CBS Stands Down After Outcry Over Stephen Colbert

Michelle Stein
38 Comments
Stephen Colbert
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

What To Know

  • CBS faced backlash after issuing copyright takedown notices for Stephen Colbert’s surprise appearance on Only in Monroe.
  • The network clarified that the episode was financed and produced by CBS Studios, and the takedown notices were part of standard copyright enforcement.
  • After fan outcry, CBS decided to pause further enforcement of the takedowns.

CBS is standing down after fan outcry over the network’s controversial move involving Stephen Colbert.

On May 23, Colbert returned to TV as the surprise guest host of Only in Monroe on a public access station in Michigan, just one day after his final episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert aired. (He memorably took over the show in 2015, before making his debut on The Late Show.)

Colbert’s newly-launched personal YouTube channel published the full Only in Monroe episode, with other YouTube channels re-posting it on the platform as well — prompting CBS to send takedown notices for copyright infringement, per Deadline.

However, the takedown notices weren’t sent to suppress Colbert’s public-access appearance after The Late Show’s cancellation, as some fans speculated. That’s because CBS actually paid for the Only in Monroe episode.

“Stephen Colbert’s return to Monroe in the Only in Monroe episode was financed and produced by CBS Studios and was posted on Stephen Colbert’s YouTube channel in collaboration with Monroe Community Media and The Late Show‘s YouTube channels,” a CBS spokesperson said in a statement.

The message continued, “As is our regular practice, we send copyright notices to unauthorized websites that post copyrighted content from CBS and our network/studio talent such as Stephen Colbert. However, for this episode, have decided to waive further enforcement of this standard industry practice until additional review.”

On May 21, The Late Show aired its final episode, delivering its biggest weeknight audience ever, after CBS announced its cancellation in July for financial reasons. Colbert has already discussed one of his next projects, a film called Shadow of the Past, based on six chapters of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring that weren’t included in Peter Jackson‘s 2001 film.

Meanwhile, Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen will take over The Late Show‘s 11:35 p.m. ET time slot on CBS.

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Conversation38 Comments

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  1. A

    Also Truth

    Cancel your Paramount streaming account. Don't support foul business practices.

    1. B

      BBS

      I love Paramount, CBS and Bari Weiss.

      1. L

        Lauriek1960

        Of course you do!

  2. A

    Aneta

    CBS and Paramount will see their revenue go down as people avoid watching their content. This is what you get for kowtowing to Trump. Larry Ellison can use those two platforms as tax losses.

    1. R

      rkb

      and others like me will finally sign up to paramount. BYE!

      1. M

        Mkmck

        Lol...of course you will Cletus. Do you have money left over after buying your trump phone?

        1. A

          Aguest

          So how’s the Free groceries going at the local Zohan store ? Be sure to load up !! Some Working folks are paying for it.

  3. E

    Elisabeth

    CBS wanted to appease Trump and canceled Steven Colbert …. Not realizing that they were shooting themselves in the foot ….. oh well can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube…. Excellent lesson for CBS maybe next time they will worry more about their audience than Trump

    1. A

      Aguest

      So you’re saying CBS should be All liberal left or else !! No I think you’ll find out that though the liberal left either directly owns or controls 85% of All media. They do NOT own our country and the souls of All Americans. People on the opposite side of the liberal left still have some say to. And we will use it.

      1. J

        Jaguar

        Nobody said that CBS should be “all liberal left or else!!” But it sure as hell shouldn’t be all radical right either. If that’s what you want, go watch Fox News, or Newsmax, or OAN.

        1. A

          Aguest

          I do watch Fox and some Newsmax. That doesn’t change the fact that 85% of All TV is either owned out right by the liberal left or controlled by the liberal left. But there’s still not enough HATE to appease the leftists. They want every vestige of our society to join they’re Communist ranks.

          1. A

            AnotherGuest

            I believe you just made up that percentage. However, let's say you're right, how do you explain that 85% of liberals own media companies? Are liberals better at creating companies? Do more people prefer to watch liberal content?

            1. A

              Aguest

              Let me help you just a bit, these are just a few: Cuban, Bloomberg, Soros, Winfrey. No Liberals are better at Destroying most companies with the exception of media. As to you’re second question just like Some people want the government to pay for their lives cradle to grave ( liberals) some people love propaganda of the Communist vintage ( liberals). Hope I’ve helped you. If not go to you’re nearest DEI office.

      2. M

        Marcus Crockett

        Definitely not watching no right wing racist propaganda TV. The only time I even turn to CBS was to watch football. We had Paramount but canceled it when the racist bought it.

  4. W

    wondering

    Should be interesting to revisit CBS's ratings in the Late Show time slot after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Anyone think they're going to go up?

    1. M

      Mmwh

      Maybe they will have humor….

    2. K

      Kim

      They don't care. Byron Allen is paying for the timeslot. They'll make their money from him no matter how many people watch. And they've made our little despot happy.

      1. A

        Antonio Montealegre

        Ditto!

  5. M

    Martin

    Let's boycott Comics Unleashed.

    1. B

      Bob

      That won't be necessary

  6. N

    NCNana

    Make sure you don’t use any of the “Socialist” achievements. Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, OSHA…..

    Wouldn’t want you to cross over to the dark side.

  7. B

    Big Ed

    After the fiasco of firing Stephen Colbert, I have lost all respect for CBS. I was shocked to learn that he has the highest rating of all late-night shows. If that is the case, and they are allegedly losing $40million, what are the other shows losing, and why are they still on the air? Why not try raising advertising rates before cancelling?

    I read somewhere that CBS wants a merger approved and fired Colbert to stay on the good side of the government administration. What a joke!

    We need to stand up for free speech in this country.

    1. M

      Marcus Crockett

      CBS new racist owners support a racist president who wanted an anti racist person off the air. He will build a bigger audience on YouTube. I wouldn't watch him on CBS but definitely will on YouTube

      1. A

        Aguest

        It’s your thang do what you wanna do……

    2. A

      Aguest

      So planning on burning and destroying both public and private property, assaulting law enforcement, and innocent bystanders, and of course the obligatory looting of businesses. Thats how the left does their “peaceful protests”. Now quick bring up Jan 6 but be sure to have amnesia about the numerous riots by Leftists before and since the Jan 6 riot.

  8. C

    Cdorje

    Next is 60 minutes. That may go down the tubes as well.

    1. A

      Aguest

      We can hope…….

  9. C

    Curious345

    Could you give a couple of examples of "lives that the liberal left in particular Hollywood have ruined down through the years?"

    1. A

      Aguest

      Mel Gibson, James Woods if I really worked on it there would be Scrolls of names that the Liberal Left blacklisted Just for disagreeing with them. The Vast majority of Hollywood is Extremely slanted to the Left. Just watch a few minutes of some of the awards shows. You’re doing a fairly nice job of pretending you Don’t know. When the Liberal Left Directors and Producers and $$ Backers turn on actors just for not aligning with their politics those actors can’t get work. It’s GOOD to see it going the other way for a change !! Maybe some Balance will come out as a result.

  10. R

    Rita Raveill.

    CBS caved to Trump and I’ve lost all respect for them. They are giving in to a tyrant and increasing media control by the government, cowering to allow destruction of freedom of the press. I’m FINISHED with them. I will watch broadcasts from newsworthy outlets and skip them entirely. How cowardly and disgusting!

    1. A

      Aguest

      Yeah you do just that ! That’ll show Em ! NOT !!

  11. G

    Guest

    Won't watch any more CBS

  12. U

    USA First

    I am glad he is gone....tired of all the negativity they put out and not letting this country get back to being America First....

    1. A

      Aguest

      Amen !! Well said !!

    2. K

      Kili

      What you are calling “negativity” is the total opposite to those in the know who are more interested in facts, reality, & truth in their comedy. You - YOU - probably weren’t ever an actual a fan of Colbert/Late Night to begin with, & likely prefer the comedy on FOX, which is considerably lacking in the qualities I mentioned regarding Late Night.

      1. A

        Aguest

        Did you get Colbert to autograph your copy of The Manifesto ? Sincerely Comrade Colbert. 😂

  13. A

    Angela Smith

    URAFI

    1. A

      Aguest

      For a Real one look in the mirror.