Stephen Colbert Takes on CBS: The Inside Story of the Pulled Interview with Rep. James Talarico
Stephen Colbert criticized CBS for releasing a statement denying that it pulled his interview with Rep. James Talarico from Sunday night's broadcast without his knowledge. Colbert read the statement on air and joked about its legalistic language. He explained that CBS' legal team had given him notes on how to handle the situation, which was a first in the 11 seasons of "The Late Show."
Colbert revealed that CBS lawyers had called the show's staff and instructed them not to air the interview with Rep. Talarico due to the FCC's equal time rule. While there is an exception for talk shows like "The Late Show," CBS decided to enforce the rule unilaterally. Colbert humorously suggested that the decision was made for financial reasons and linked it to the Trump administration's desire to silence critics on TV.
In conclusion, Colbert expressed his surprise at the network's actions and emphasized that he did not want an adversarial relationship with CBS. He highlighted the importance of standing up to bullies and expressed gratitude for his time at the network. Colbert's criticism of CBS's handling of the situation and his humorous take on the events surrounding the pulled interview with Rep. Talarico were a focal point of his monologue on "The Late Show."