CBS Suspends Takedown Notices on Bootleg YouTube Uploads of Stephen Colbert’s ‘Only in Monroe’ Public Access Show After Outcry
Yes, it’s true, Paramount/CBS had been issuing takedown notices to YouTube users who were uploading bootleg copies of Stephen Colbert‘s recent return to hosting an episode of the public access series “Only in Monroe.” But the reason wasn’t as nefarious as one might think: It’s simply because the show is copyrighted and it already has a home — Colbert’s brand new YouTube channel.
However, given the outcry over the notices, CBS said it will stand down and stop any further action on takedowns, at least for now.
“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,” a CBS spokesperson said in a statement. “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 a day ago, and so far he has just one video up: His May 22 hosting gig on “Only in Monroe,” the public access show from Monroe Community Media. Here’s the rub: Others on YouTube beat him to the punch with their own uploads, including a site called “The Desk,” which has 620,621 views of Colbert’s “Only in Monroe” stint. In comparison, Colbert’s YouTube page has around 392,486 views of the same video.
In other words, this is standard copyright procedure, the same kind of takedown Paramount/CBS would also issue if you posted an episode of “Matlock.” (Why isn’t Monroe Community Media issuing the takedowns? They don’t quite have the legal resources.) Rather than watch the rips, the official video is on @Colbert and has also been shared by Monroe Community Media’s YouTube page and “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” page via collaborations too, so it is easily available for anyone who wants to watch.
According to insiders, Paramount/CBS isn’t trying to silence Colbert’s “Only in Monroe” — the company actually funded the production of his episode, which included music by Jack White and a guest spot by Jeff Daniels. (And that’s why “The Late Show” owns the copyright to this episode of “Only in Monroe” and has taken lead in protecting its copyright.)
Colbert famously launched “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” by first hosting an episode of “Only in Monroe,” from the public access station studios in Monroe, Mich., in July 2015. So it was only fitting that he would bookend his “Late Show” tenure with another visit to the town.
As Variety pointed out in writing about the “Only in Monroe” return, Colbert explained it this way: “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 said at the beginning of the 11:35 p.m. local broadcast Friday. “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.”
Eminem, Steve Buscemi (in a commercial for Monroe’s Buscemi’s Pizza and Subs, which he stresses is unrelated to him) and Byron Allen (via FaceTime call) also appeared on the surprise episode. And “Only in Monroe” regular hosts Michelle Baumann and former Miss America Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson, also were back, as they appeared in 2015 as well.
Here’s Colbert’s “Only in Monroe” episode, via @Colbert:
The controversy surrounding the takedown notices quickly ignited passionate debate among Colbert’s fanbase, many of whom initially feared CBS was attempting to suppress access to the comedian’s post-Late Show project. Social media platforms filled with criticism, with viewers questioning why clips of the widely celebrated public access episode were suddenly disappearing from YouTube.
However, once CBS clarified its position, the narrative shifted considerably. The company emphasized that the takedown requests were part of routine copyright enforcement rather than an effort to silence Colbert or limit public access. By pausing further action, CBS appeared eager to calm tensions and reassure audiences that the episode remained readily available through official channels.
The episode’s surprising popularity may have also contributed to the confusion. Unofficial uploads amassed hundreds of thousands of views within days, demonstrating strong public curiosity about Colbert’s first television appearance after the end of The Late Show. For many fans, Only in Monroe felt less like a side project and more like the symbolic beginning of Colbert’s next chapter.
Industry observers note that situations like this have become increasingly common in the digital era, where audiences often encounter unofficial uploads before official versions are released or widely promoted. In Colbert’s case, fan enthusiasm may have unintentionally complicated efforts to centralize viewership on his newly launched YouTube platform.
Ultimately, the response to Only in Monroe underscored just how loyal Colbert’s audience remains. Whether watching through an official upload or sharing clips online, viewers appeared united by excitement over seeing the comedian return to television so soon after his emotional farewell. If anything, the brief copyright dispute only amplified attention around a broadcast already being celebrated as an unexpectedly charming comeback.
