Colbert (Thank You)

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:09][music] >> Stephen Colbert [music] up just finally showed up this Friday night.

[00:00:21]Took a trip to Monroe, Michigan. Stay out [music and singing] of the light. Sat down on a public access channel for a little local spoof.

[00:00:33]But CBS [music] and Paramount [singing] decided they were bulletproof.

[00:00:39]They threw a copyright [music] flag to keep that local broadcast down.

[00:00:45]>> [music] >> Cuz a corporate giant [singing] hates a joke they don't own in this town. But the internet [singing] watched and the whole world laughed and [music] the suits backed down and the PR went south.

[00:00:58]Turns out you can't own [singing] words >> [music] >> once they leave a man's mouth.

[00:01:08]When the suits up in the tower think they own the words you say, they'll try to charge you [music] and just to pass the time of day. [singing] They think [music] they own the shadows and they own the rights. But you can't put a padlock [music] on a frequency tonight. [singing] They will gladly [music] sell you laughter at a premium degree. [music] But they panic when they realize that the punchline [music] might be free.

[00:01:48]My husband clocks out Friday, leaves the [music] company truck behind.

[00:01:54]But sometimes the bossman acts like he's got a lease [singing] out on his mind.

[00:02:00]It's the [music] exact same kind of math just on a different kind of scale.

[00:02:06]Whether you're turning [music and singing] a wrench or telling a joke for sale.

[00:02:13]Paramount [music] got spooked by a viral little clip. Realized [singing] they were looking like the pirates on the ship. [music] You can trademark a logo, you can syndicate a face, but you can't copyright a laugh inside a borrowed basement space [music] when the suits up in the tower think they [singing] own the words you say.

[00:02:32]They'll try to charge you [music] and just pass the time of day.

[00:02:38]They think [singing and music] they own the shadows and they own the rights, but you can't put a padlock [music] on the frequency tonight. They will gladly sell [singing] you laughter at [music] a premium degree, but they panic when they [singing] realize that the punchline might be free.

[00:03:15]They write it in the contracts.

[00:03:18]They bury it in THE FINE PRINT.

[00:03:21]THEY WANT YOU TO FORGET WHERE THE [music] company ends and where you begin.

[00:03:27]But the moment [music] the laugh leaves a person's chest, it's public domain.

[00:03:37]So, here's to the cable access channels running on a shoestring [music] and a prayer. Here's to the folks up in Michigan putting something real on the air. The corporate big might have the contracts [music] and the million dollar shine.

[00:03:55]But they had to fold their hand when they tried to cross [music] the public line.

[00:04:02]It's nice to see the behemoth blink >> [music] >> when the little guy stands tall. [singing] Reminds you that the broadcast tower doesn't actually [music and singing] own it all.

[00:04:18]KEEP YOUR JOKES TO YOURSELF FOLKS.

[00:04:20]>> [music] >> I'll give them away for free.

[00:04:24]Thanks for letting me bring a little dust onto your stage [singing] tonight, >> [music] >> Marlo.

[00:04:31]Musically yours, it's a hell of a show.

[00:04:37]Take us home, Marlo.

[00:04:39]>> [music] >> Mhm.

[00:04:43]Mhm.

[00:04:47]Mhm. [music]