CBS Reviews Takedown Notices on Colbert’s ‘Only in Monroe’ Appearance

CBS recently issued copyright notices for a surprise episode featuring Stephen Colbert on the show “Only in Monroe.” This was in line with the company’s usual practice; however, CBS will pause issuing takedown notices for now and review the situation further. This decision came after online criticism of the company. The criticism followed Colbert’s final episode of “The Late Show” on CBS.

Colbert returned to late-night television on “Only in Monroe,” a public access program in Monroe, Michigan. He first appeared on this show in 2015 before his debut on “The Late Show.” Paramount, CBS’ parent company, faced online backlash for issuing copyright takedown notices to people trying to upload copies of the episode. A CBS spokesperson labeled this action as “regular practice.”

Journalist Matthew Keys accused Paramount of trying to prevent the episode from appearing on other social media platforms. This criticism came despite the fact that the show was produced by a public access channel. Keys reported on social media platform X that Paramount later withdrew the copyright claim.

A CBS spokesperson explained that the “Only in Monroe” episode with Colbert was “financed and produced by CBS Studios.” The episode was shared on Colbert’s YouTube channel, in collaboration with Monroe Community Media and “The Late Show’s” YouTube channels. The spokesperson mentioned that CBS typically sends copyright notices to unauthorized websites that post CBS content. However, they stated CBS would pause this enforcement for further review.

Stephen Colbert, known for his role on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” was a critic of President Donald Trump. In July, Paramount-owned CBS announced the cancellation of “The Late Show,” a decision met with some criticism. Some accused CBS of yielding to political pressure amid a requested merger with Skydance worth $8 billion. The network stated the cancellation was financially motivated due to challenges in the late-night market.

During his farewell monologue, Colbert mentioned his upcoming appearance on “Only in Monroe.” He indicated the end of their broadcasts from the Ed Sullivan Theater. Colbert reminded the audience of his initial show in July 2015 from a public access station in Monroe, Michigan, before joking that this might be his future venue once more.