Stephen Colbert Surprises Fans with Unexpected TV Comeback Following CBS Finale
Stephen Colbert made a surprise television appearance the day after his CBS finale, hosting a public access show in Monroe, Michigan.
“It’s been an agonizing 23 hours without being on TV, so I’m thankful to be here on Monroe Community Media before they too get acquired by Paramount,” Colbert, 62, joked during his opening monologue of Only in Monroe on Friday, May 22.
The comedian has a long-standing connection with Only in Monroe, having previously stepped in for hosts Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rafko-Wilson while gearing up for his Late Show debut in July 2015.
Colbert even included a nod to his final Late Show monologue by referencing his 2015 appearance on Only in Monroe, quipping that “given the state of show business these days, that’s probably where you’ll see me next.”
“Since my last visit to Monroe, Michigan, I spent 11 years as the main host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS, which concluded just last night,” he explained on Friday’s Only in Monroe episode.
He then quipped, “Viewers beyond the greater Monroe area can watch Monroe Community Media thanks to something called streaming, which I promised not to explore while on CBS. Evidently, CBS made a similar choice.”
During the hour-long episode, Colbert addressed local topics and was joined by celebrity guests, including Jack White as musical director and actor Jeff Daniels. Eminem and Steve Buscemi made cameos that aired during the special Only in Monroe episode.
He also chatted with Byron Allen, whose show Comics Unleashed will take over The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on CBS.
“Byron, have a fantastic show,” he told Allen, 65. “You’re the best, buddy.”
The atypical Only in Monroe episode concluded with Colbert, Daniels, 71, and White, 50, setting fire to the show’s set after receiving “the fire marshal’s” approval (a.k.a. Marshall “Eminem” Mathers, 53).
“That’s a wrap,” Colbert declared. “Thanks for tuning in to Only in Monroe and for watching any of my other talk shows over the years!”
He added, “Until we meet again, I’ll be right here, only on Only in Monroe!”
CBS revealed in July 2025 that it would be canceling The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, despite the show’s success in the late-night ratings.
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will conclude its historic run in May 2026 at the close of the broadcast season. We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire the Late Show franchise at that point,” a CBS statement declared. “We are proud that Stephen made CBS his home. He and the broadcast will be remembered among the greats of late night television.”
CBS maintained that the decision to end The Late Show was a “financial” one and had no connection to the show’s content, performance, or other factors at Paramount.
Colbert wrapped up The Late Show with a star-studded final week of episodes featuring guests like Bruce Springsteen, Ryan Reynolds, and Paul McCartney, among others. He poked fun at CBS during Thursday’s finale by having his band play costly licensed music and ending with a CGI scene of the Ed Sullivan Theater being drawn into a glowing green vortex.
