Stephen Colbert’s Parody Show Faces Copyright Notices

Stephen Colbert recently attended The Hollywood Reporter’s celebration of The Most Powerful People in New York Media. After being removed from his hosting role on The Late Show, he began hosting a local cable show in Monroe, Michigan.

Colbert humorously launched a parody show called “Only In Monroe” on Michigan public access. This occurrence came just a day after his departure from “The Late Show,” which he hosted for nearly 11 years.

“It’s been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV,” Colbert joked during the program. “So I am grateful to be here on Monroe Community Media, before they also get acquired by Paramount.”

This parody episode, featuring rockstar Jack White, became viral soon after release. CBS initially sent copyright protection notices to limit its reposting on social platforms.

Matthew Keys, a media reporter, noted on X that Paramount was attempting to suppress copies by filing frivolous copyright notices. However, CBS later stated that Colbert’s episode was produced and financed by CBS Studios, approved for distribution on specific channels. Further actions were waived, awaiting additional review.

The cancellation of “The Late Show” in July 2025 by CBS was described as a financial decision. This change occurred amid Paramount Global’s efforts to secure approval for a merger with Skydance Media during the Trump administration.

Colbert’s final episode of “The Late Show” featured a star-studded lineup including Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney. His appearance on “Only In Monroe” presented humor through its contrast with his previous influential position in television.

The parody episode discussed local topics like bigfoot sightings in Michigan and included actor Jeff Daniels showcasing community activities. During this show, Colbert called Byron Allen, set to take over The Late Show slot with “Comics Unleashed.”

In an interview with NPR’s Newsmakers podcast, Allen called Colbert an “American treasure.” However, Allen’s show intends to avoid the political comedy style of Colbert’s era.

“Not everybody’s gonna love me,” Allen said. “But there is that one or two percent that would be like ‘hell yeah, I’m rolling with you’ and I learned that at an early age, and by the way, that simple lesson made me a billionaire.”