Colbert introduces his ‘identical cousin’
After CBS “Late Show” 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 “The Colbert Report” — a clueless, 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 “Late Show” on Wednesday.
The audience booed when Colbert, “with a heavy heart,” said that the character is kaput. “The lawyers have spoken. I cannot reasonably argue that I own my own face and name,” he said. “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.”
Representatives from CBS and Comedy Central declined comment on Thursday.