It appears that Stephen Colbert doesn’t own “Stephen Colbert”.
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During the Republican National Convention, Late Show host Stephen Colbert reprised his conservative Colbert Report alter ago. “So, it is with a heavy heart, that I announce that – thanks to corporate lawyers – the character of Stephen Colbert, host of ‘The Colbert Report, ‘ will never be seen again”.
When the crowd booed the news, he quipped: “I understand, I feel the same way, but what can I do?”
“The lawyers have spoken”, said Colbert the night following the return of “Colbert”. I can not reasonably argue that I own my own face and name. So fans were delighted last week when he briefly brought the old character back.
After the show aired, however, “corporate lawyers” from Colbert’s former network allegedly reached out to claim their IP over the character.
While this may be sad news for the “Colbert Nation”, don’t fret just yet: Colbert may have found a suitable alternative.
Attempting to solve this problem, Colbert introduced his audience to “Stephen Colbert’s identical cousin”, an interview with himself displaying the same over-the-top, somewhat clueless characteristics.
Stephen Colbert has been in full stride during both political conventions this month, bringing back the political satire he was known for during his time on The Colbert Report. In a twist ripped straight out of “The Patty Duke Show”, he then welcomed “Stephen Colbert’s identical twin cousin, Stephen Colbert”, live via satellite from Philadelphia. 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 The Daily Show.
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Mariam is the Executive Assistant at Law Street Media and a native of Northern Virginia.
