you have to stay in, and we all know it’s the peace and loving thing we do for each other. In the meantime stay safe. Peace and love to you all.”

The tour was scheduled to being May 30 in Orillia, Ont. and his line-up was to include Steve Lukather (Toto), Colin Hay (Men at Work), Gregg Rolie (Santana), Warren Ham, Gregg Bissonette, and

Hamish Stuart (Average White Band).

EMMY SEASON ADJUSTS TO VIRUS SCRAMBLE

The Television Academy has adjusted its calendar ahead of the Emmy Awards following disruption from the coronavirus.

According to the calendar, June 5 will be the new entry deadline, nominations will be voted on from July 2-13 and nominations will be announced July 28. Final voting will take place from Aug. 21-31.

There is also modification of the hanging episode rule for series and limited series.

But the academy stressed that there are no changes to the Sept. 20 Emmy telecast. WINNERS UP IN THE AIR

This year’s Canadian Screen Award nominees will have to wait a little longer to find out if they’re receiving a trophy.

The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television says it’s postponing the announcement of winners given the “great uncertainty” surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this month, the academy cancelled a broadcast gala set to air Sunday on CBC as well as several special events leading up to the ceremony.

Organizers issued a statement Friday saying the academy remains committed to celebrating this year’s winners “properly when the time is right.”

The academy says it plans to share updates about its initiatives and virtual programming soon.

The CBC comedy “Schitt’s Creek” has a leading 26 nominations for this year’s awards, which celebrate Canadian film, TV and digital projects.

TODAY SHOW’S KOTB BREAKS DOWN AFTER SEGMENT

Hoda Kotb’s emotions got the better of her on the “Today” show Friday as she concluded a segment with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who is donating money to help with the outbreak of coronavirus there.

“Drew, we love ya,” Kotb said. Then she dissolved in tears, and co-anchor Savannah Guthrie jumped in to take over.

Kotb was a news anchor and reporter at the CBS affiliate in New Orleans during the 1990s.

“Hoda, I’m so sorry, hon,” Guthrie said. “I know where your heart is.”