Trump’s primetime address delays ‘Survivor’ and ‘The Masked Singer’ finale, along with other shows
WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a primetime address regarding the war in Iran on April 1 at 9 PM ET across all four major broadcast networks.
The 20-minute speech has forced networks to scramble their lineups, interrupting major season finales and original programming with only 24 hours’ notice.
Trump address disrupts primetime finales, forces mid-show pauses
The scheduled address will directly interrupt the two-hour season finale of ‘The Masked Singer’ on Fox and a special two-hour episode of ‘Survivor’ on CBS, both of which are slated to begin at 8 PM ET.
Both networks will pause their respective competitions at 9 PM ET to carry the president’s remarks live.
Once the 20-minute address concludes, the programs will resume from the point of interruption, pushing their endings to 10:20 PM ET. This shift ensures that 'The Masked Singer' will still crown its season winner in its entirety.
Once the 20-minute address concludes, the programs will resume from the point of interruption, pushing their endings to 10:20 PM ET. This shift ensures that 'The Masked Singer' will still crown its season winner in its entirety.
Following the delayed finale, Fox will transition immediately to local news.
CBS will adjust its following hour, airing an all-new America’s Culinary Cup, originally set for 10 PM, in a new slot from 10:20 PM to 11:20 PM ET before local newscasts begin.
NBC, CBS shows delayed as late-night schedules shift
NBC will maintain its 8 PM ET airing of 'Chicago Med' as scheduled, while 'Chicago Fire' is now set to begin at 9:20 PM ET, immediately following the address, with a new episode of 'Chicago PD' following at 10:20 PM ET.
This hurts. 😢 Chicago Fire | Wednesdays on @NBC and streaming on Peacock pic.twitter.com/6ALzKcRqsw
— One Chicago (@NBCOneChicago) March 26, 2026
This chain reaction will push NBC’s local news to 11:20 PM ET.
Voight sets Commander Devlin straight. Chicago PD | Wednesdays on @NBC and streaming on Peacock pic.twitter.com/k4P7r9A7h6
— One Chicago (@NBCOneChicago) March 28, 2026
Consequently, late-night viewers on both NBC and CBS will see a delay, with ‘The Tonight Show’ and ‘The Late Show,’ both airing original episodes this week, pushed to an 11:50 PM ET start time.
Lenox and Ripley find themselves in a harrowing situation. Chicago Med returns Wednesday, Apr 1 | @NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/tOzhYEdSHK
— One Chicago (@NBCOneChicago) March 24, 2026
ABC replaces originals with reruns amid Trump address disruption
Unlike its competitors, ABC has decided to pull its original unscripted programming for the night on both coasts.
The network will replace new episodes of ‘The Greatest Average American’ and ‘Shark Tank’ with repeats.
In the East, the president’s speech will preempt the start of the ‘Greatest Average American’ rerun, with the network joining the episode in progress at 9:20 PM ET.
By airing a 'Shark Tank' encore at 10:01 PM ET, ABC will be the only major network to keep its local news and late-night programming, including 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' (in reruns this week), on their original schedules.
