CBS Stands Down After Outcry Over Stephen Colbert

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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