Many Omaha Grammy Awards watchers were upset last night.
While Paul McCartney was still performing the closing number, local CBS affiliate KMTV cut in with its nightly news broadcast.
No one on air acknowledged the station had cut in early, though the station featured highlights from the awards show.
Less than one minute of the former Beatle's epic performance (plus the Grammy telecast's credits) were cut off, but those watching in Omaha lit up Facebook and Twitter with angry comments.
"It was terrible," said Omahan Mike Jones. "That was the best part of the whole ceremony."
"It's pretty upsetting that they would cut off one of the most influential musicians of all time," added Sasha Forsen.
Some Lincoln viewers chimed in that they were thankful the Lincoln CBS affiliate let the show run its course.
"We've certainly heard from viewers," KMTV general manager Chris Sehring told The World-Herald.
A station employee made an error and switched from the live broadcast too soon.
"It was entirely our fault," he said. "We're offering our apologies to everyone and accepting responsibility."
The station showed a clip of McCartney's performance on Monday's news broadcast and Sehring said he's working with CBS to show the whole performance again. There are copyright issues to be worked out with CBS and The Grammys before he can do that.
"We're doing our best," Sehring said.
Here's what happened: Near the end of the awards show, McCartney performed parts of the medley from the Beatles album "Abbey Road," which includes "Golden Slumbers" and "Carry That Weight." Near the end of the medley, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, Joe Walsh of the Eagles and McCartney's tour guitarists Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray joined the former Beatle for a long guitar jam.
After several solos from each guitar player, McCartney went into "The End," but before he could finish, KMTV punched in with its nightly news show.
Contact the writer: 402-444-1557, kevin.coffey@owh.com; twitter.com/owhmusicguy
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