The tribe on the reality show “Survivor” expressed disappointment as CBS unexpectedly interrupted the extended merge episode to broadcast U.S. President Donald Trump’s address on the Iran war. Fans of the show took to social media to vent their frustration over missing out on a crucial segment of the episode due to the interruption.
Meanwhile, Global TV, the Canadian network airing “Survivor,” opted to surprise Canadian viewers by airing a rerun of “Border Security: Canada’s Front Line” instead of Trump’s speech. This decision sparked confusion among viewers online.
The latest season of “Survivor” featured a cast of 24 returning contestants, including Canadian participants Genevieve Mushaluk and Kamilla Karthigesu. In a surprising turn of events, three contestants, including Mushaluk, Karthigesu, and Colby Donaldson, were eliminated in a triple elimination on Wednesday’s episode. The season finale is scheduled to air on May 20.
This wasn’t the first time a presidential address disrupted an episode of “Survivor.” During the previous season’s finale in December, the show also had to pause for a presidential address before crowning the winner. The interruption lasted about 20 minutes before the finale resumed.
CBS had pre-planned the interruption for the recent episode and assured viewers that the show would resume immediately after the president’s address for Eastern and Central Time Zone viewers. West Coast viewers were fortunate as the episode aired uninterrupted for them.
In addition to “Survivor” fans, followers of NBC’s “Chicago Fire” and Fox’s “The Masked Singer” also experienced interruptions for the president’s speech. Interestingly, Mark Burnett, the executive producer of “Survivor” and Trump’s reality show “The Apprentice,” has been associated with both shows since their inception.
