CBS and its parent company, Paramount, have temporarily halted copyright enforcement actions against the viral parody appearance of Stephen Colbert on the Michigan cable access show "Only In Monroe." The decision comes after the hour-long program, posted online just a day after Colbert concluded his nearly 11-year tenure as host of "The Late Show," gained widespread traction.
Colbert, who officially ended his run on "The Late Show" on Friday, May 23, 2026, humorously remarked during the parody program about his brief hiatus from television, stating, "It's been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV." He also expressed gratitude for appearing on Monroe Community Media, adding, "before they also get acquired by Paramount."
The deadpan appearance, which notably featured musician Jack White in a similarly understated role, rapidly gained traction across YouTube and other social media platforms. This widespread sharing prompted CBS to initially issue copyright protection notices. Long-time media reporter Matthew Keys commented on X, formerly Twitter, that "Paramount is apparently trying to suppress copies of 'Only in Monroe' from appearing on other social platforms by filing frivolous copyright notices," according to Keys' post on Sunday.
In response to inquiries, CBS issued a statement to NPR on Monday, May 25, 2026. The network confirmed that Colbert's "Only In Monroe" episode was "financed and produced by CBS studios" and had been authorized for distribution exclusively on three YouTube channels: The Late Show, Monroe Community Media, and Colbert's personal channel. The statement further explained, "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 specific episode, CBS indicated, "we have decided to waive further enforcement of this standard industry practice until additional review."
CBS had previously canceled Colbert's highly-rated late-night program in July 2025, citing financial reasons for the decision. This cancellation occurred during a period when Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, was seeking approval from the Trump administration for its proposed $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media. Colbert, known for his vocal criticism of President Trump, concluded his "Late Show" hosting duties with a notable finale featuring guests such as Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney.
The humor in Colbert's "Only In Monroe" appearance largely stemmed from the stark contrast between his prominent role on "The Late Show" and the modest setting of a local Michigan television studio. During the program, guests discussed local topics like Bigfoot sightings, and actor Jeff Daniels was seen preparing sandwiches and presenting the community calendar. In a segment, Colbert reportedly called Byron Allen, the host of "Comics Unleashed"—the show CBS has placed in the former "Late Show" time slot. Allen, according to reports, answered the call by exclaiming, "Is Stephen Colbert the best or what?"
Meanwhile, Byron Allen, in a separate interview with NPR's Newsmakers podcast, acknowledged Colbert as "an American treasure." However, Allen indicated that his own show would deliberately avoid the political comedy that became a hallmark of Colbert's "Late Show" era. Allen remarked, "Not everybody's gonna love me. 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."
