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Stephen Colbert made a surprise TV return one day after his CBS finale to host a public access show in Monroe, Michigan.
“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, 62, joked during his opening monologue of Only in Monroe on Friday, May 22.
The comedian actually has a long history with Only in Monroe, as he previously filled in for hosts Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rafko-Wilson when he was preparing for his Late Show debut in July 2015.
Colbert even dropped an Easter egg into his final Late Show monologue by referencing his 2015 appearance on Only in Monroe, joking that “show business being what it is these days, that’s probably where you’ll see me next.”
“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 explained on Friday’s Only in Monroe episode.
Colbert then quipped, “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.”
Throughout the hour-long episode, Colbert discussed local issues and was joined by celebrity guests, including Jack White as his musical director and actor Jeff Daniels. Eminem and Steve Buscemi filmed cameos that aired during the special Only in Monroe episode.
He also spoke with Byron Allen, whose show Comics Unleashed will replace The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on CBS.
“Byron, have a great show,” he told Allen, 65. “You’re the best, buddy.”
The final episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on May 21, 2026. CBS/Scott Kowalchyk
The unusual Only in Monroe episode ended with Colbert, Daniels, 71, and White, 50, burning down the show’s set after receiving approval from “the fire marshal” (a.k.a. Marshall “Eminem” Mathers, 53.)
“That’s a wrap,” Colbert announced. “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 then teased, “Until we see each other again, I’ll be only here, only on Only in Monroe!”
CBS announced in July 2025 that it was cancelling The Late Show With Stephen Colbert despite the series’ late night ratings dominance.
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season. We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time,” a CBS statement read at the time. “We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television.”
CBS insisted that the decision to end The Late Show was a “financial” one and was not “related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
Colbert wrapped up The Late Show with a star-studded final week of episodes featuring guest appearances from Bruce Springsteen, Ryan Reynolds and Paul McCartney, among others. He jabbed at CBS during Thursday’s finale by 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.
