The latest episode of the Survivor series faced an unexpected interruption on Wednesday night. CBS had to deviate from its original plan for the extra-long merge episode to accommodate U.S. President Donald Trump’s prime-time address on the Iran war.
The broadcast was halted around 9 p.m. ET when the president spoke from Washington, D.C. This sudden change left loyal fans of the show expressing their disappointment online due to missing out on a crucial tribal circle segment.
One X user humorously suggested that Trump should watch Survivor to avoid such interruptions in the future. Another frustrated viewer highlighted the unfortunate timing of the interruption during what was anticipated to be a game-changing episode.
Meanwhile, Global TV, the Canadian network airing Survivor, made a surprising move by airing a rerun of Border Security: Canadaâs Front Line instead of Trump’s address, providing a twist that left some viewers puzzled.
The 50th season of Survivor premiered earlier this year, featuring a cast of 24 fan favorites including contestants from Canada. Following a triple elimination on Wednesday, fan-favorite players like Genevieve Mushaluk and Kamilla Karthigesu, alongside Colby Donaldson, were sent home. The season finale is scheduled for May 20.
This is not the first time Survivor has faced an interruption due to a presidential address. In a similar event during the previous season’s finale, fans had to endure a break before witnessing the crowning of the champion.
CBS had planned for the interruption and assured viewers in the Eastern and Central Time Zones that the episode would resume immediately after the president’s address, maintaining the show’s continuity. Fortunately, viewers in the Pacific Time Zone enjoyed the episode without any interruptions.
Apart from Survivor fans, followers of other popular shows like Chicago Fire and The Masked Singer also experienced disruptions for Trump’s speech. Interestingly, Mark Burnett, the executive producer of Survivor and The Apprentice, has been a part of both reality shows since their inception.