Hours after ending The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Stephen Colbert popped back onto screens as a surprise guest host on Only in Monroe in Monroe, Michigan—joking about the speed, the reach of public access, and hinting at what’s next.
Stephen Colbert didn’t even wait for the dust to settle.
Just 24 hours after The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ended at the Ed Sullivan Theater. he returned to television for an appearance that felt like a wink to the audience he just left behind. Hours after his final episode. Colbert showed up as a guest host on Only in Monroe. a public access program based in Monroe. Michigan.
In the opening of the episode, Colbert explained why he was there. “Since I was last here in Monroe. Michigan. I spent 11 years as the primary host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS. which came to an end last night. It’s been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV. so I am grateful to be able to be here on Monroe Community Media before they also get acquired by Paramount.”.
He then leaned into the punchline of how public access finds its audience. “Viewers outside the greater Monroe area are able to view Monroe Community Media thanks to something known as streaming. which I promised not to learn about while I was on CBS. ” he quipped. “And evidently, CBS also decided not to learn about it.”.
Colbert’s timing wasn’t only spontaneous—it was foreshadowed. During his final Late Show monologue on Thursday, May 21, he referenced his earlier connection to Monroe. “Technically. our first show back in July of 2015 was from a public access station in Monroe. Michigan. for an audience of 12 people. ” he said. “And show business being what it is these days, it’s probably where you’ll see me next.”.
That set up a full-circle moment. This appearance marked Colbert’s second time hosting Only in Monroe; he previously appeared on the show in 2015 before succeeding David Letterman on CBS. Now. with his CBS run over. he returned almost immediately—one more reminder that the story didn’t just end. it looped back.
The Only in Monroe episode itself was built like a love letter to local TV’s chaos. The hour-long broadcast featured celebrity cameos including Jack White, appearing as the episode’s deadpan DJ. Steve Buscemi delivered a mock public service announcement for Buscemi’s Pizza. Jeff Daniels prepared Colbert his famous sandwich. And Eminem showed up as the “fire marshal. ” approving the cast’s decision to burn the remains of the studio set at the end of the show.
The series is hosted by Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson. Colbert joined the hosts in drinking shots of Cain & Grain whiskey from River Raisin Distillery in Manchester.
Behind the jokes and cameos. there’s still the larger story of why The Late Show ended in the first place. The top-rated late-night program reportedly learned of its cancellation last summer. shortly after Paramount settled a lawsuit with President Donald Trump over edits to a 60 Minutes interview with then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
In a Late Show monologue, Colbert called the settlement “a big fat bribe,” linking it to Paramount’s pending merger with Skydance Media and noting it required approval from the Trump administration.
Paramount Global said the cancellation was “purely a financial decision. ” pointing to challenges in the late-night television market and insisting it was unrelated to ratings. content. or “other matters happening at Paramount.” The decision. however. triggered backlash from critics who accused the company of trying to appease the Trump administration during the Paramount-Skydance merger. which has since been completed.
Colbert has repeatedly rejected the idea that he was “fired. ” saying CBS decided to end the franchise rather than replace him. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. he said he “did not expect it to end this way.” He also joked that if he had ended the show himself. “I’m the bad guy. ” adding that CBS’ decision allowed him to approach the finale with humor rather than sentimentality.
On Only in Monroe, that humor carried over almost instantly. Colbert didn’t just leave one stage—he hopped straight back onto another, reminding viewers that even when a long run closes, the camera can still find him.
Stephen Colbert The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Only in Monroe Monroe Community Media Jack White Steve Buscemi Jeff Daniels Eminem Ed Sullivan Theater Cain & Grain River Raisin Distillery Paramount Skydance Media