Without getting too into the weeds here, CBS isn’t anyone’s favorite TV network right now. Especially after their shabby treatment of late-night television icon, Stephen Colbert. Things got even worse when CBS began issuing takedown notices to YouTube users uploading ripped, bootleg copies of Colbert‘s post-Late Show return to hosting an episode of the public access series Only in Monroe, recorded in Monroe, Michigan. But thanks to a report in Variety, we’ve learned that CBS/Paramount has decided to stop issuing takedown notices. Largely due to vocal fan backlash. Here’s what a CBS spokesperson said in a statement:
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. 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, we have decided to waive further enforcement of this standard industry practice until additional review.
Colbert launched his new YouTube channel only very recently, and so far, he has one video loaded to the channel. And that’s his May 22 Only in Monroe hosting premiere, from Monroe, Michigan. The funny thing about all this is that the show has more views on YouTube channels bootlegging it than on the original page. CBS maintains that this is standard operating procedure. Especially when anything they own (or partially own) finds its way onto the internet without permission.
Colbert launched his Late Show gig in 2015 with an episode of Only in Monroe, and returned to his public-access show the day after The Late Show ended, 11 years later. Colbert joked, “It’s been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV, so I am grateful to be able to be here on Monroe Community Media before they also get acquired by Paramount.” Among the guests for the episode were Eminem, Steve Buscemi, Jeff Daniels, and it included music by Jack White. You can watch the full episode above. And here’s hoping we get more soon. We should not remain Colbert-deprived as a culture.