Colbert can’t be himself
Lawyers complain after Late Show host reprises character from The Colbert Report
ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — After CBS
host Stephen Colbert told viewers that lawyers representing his old Comedy Central show said he couldn’t be “Stephen Colbert” anymore, he thumbed his nose at them with a transparent dodge.
Lawyers representing his old company complained to CBS after he revived the character he played under his own name on
— a full-of-himself cable news host.
They said that the character “Stephen Colbert” was their intellectual property, “which is surprising, since I never considered that guy much of an intellect,” Colbert said on the on Wednesday.
The audience booed when Colbert, “with a heavy heart,” said it has been decreed that the character is kaput.
“I feel the same way, but what can I do?” Colbert said. “The lawyers have spoken. I cannot reasonably argue that I own my own face and name. And as much as I’d like to have that guy on again, I can’t.”
He then introduced “Stephen Colbert’s identical cousin,” an interview with himself displaying the same cocked eyebrow expression his old character had. Then the real Colbert did one of the old show’s most popular recurring segments, retitling The Word to The Werd.
CBS declined comment on Thursday. Representatives from Comedy Central and its corporate parent, Viacom, did not immediately return messages. Until 2005, when CBS split from Viacom, the two networks were corporate cousins. Since starting at the last fall, Colbert has struggled to establish himself with his own personality. So fans were delighted last On a new episode called Meet the Parents, Johnny (Aaron Ashmore) escorts Pawter (Sarah Power) home for what turns out to be a somewhat chilly family reunion. Meanwhile, D’avin (Luke Macfarlane) experiences some surprising side effects from Khlyen’s (Rob Stewart) Red 17 experiments. Hannah John-Kamen also stars. week when he briefly brought the old character back.
The has been making an aggressive play for attention with two weeks of live shows coinciding with the Republican and Democratic conventions. Besides the reappearance of his character, old friend Jon Stewart appeared last week for his first extended comic riffs on TV since leaving Comedy Central’s
During his interview on Wednesday’s show, Colbert’s “identical cousin” said, “Stephen, whenever you need me, wild horses ridden by corporate lawyers could not At a time when he most needs allies to help protect him, Rev. Anderson (Philip Glenister) begins to find himself increasingly alienated from those around him, in the new episode What Lurks Within. Meanwhile, the sinister Sidney (Brent Spiner) drops a shattering revelation on Kyle (Patrick Fugit). Wrenn Schmidt and David Denman also star. keep me away.”
The Werd segment was identical to what he used to do, except for the “e” in the name. On a split screen, Colbert narrated a story while printed messages on the other side provided the punchlines.
For instance, Colbert said that during the coming campaign, Hillary Clinton will say things that will make Donald Trump appear to be a racist. On the side screen came the words: “And so will Donald Trump.”
He said there was another option for dissatisfied voters this fall: “Write in Michelle.”
Killjoys Outcast Rosewood
The theme of the now-defunct sitcom Telenovela carries over to Silkworms y Silencio, as the star of such a serialized drama is murdered. As they probe the death, Rosewood and Villa (Morris Chestnut, Jaina Lee Ortiz) wonder if their own relationship is a bit too dramatic. Donna (Lorraine Toussaint) isn’t happy that Erica (guest star Joy Bryant) is determined to be a permanent part of Rosewood’s life.