Hollywood Breakdown
The Battle over Stephen Colbert's 'Colbert Report' Character
Lawyers from Viacom have told CBS their Late Show host Stephen Colbert cannot use his former Colbert Report character, also named "Stephen Colbert." The lawsuit is especially confusing because Viacom and CBS are supposed to be sister companies.
By Kim Masters • • 3m ListenFans were delighted when Stephen Colbert brought back his former Comedy Central character "Stephen Colbert" to The Late Show on CBS. But now it's been confirmed that Viacom, the parent company of Comedy Central, has told CBS that Colbert cannot use that character or his segments, even though The Colbert Report is no longer on the air. Plus, CBS and Viacom are both owned by Sumner Redstone, so it seems strange that Viacom would want to pick a fight. Colbert, meanwhile, said he'd stop using the character, but then went on to introduce "Stephen Colbert's identical twin brother," also named, of course, "Stephen Colbert."
