Stephen Colbert's Fiery Monologue Targets FCC Rule Change and CBS
In a bold display of defiance, Stephen Colbert dedicated a significant portion of his Monday night monologue to lambasting the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) updated guidance on the 'equal time rule.' The 61-year-old host revealed that this regulatory shift forced CBS executives to cancel a planned guest appearance, sparking a politicized rant that captivated his Ed Sullivan Theater audience.
Blocked Guest and Network Pressure
Colbert began by disclosing that Texas Representative James Talarico, a 36-year-old Democrat currently campaigning to flip a Republican Senate seat, was originally scheduled to appear on the broadcast. However, network lawyers intervened, instructing Colbert in no uncertain terms that Talarico could not be featured. Showrunners even requested Colbert avoid mentioning the incident altogether, but the host defiantly declared, 'And because my network clearly does not want us to talk about this… let’s talk about this.'
Explaining the FCC's Equal Time Rule
Colbert proceeded to educate viewers on the 92-year-old equal time rule, originally enacted by Congress in the 1930s to ensure broadcast stations provided balanced airtime to opposing political candidates. He highlighted how recent changes, spearheaded by FCC Chair Brendan Carr, stripped exemptions that had been in place since the 1990s. These exemptions previously allowed hosts like Jay Leno to welcome guests regardless of political affiliation, but now affect shows such as The View, The Tonight Show, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Colbert's Criticism of FCC and CBS
During his monologue, Colbert repeatedly targeted FCC Chair Brendan Carr, referencing Carr's claim that shows like Colbert's operate out of 'purely partisan political purposes.' Colbert retorted, 'I think you are motivated by partisan purposes yourself,' and accused the Trump administration of attempting to silence critics on television. In a colorful analogy, he stated, 'Donald Trump's administration wants to silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV because all Trump does is watch TV. Okay? He’s like a toddler with too much screen time. He gets cranky and then drops a load in his diapers.'
Colbert concluded this segment with a curt 'FCC you!' before further defying his network by welcoming James Talarico onto the show. However, this interview only aired online, as CBS prohibited Colbert from advertising links or QR codes to the audience. Colbert assured viewers, 'But I promise you if you go to our YouTube page, you’ll find it,' and the interview was indeed posted there as promised.
Talarico's Accusations and Show's Cancellation
During his online appearance, Talarico accused the administration of censorship, stating, 'I think that Donald Trump is worried that we’re about to flip Texas, and, Stephen, this is the party that ran against cancel culture. They’re trying to control what we watch, what we say, what we read.' This incident occurs against the backdrop of Colbert's show being cancelled for financial reasons, as announced by CBS in July. Reports from Puck indicate the show was losing $40 million annually.
Colbert, who replaced David Letterman in 2015, had previously criticized Paramount, CBS's parent company, for a $16 million settlement with the president, calling it 'a big fat bribe.' The show is set to air its last episode in May, with Colbert, a vocal Trump critic, yet to announce future plans. In a final act of rebellion, he also welcomed outspoken liberal Jennifer Garner to the TV portion of the show, underscoring his commitment to free expression amidst regulatory and corporate constraints.
