Stephen Colbert, a prominent figure in late-night television for over a decade, has embarked on a new digital venture following the recent cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" by CBS. Days after his network program concluded its 11-year run in July 2025, Colbert debuted a personal YouTube channel, @Colbert, on May 22, featuring a guest hosting appearance on "Only in Monroe," a community television program based in Monroe, Michigan.
"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,”" — CBS spokesperson, Variety.
The broadcast, aired simultaneously on Colbert's newly created YouTube channel and Monroe Community Media's local cable channels, marked Colbert's second visit to the small public access studio. His first appearance in 2015 served as a prelude to his tenure as the primary host of "The Late Show." The cancellation of his CBS program occurred amidst active merger discussions between Paramount and Skydance, with the network citing financial considerations.
During his "Only in Monroe" appearance, Colbert addressed his return to the local stage, stating, "Since I was last here in Monroe, Michigan, I spent 11 years as the primary host of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert‘ on CBS, which came to an end last night." He continued, humorously noting, "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."
The guest list for the Monroe program was notably star-studded, featuring Michigan natives musician Jack White and actor Jeff Daniels, alongside rapper Eminem. Actor Steve Buscemi also participated, appearing in a commercial spot for a local eatery, Buscemi’s Pizza and Subs, clarifying that the business name was coincidental. Media executive Byron Allen, whose company acquired the late-night timeslots formerly occupied by Colbert's program, joined the broadcast via FaceTime.
Immediately following the episode's release, CBS and Paramount initiated a campaign of copyright takedown notices targeting third-party YouTube accounts that had uploaded unauthorized copies of the broadcast. One such channel, "The Desk," had garnered over 620,000 views on its unsanctioned upload, surpassing the approximately 392,000 views on Colbert’s official channel for the same content. This swift action sparked accusations across social media that Paramount was deliberately attempting to limit the episode's reach.
CBS quickly responded to these allegations, with a spokesperson releasing a statement to Variety. The network confirmed its financial and production involvement, stating, “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.” The spokesperson further clarified the copyright enforcement, adding, “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.”
The cancellation of Colbert's CBS program has drawn broader scrutiny, occurring against the backdrop of an ongoing lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against Paramount. This lawsuit is tied to a "60 Minutes" segment that aired on CBS News, adding another layer of complexity to the corporate decisions impacting media content and distribution. The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding intellectual property rights, corporate control over content, and the evolving landscape of digital media distribution.
