"When we were reviewing the scripts we started taking out all the romantic scenes and [the scripts] just fell flat," Bell told The New York Post.
"We put our heads together trying to figure out a way to make these scenes work without breaking the eight-foot [distancing] rule... and we brought out a doll we used years ago as a corpse.
"We posed it and it was very convincing," Bell said. "It's a great doll and we'll be using her with hair and makeup as a stand-in to match some of our leading ladies."
He said the show currently has only the one blow-up doll, but producers might look into obtaining more artificial actors if the shots turn out well.
"We're going to see how it works," he said. "We may be investing in more dolls and male dolls. We're searching websites and combing Hollywood to see what's available -- so we may be employing a lot of dolls in future love scenes."
Bell said the production team is also looking into other measures, including using the real-life spouses of actors as stand-ins for kissing and other intimate shots.
"They'll be tested [for COVID] and we'll make sure it's safe and the husband and wife are comfortable kissing," he said. "And so we may have some very hot kissing on the show. With camera tricks and editing, it will appear as though it's our leading man with his leading lady."
