The tribe of the popular TV show “Survivor” expressed discontent after CBS unexpectedly interrupted the lengthy merge episode to broadcast President Donald Trump’s address on the Iran conflict. Fans took to social media to lament the disruption of the tribal circle segment due to the unplanned interruption around 9 p.m. ET.
One frustrated viewer humorously suggested that Trump should start watching “Survivor” to avoid such interruptions in the future. Another fan described the episode as a game-changer and expressed disappointment at the interruption caused by the presidential announcement. A third viewer simply expressed annoyance at the situation.
In a surprising move, Global TV, the Canadian network airing “Survivor,” opted to air a rerun of “Border Security: Canada’s Front Line” instead of Trump’s speech, leaving some viewers puzzled. The current season of “Survivor” features a cast of 24 previous fan favorites, including Canadian contestants Genevieve Mushaluk and Kamilla Karthigesu, both of whom were eliminated in a surprise triple elimination on the recent episode.
This is not the first time a presidential address has disrupted “Survivor.” During the previous season’s finale, a similar interruption occurred just before the crowning of the champion. The show resumed after the pause, with Savannah Louie emerging as the winner. Notably, CBS had planned for the interruption and assured viewers that the episode would resume immediately after the address for Eastern and Central Time Zone viewers.
Apart from “Survivor” fans, followers of other TV shows like “Chicago Fire” and “The Masked Singer” also faced interruptions for the president’s speech. Interestingly, Mark Burnett, the executive producer of “Survivor” since its inception, also produced Trump’s reality show “The Apprentice.”