The FCC said it will not take action over complaints about the May 1 broadcast of CBS’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert, during which the host said the only thing President Trump’s mouth was good for is “being in Vladimir Putin’s c—holster.” (The offensive word was bleeped, and Colbert’s face blurred). “The Bureau has concluded that there was nothing actionable under the FCC’s rules,” said the FCC.
In more good news for The Late Show, it closed the broadcast season as the most-watched late night program among total viewers, with 3.195 million, the net’s first late night win since 1994-1995 (excluding the 2009-2010 season, when NBC replaced Tonight Show’s Conan O’Brien with Jay Leno midway through the season). Up 11%, Late Show was the only late night program to post year-to-year growth. NBC’s Tonight Show retained the demo crown, with an average .81 among A18-49, versus .58 for The Late Show.