The Survivor contestants have expressed their disappointment as CBS deviated from the schedule on Wednesday night. Instead of airing the extended merge episode as planned, the network interrupted the show to broadcast U.S. President Donald Trump’s prime-time address on the situation in Iran at around 9 p.m. ET.
Many loyal fans took to social media to vent their frustration over missing out on a crucial segment of the show due to the unexpected interruption. Some even humorously suggested that President Trump should watch Survivor to avoid such disruptions in the future.
Meanwhile, Global TV, the Canadian broadcaster airing the series simultaneously, made a surprising move by airing a rerun of Border Security: Canada’s Front Line instead of the presidential address, ensuring Canadian viewers did not miss out on their favorite show.
The current season of Survivor, featuring a mix of returning fan favorites including Canadian contestants Genevieve Mushaluk and Kamilla Karthigesu, witnessed a shocking triple elimination on Wednesday’s episode. The season finale is scheduled to air on May 20.
This is not the first time Survivor has been interrupted by a presidential address. During the previous season’s finale, a similar situation occurred, causing a brief pause before the crowning of the winner. Despite these interruptions, the show continues to captivate audiences, with loyal viewers eagerly awaiting the season’s conclusion.
It’s worth noting that CBS had planned the interruption in advance, ensuring that the episode would resume immediately after the president’s address for viewers in the Eastern and Central Time Zones. Viewers in the Pacific Time Zone were able to enjoy the episode without any interruptions.
In addition to Survivor fans, followers of other popular shows like Chicago Fire and The Masked Singer also experienced disruptions to accommodate the president’s speech. Interestingly, the executive producer of Survivor, Mark Burnett, has a connection to President Trump, having produced his reality show The Apprentice.