Billy Joel bumps Fire Country reruns off the CBS schedule on April 19

CBS made a huge mistake with their recent Billy Joel concert! To make up for it, they’re bumping Fire Country reruns off this Friday! Find out more here!

CBS’s Sunday, April 14, schedule was a bit off as the network was dedicated to coverage of the Masters Tournament. As it happened, the Masters went a half-hour overtime to cover Scottie Scheffler’s victory with interviews with him and others. 

That meant a later start time first for a brand new episode of Tracker. Then CBS had the two-hour special Billy Joel: The 100th–Live at Madison Square Garden. Trapped in March, this marked the Grammy-winning star’s record 100th sellout concert at the iconic arena with special appearances by Sting and Jerry Seinfeld. 

It was a fun show, fans loved it…until, with no warning, the show cut to local newscasts in the Eastern and Central time zones. That would have been bad enough but even worse was that it happened literally in the middle of Joel’s most famous song, “Piano Man.”

Viewers were irate, flooding social media with complaints. They weren’t alone as some of the local newscasters likewise apologized, with some jokes on how sudden it was to see them after Joel. 

Viewers on the West Coast were able to see the special in full due to the differing time zones but had already heard the fuss from those in other parts of the country. While the special aired in full on Paramount+, viewers were still upset so CBS is going to make it up to them!

When does the Billy Joel special reair?

In a statement per Deadline, CBS announced that due to the backlash, the special will now air Friday, April 19, at 9/8c.

"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 19th at 9:00PM ET/PT."

CBS is catching a break as Fire Country and Blue Bloods had already been set for reruns on April 19. SWAT will have a new episode airing at 8/7c and will thus now lead into the replay of the special. It was some bad press for CBS to make a blunder like this but hopefully they make up for it as the PIano Man gets another chance to work his musical magic on CBS viewers.

Billy Joel: The 100th–Live at Madison Square Garden re-airs Friday, April 19, on CBS.