Don't sing us a song, Piano Man. CBS cuts away from Billy Joel concert mid-song, fans react
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CBS apparently didn't want Billy Joel to sing them a song, cutting away from the superstar singer-songwriter mid-"Piano Man" during his televised concert last night.
Joel took to the stage in New York for "Billy Joel: The 100th – Live at Madison Square Garden," a two-hour event that aired at 9 p.m. Sunday. The concert marked the end of his monthly residency at the arena. He played his 100th concert of that residency back in March.
Huffpost reports, via Yahoo News, that the concert was delayed by CBS' extended coverage of the Masters Tournament. Near the end of the show, viewers in many cities saw their screens go black and their local news begin.
Bob Herzog, anchor at CBS affiliate Local 12 in Cincinnati, said on Facebook that the station didn't choose to cut away.
CBS to rebroadcast concert, offers explanation
In a statement Monday afternoon, Julie Holland, CBS vice president of communications, said 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."
CBS will rebroadcast the concert in its entirety at 9 p.m. EDT April 19, Holland said.
Fans react to CBS cutting away from Billy Joel concert on social media
CBS' move prompted jokes and more on social media as fans reacted to the move. Here's a sampling:
Viewers throughout the Eastern and Central Time Zones had the broadcast of the Billy Joel concert cut off, mid-Piano Man.
Evidently, CBS was no longer in the mood for a melody. pic.twitter.com/bVlcIReRXn— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 15, 2024
LIVE TV AYE??...CBS JUST DID this..to Billy Joel ON Piano Man at the main part of the song pic.twitter.com/GzpS8m83k6
— DORTIE (@TonyDortie) April 15, 2024
Hey @CBS what were you thinking cutting off Billy Joel during piano man! Now you know why people don't watch networks as much! pic.twitter.com/iomqPewTYx
— Walter Zastrow (@WalterZastrow) April 15, 2024
@CBS Should have ran a 30 min show in lieu of Tracker (which I watch) because you cut out your heavily promoted Billy Joel concert. #BillyJoelOnCBS. I wanted more Billy!!!!!
— Tommy TFK Fan (@MarYRSNYC) April 15, 2024
CBS ruins the Billy Joel tribute. He sells out 100 shows at MSG, has a set list for the show but CBS thinks it can do better and edits the order of the songs then cuts Piano Man off to go to local news and commercials. Complete BS …
— John (@John35745123) April 15, 2024
CBS cutting off Billy Joel during the last chorus of Piano Man is hitting Billy Joel fans like a vehicle driven by Billy Joel colliding with a house in Oyster Bay pic.twitter.com/rPLn4S3hCC
— Mike (@hammerito) April 15, 2024
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: CBS cuts away from Billy Joel concert at Madison Square Garden, explains why