Stephen Colbert publicly referred to as out his bosses at CBS for banning an upcoming interview from airing on his late-night present.
Through the Monday, February 16, episode of The Late Present With Stephen Colbertthe host, 61, referred to as out CBS and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for not permitting him to talk with Texas State Consultant James Talaricoa Democrat, as initially deliberate.
“You recognize who isn’t one among my friends tonight? That’s Texas State Consultant James Talarico,” he mentioned after introducing Jennifer Garner’s upcoming look on the present. “(James) was presupposed to be right here, however we have been instructed in no unsure phrases by our community’s attorneys, who referred to as us instantly, that we couldn’t have him on the published.”
The comic selected to handle the difficulty stay on his present, including, “Then, I used to be instructed, in some unsure phrases, that not solely may I not have him on, I couldn’t point out me not having him on. And since my community clearly doesn’t need us to speak about this … let’s speak about this.”
After talking together with his bosses, Colbert was instructed that the interview was scrapped attributable to new steerage from Carr. It was urged that Colbert comply with the “equal time” rule, which requires broadcasters to offer equal time to every political candidate working for workplace.
Colbert, in the meantime, identified that there have been exceptions for information and talk-show interviews with politicians.
“Effectively, FCC you,” Colbert fired again. “Let’s name this what it’s: Donald Trump‘s administration needs to silence anybody who says something dangerous about Trump on TV as a result of all Trump does is watch TV. He’s like a toddler with an excessive amount of display time.”
Colbert went on to assert that he and fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel have been probably the most affected after Kimmel’s present was quickly suspended from ABC after his feedback following the demise of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“I made a decision to take Brendan Carr’s recommendation,” Colbert mentioned about his resolution to nonetheless interview Talarico and put up it on the Late Present YouTube channel. “The community says I can’t provide you with a URL or a QR code, however I promise you, if you happen to go to our YouTube web page, you (will) discover it.”
CBS beforehand introduced that The Late Present would finish in Could. CBS executives beforehand launched a press release addressing their resolution, claiming it was not “associated in any method to the present’s efficiency, content material or different issues occurring at Paramount” however was as an alternative attributable to funds.
Colbert broke his silence in regards to the surprising cancellation on the time.
“Earlier than we begin the present I need to let you already know one thing that I discovered simply final evening. Subsequent yr will probably be our final season,” he introduced throughout a taping in July 2025 because the viewers booed. “I share your emotions. It’s not simply the top of our present, nevertheless it’s the top of The Late Present on CBS. I’m not being changed. That is all simply going away.”
He continued: “I do need to say that the oldsters at CBS have been nice companions. … And I’m grateful to the viewers, you, who’ve joined us each evening, in right here, on the market and all around the globe.”