Colbert's Unaired James Talarico Interview Hits 85 Million Views

Colbert's viral interview with Texas candidate

An interview Stephen Colbert conducted with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico has garnered 85 million views online after CBS declined to air it. The segment, originally taped for "The Late Show," was instead published directly to the program's YouTube channel and social media platforms.

According to data from Tubular Labs provided to Deadline, the clip sparked a massive wave of engagement across platforms. In just the past 72 hours, 1,320 video uploads featuring Colbert and Talarico have been registered on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

Online engagement explodes

Those user-generated clips have generated more than 8 million engagements, which include likes, shares, and comments. The 85 million view count is based on any viewing session lasting at least two seconds, a standard metric for online video.

The decision not to broadcast the interview on television has turned it into a digital phenomenon, significantly amplifying its reach. The content has spread far beyond Colbert's own channels through widespread sharing and reposting.

FCC chairman calls incident a "hoax"

The interview's path to virality was further complicated by remarks from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. In a related development, Carr confirmed an "enforcement action" is underway against ABC's "The View" for a separate incident.

Regarding the Colbert-Talarico segment, Chairman Carr publicly dismissed the controversy surrounding it as a "hoax." His comments add a regulatory dimension to a story that has become a major online talking point.

The key metrics of the video's performance are staggering:

• 85 million total views across platforms
• 1,320 user-generated video uploads in 72 hours
• Over 8 million engagements on social clips

This episode highlights the evolving power of digital distribution, where content rejected by traditional broadcast channels can find a vast audience and become a central political talking point on its own terms.