Enraged Billy Joel fans expressed their frustration on Sunday night following a televised concert was abruptly cut off in the middle of his iconic song, “Piano Man.” The CBS broadcast of Joel’s 100th concert at Madison Square Garden was delayed due to extended coverage of golf’s Masters Tournament. However, as Joel performed alongside the audience, viewers in many cities suddenly saw their screens go black, followed by local news.
The sudden cutoff left fans puzzled and led to an influx of social media posts showcasing their disappointment. Many fans likened the incident to the infamous 1968 “Heidi” game, where NBC switched from a football game to a children’s movie, causing viewers to miss a dramatic ending. It appears that CBS had been heavily promoting the Billy Joel concert for weeks, making the abrupt interruption all the more frustrating for dedicated fans.
Some stations, such as 10 Tampa Bay, offered apologies and explanations for the unexpected cut-off. Evan Closky, the sports director of 10 Tampa Bay, recognized the oversight and stated that it was his duty to apologize to everyone affected. Closky attributed the mistake to a special report following the Masters Tournament that was not accounted for by those in charge of scheduling.
Similarly, Rex Smith from WANE 15 in Fort Wayne expressed his apologies to viewers. He humorously acknowledged that he would have chosen Billy Joel over himself in the middle of the concert. Smith, who shares the same name as a famous singer/actor, playfully pointed out that he was not the renowned Rex Smith.
Despite the apologies and explanations from a few stations, most fans remained unaware of the reasoning behind the interruption and took to social media to express their outrage. Numerous tweets criticized CBS for its mishandling of the concert, noting excessive commercials, missing songs, and an untimely transition to local news during the performance of “Piano Man.” Viewers felt that CBS had hyped the concert for weeks only to disappoint with a poor ending.
While this incident may seem like a simple technical mishap, it raises questions regarding the responsibility of networks to deliver a seamless and uninterrupted viewing experience. In an age where streaming services and on-demand content dominate, traditional broadcasters must compete for audience attention and loyalty. Frustrating interruptions like this one might cost networks their viewership and
