- Billy Joel fans are outraged
- The singer's historic 100th show was cut short
- THIS is what happened
The whole thing was so bizzarre leaving fans and the "Piano Man" himself in the dark. The network's blunder has sparked outrage among viewers and promises of a rebroadcast. Dive into the drama of the night and find out what's next for Billy Joel's fans.
A network's mistake
Imagine the scene: Billy Joel, in the midst of his iconic "Piano Man" performance, marking a century of shows at Madison Square Garden.
Then, suddenly, darkness. CBS, in what they've termed a "network programming timing error," pulled the plug two minutes early on Sunday, replacing the historic moment with local news.
"We apologize to Mr. Joel, his fans, our affiliated stations, and our audience," CBS stated, promising a Friday night do-over.
Social media erupted with disbelief and anger. "How do you cut a Billy Joel Concert in the Middle of Piano Man?!" questioned the Barstool Sports account on X, echoing the sentiment of thousands.
Fans lambasted CBS for excessive commercials, a jumbled setlist, and the ultimate sin—cutting off "Piano Man." "Just an absolute disaster," tweeted one viewer, capturing the mood of the nation.
The special was meant to celebrate Joel's unprecedented run, featuring guest appearances by stars like Jerry Seinfeld and Sting.
"There were a bunch of cameras on stage!" Joel remarked on the uniqueness of the 100th show. Despite the mishap, Joel's spirit remains unbroken, with his new song "Turn the Lights Back On" signaling his resilience ahead of a Grammy Awards performance.
"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," one upset fan posted.
Another wrote, "You couldn't produce a worse product than CBS just did on the Billy Joel special Way too many commercials, didn't play some of his best songs, went extremely out of order in his set list, and then cuts away to the local news in the middle of Piano Man?!? A total flop by CBS."
For those left in the lurch, Joel's monumental special is available on Paramount+, offering a chance to experience the show as intended, minus the abrupt ending.
Also interesting:
The return of a giant
The original "Piano Man"
What a night!
Despite CBS's fumble, Billy Joel's 100th Madison Square Garden show remains a testament to his enduring legacy and the love of his fans.
As the network scrambles to make amends, the world waits to see if they can turn the lights back on for the "Piano Man."
