Cutoff Billy Joel concert to re-air after uproar
Fans who tuned in for Billy Joel‘s CBS special on Sunday night were not pleased when the big show ended abruptly, cutting off the grand finale. Thankfully, they’re getting a do-over.
“The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden — The Greatest Arena Run of All Time,” scheduled to air 9-11 p.m. on CBS, was cut off to air local news broadcasts in some markets, leading fans to express their outrage on social media.
To right the wrong, CBS issued a statement Monday promising to rebroadcast the show during its Friday night primetime slot.
“A network programming timing error ended last night’s Billy Joel special approximately two minutes early in the Eastern and Central time zones. We apologize to Mr. Joel, his fans, our affiliated stations and our audience whose viewing experience was interrupted during the last song. Due to the overwhelming demand from his legion of fans, Billy Joel: The 100th — Live at Madison Square Garden will be rebroadcast in its entirety on CBS on April 19 at 9 pm. ET/ PT.”
The heavily promoted program was delayed by a half hour due to the network’s live coverage of the 2024 Masters golf tournament, which ran long.
Viewers’ screens turned black near the end of the five-time Grammy winner’s signature 1973 ballad “Piano Man.”
One angry fan opened his X post by telling the network to “f—k off.”
“#BillyJoel #MSG #100 concert not only starts a half hour late, but then you cut off the last 3-4 minutes for local news to start at 1130? Are you serious. Absolutely pathetic decision making, on an event that’s been advertised for MONTHS, and you f—k it up,” he added.
“CBS has been promoting the Billy Joel concert special every two minutes for WEEKS. So what better way to air it than to preempt it for a half hour and the cut him off MID-PIANO MAN? C’mon guys,” another fan tweeted.
Announced during “Super Bowl LXVIII,” the special was filmed on March 28 during Joel’s record-setting 100th performance. His long-running residency at the famed arena will end this year.