A CBS spokesperson rushed to the defense of the network’s censorship apparatus, giving statements to industry trade publications like Variety and Deadline, claiming that CBS Studios had actually financed and secretly produced the public-access episode in collaboration with Monroe Community Media. “As is our regular practice, we send copyright notices to unauthorized websites that post copyrighted content from CBS and our network/studio talent,” the spokesperson asserted, insisting the copyright enforcement was simply routine intellectual-property protection.

But that explanation raised more questions than it answered. Nothing in the broadcast identified CBS or Paramount as producers. There was no corporate copyright message at the end of the hour; instead, an independent, Chicago-based studio was listed as the production company. Colbert also spent much of the episode openly mocking Paramount and CBS in ways that strongly suggested they were not exactly thrilled with the project. So viewers were understandably skeptical that the corporation had lovingly funded an anti-corporate guerrilla comedy special only to immediately suppress its circulation online.

After a backlash erupted, CBS quickly retreated, announcing it would “waive further enforcement” pending additional review.

  • Etterra@discuss.online
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    3 days ago

    You’re mistaking Trumpland for reality. Unfortunately they overlap, so while you and I live in reality and Trump lives in Trumpland, what happens in Trumpland it directly infects reality. I meant to say effects reality but to be honest, I think “infects” is a better word.

    • LuckyDevil@piefed.social
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      3 days ago

      I’m not sure if you understood what I meant. I’m not saying I agree with what Trump wrote, or that his opinions are somehow shaping my reality. I am saying that the objective reality of a United States President, one of the most powerful people on the planet, taking the time to write insecure and childish social media posts directed at a television show host is weird.