Why Isn't Fire Country On Tonight, and What Does Billy Joel Have to Do With It?

Max Thieriot in 'Fire Country' and Billy Joel.

Sorry, Fire Country fans, but the firefighter drama’s schedule is getting disrupted yet again, and there will be no new episode on Friday, April 19. But you might enjoy what’s taking its place, especially if you were watching CBS this past Sunday night.

Related: 'Fire Country' Renewed for Season 3 on CBS

On Sunday, April 14, CBS aired a pre-taped special called The 100th: Billy Joel – Live at Madison Square Garden, a concert film of the 100th show of the Bard of Long Island’s long-running MSG residency. The special started late because CBS’ coverage of The Masters golf tournament ran long. As a result, the show ended abruptly early in most markets across the country—right in the middle of Joel’s signature song, “Piano Man.” Viewers were furious. To make things right, CBS announced that it will rebroadcast the two-hour special in full.

This is great news for Billy Joel fans. Unfortunately, the rebroadcast will happen at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, which means Fire Country and Blue Bloods will be preempted.

Related: Is a 'Fire Country' Spinoff Happening? Everything You Need to Know

Fire Country will return on April 26 with Season 2, Episode 7, which is titled “A Hail Mary.” The episode will find the future of the Three Rock Con Camp in jeopardy. The camp, and the inmate firefighter program more generally, have recently been under increased scrutiny from Sacramento. Public opinion about the camp was growing increasingly negative, and the escape of an inmate in last week’s episode made things even worse. So the camp’s administrators—and maybe even its residents—will have to make the case for the camp’s rehabilitative qualities.

Billy Joel, meanwhile, recently released his first new song in 30 years, “Turn the Lights Back On,” and will wrap up his Madison Square Garden residency on July 25. He has tour dates all over the country throughout the year.

Fire Country airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS (except this Friday). It’s available to stream on Paramount+.

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