During a broadcast of a Billy Joel concert, CBS stations across the Eastern and Central Time Zones interrupted the performance of 'Piano Man' to transition to local news. This decision sparked widespread criticism among viewers and commentators alike. The interruption occurred right as the concert was reaching its finale, leaving fans without the closing moments of the song or the concert's closing credits. The incident was described as a significant misstep by CBS, with many calling it a bad decision and expressing their disappointment on social media platforms. The network's choice to cut away from the concert, due to a master control setup for a 30-minute delay after the Masters, has led to speculation about potential apologies or compensatory actions CBS might take, including possibly featuring Billy Joel on a morning show or a late-night talk show to perform the entirety of 'Piano Man' as a form of apology.
CBS is going to end up having @billyjoel on the morning show/Colbert/something to perform *all* of Piano Man as an apology for that mess.
Brutal CBS screw-up https://t.co/StoXJEwzRV
How do you cut a Billy Joel Concert in the Middle of Piano Man?! https://t.co/QI409AwaxQ
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. https://t.co/bVlcIReRXn
Hey @CBS wtf is this?! You cut off @billyjoel during Pianoman of all songs?! And then didn’t come back to it?!?! Now wonder network TV is a mess. Not ballin, not ballin at all. https://t.co/QBBxLZOABO
Good screwup by @news4buffalo to cut off Billy Joel MSG special in the middle of "Piano Man" finale to go to local news. Master control clearly set up for 30-minute delay after Masters, but it was more than 30 minutes. No finale, no closing credits...Terrible.
Apparently, judging by the reactions on X, every CBS station cut off Billy Joel in the middle of Piano Man. So stupid. https://t.co/CYxsbDIlc6
Did CBS just cut Piano Man short for local news????
Did they really just cut out in the middle of “Piano Man?”
CBS-47 just cut off Billy’s last song from MSG, right in middle of Piano Man. Not cool.
What the F @CBS11. Why did you break into Billy Joel in the middle of " Piano Man?" Really. Bad. Decision. by someone.
Wait. CBS just cut off Billy Joel in the middle of Piano Man??