The battle between Stephen Colbert continued Tuesday night after CBS pulled Colbertâs interview with Texas state representative James Talarico (D).
Talarico was supposed to be on âThe Late ShowâMonday, but the airing was nixed, a move Colbert was calculated by CBS, per Mediaite.
On Tuesday, Colbert said CBS lawyers of warned him âin no uncertain termsâ that he âcould not haveâ Talarico âon the broadcast.â The state lawmaker is running in the Democratic primary for a U.S.Senate seat in Texas,
Colbert said the advice referenced guidance from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr, who said talk shows could be subject to the âEqual Timeâ rule.
âThe Late Showâ posted the full interview with Talarico on its YouTube channel.
CBS issued itâs own statement Tuesday, denying Colbertâs claim.
ââThe Late Showâ was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico. The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the Equal Time for other candidates could be fulfilled,â the statement read.
âThe Late Showâ decided to present the interview through its YouTube channel with on-air promotion on the broadcast rather than potentially providing the equal-time options,â the statement continued.
Colbert started Tuesday nightâs show by holding up a printed copy of the statement and revealed that âevery wordâ of his Monday night script calling out the nixing of the Talarico interview was âapproved by CBSâs lawyers who for the record approve every script that goes on the air.â
âIn fact, between the monologue I did last night and before I did the second act talking about this issue, I had to go backstage. I got called backstage to get more notes from these lawyers â something that had never ever happened before â and they told us the language they wanted me to use to describe that Equal Time exception,â he said. âAnd I used that language. So, I donât know what this is about.â
Colbert said he was ânot even mad,â adding, âI really donât want an adversarial relationship with the network. Iâve never had one.â
âIâm just so surprised that this giant global corporation would not stand up to these bullies,â he continued. âCome on, youâre Paramount! No! Youâre more than that, youâre Paramount Plus.â
âPlus what?â Colbert said as the audience cheered. âI guess weâre all going to find out pretty soon.â
âAnd for the lawyers to release this without even talking to me is really surprising. I donât even know what to do with this crap,â he said before sealing the printed statement in a plastic bag and dropping it in the trash.
