CBS said it had issued copyright notices for a recent episode featuring a surprise appearance by Stephen Colbert on the show \u201cOnly in Monroe\u201d per its regular practice, but would stop issuing takedown notices pending further review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The decision comes after online criticism of the company and follows Colbert\u2019s final star-studded \u201cThe Late Show\u201d episode on CBS. A day after the Thursday finale, Colbert returned to late-night television on \u201cOnly in Monroe,\u201d a public access program in Monroe, Michigan \u2014 the same show he appeared on in 2015 before his \u201cLate Show\u201d debut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Social media criticism against CBS\u2019 parent company, Paramount, mounted after people seeking to upload copies of the episode were issued copyright takedown notices, in a move a CBS spokesperson said was \u201cregular practice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Journalist Matthew Keys on Saturday accused Paramount of \u201capparently trying to suppress\u201d copies of the episode from appearing on other social media platforms \u201ceven though the show was produced by a public access TV channel.\u201d Keys posted on X on Sunday that Paramount rescinded the copyright claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A CBS spokesperson said in a statement that the \u201cOnly in Monroe\u201d episode featuring Colbert was \u201cfinanced and produced by CBS Studios and was posted on Stephen Colbert\u2019s YouTube channel in collaboration with Monroe Community Media and \u2018The Late Show\u2019s\u2019 YouTube channels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs 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,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The spokesperson said that CBS has decided \u201cto waive further enforcement of this standard industry practice until additional review.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paramount-owned CBS announced in July that it was canceling \u201cThe Late Show,\u201d which had run for 33 years, drawing criticism from people who accused it of yielding to political pressure. The news came as the network sought the Trump administration\u2019s approval for its $8 billion merger with Skydance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colbert had been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump and his administration on the late-night show. CBS has said the decision to cancel the show was purely financial amid challenges with the late-night market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During his farewell monologue, Colbert hinted at his upcoming appearance on \u201cOnly in Monroe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTonight is our final broadcast from the Ed Sullivan Theater,\u201d he said, prompting boos from the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, no, we were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years, all right? Can\u2019t take this for granted,\u201d he added. \u201cThough technically our first show in July of 2015 was from a public access station in Monroe, Michigan, for an audience of 12 people. Show business being what it is these days, that\u2019s probably where you\u2019ll see me next.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n