Billy Joel Fans Express Dissatisfaction After ‘Piano Man’ Cut Short During CBS Special on Historic 100th Concert
Legendary musician Billy Joel had fans on the edge of their seats during his monumental 100th consecutive sold-out show at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden last month. To commemorate the momentous occasion, CBS aired a special titled “The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden – The Greatest Arena Run of All Time” featuring highlights from the phenomenal night. However, many viewers were left disappointed when the broadcaster unexpectedly ended the broadcast during Joel’s iconic ballad “Piano Man”.
Joel had the packed arena singing along all evening as he performed hit after hit from his illustrious 50-year career. When he launched into the opening notes of “Piano Man”, one of his most beloved songs, fans were primed to witness the climactic moment. But just as the melody was building to its crescendo, CBS abruptly cut to commercial, terminating the live broadcast.
On social media, the hashtags #BillyJoel and #CBS trended as viewers vented their frustration with the abrupt conclusion. Many commented they had looked forward to reliving the special night and felt shortchanged by the sudden cutoff. A few noted that the broadcaster’s target audience skews older and it was inconsiderate to end the broadcast late without allowing the headline song to play in full.
While the live broadcast has concluded, fans still have the opportunity to experience the magic of Billy Joel’s historic 100th Garden show on demand. The concert special is currently available to stream through select subscription services. Though it’s not the same as being in the room that night, streaming offers fans another chance to see one of the greatest pianists of all time perform his biggest hits in one of New York’s most iconic music venues.
