One day after his CBS finale, Stephen Colbert surprised viewers by hosting the public access show “Only in Monroe” in Monroe, Michigan—joking about the “23 hours” he’d gone without TV and referencing his long history with the program.
Stephen Colbert clocked exactly 23 hours without being on TV—then broke the silence.
One day after ending his CBS run, the 62-year-old returned to the public access world to host Only in Monroe in Monroe, Michigan. In his opening monologue on Friday, May 22, he leaned into the moment.
“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,” Colbert joked.
Colbert wasn’t new to the show. He has a long history with Only in Monroe. having previously filled in for hosts Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rafko-Wilson when he was preparing for his Late Show debut in July 2015. Even in the run-up to his CBS goodbye. he kept the connection alive—dropping an Easter egg in his final Late Show monologue by referencing his 2015 appearance on Only in Monroe. He joked then that “show business being what it is these days. that’s probably where you’ll see me next.”.
On Friday’s episode, Colbert explained the timeline in plain terms. “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,” he said.
He then kept swinging at the irony of his new reality. “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. And evidently CBS also decided not to learn about it.”
The hour-long Only in Monroe episode brought local issues to the foreground and kept the spotlight moving with celebrity guests. Jack White joined as Colbert’s musical director, and actor Jeff Daniels was also on hand. The special included filmed cameos from Eminem and Steve Buscemi that aired during the broadcast. Colbert also sat down with Byron Allen. whose show Comics Unleashed will replace The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS.
“Byron, have a great show,” Colbert told Allen, 65. “You’re the best, buddy.”
The night closed with a stunt that felt like Colbert’s way of making a clean break—and doing it loudly. The unusual ending saw Colbert. Daniels. and White burn down the set after receiving approval from “the fire marshal” (a.k.a. Marshall “Eminem” Mathers, 53.). “That’s a wrap,” Colbert announced, and then turned his attention back to viewers.
“Thanks for watching Only in Monroe and if you watched any of my other talk shows over the years, thanks for watching those too!”
He teased what comes next in his signature style: “Until we see each other again, I’ll be only here, only on Only in Monroe!”
Colbert’s return comes after CBS announced in July 2025 that it was canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert despite the series’ late night ratings dominance. In a statement at the time. CBS said it would end “its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season. ” calling Colbert “irreplaceable” and saying it would “retire The Late Show franchise” then. CBS insisted the decision to end the show was a “financial” one and not “related in any way to the show’s performance. content or other matters happening at Paramount.”.
Colbert marked the final stretch with a star-studded final week. Guest appearances during that last week included Bruce Springsteen, Ryan Reynolds, and Paul McCartney. In Thursday’s finale. he jabbed at CBS—having his band play expensive licensed music and ending with a CGI-animated scene of the Ed Sullivan Theater being sucked into a glowing green vortex.
Stephen Colbert Only in Monroe Monroe Community Media CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Jack White Jeff Daniels Eminem Steve Buscemi Byron Allen Comics Unleashed