Stephen Colbert Returns to Television Just One Day After Ending His Late-Night Run
By Young Oscar Stephen Colbert didn’t stay off television for long—in fact, he barely made it a full day.
Less than 24 hours after signing off from The Late Show on CBS on May 21, the longtime host made a surprise return to late-night TV as a guest host on the public access show Only in Monroe in Monroe, Michigan.
Opening the May 22 episode, Colbert joked about his recent farewell: “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’m grateful to be here on Monroe Community Media before they also get acquired by Paramount.”
During the hour-long appearance, the Emmy-winning comedian welcomed special guests including Michiganders Jack White and Jeff Daniels, while Eminem and Steve Buscemi appeared in pre-recorded segments. He also connected via FaceTime with his Late Show successor Byron Allen, and spent time with the show’s regular hosts Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson.
The episode mixed local commentary with late-night humor, featuring a monologue, a playful segment involving shots with the hosts, and a taste of Jeff Daniels’ viral “Colbert Questionert” sandwich. It concluded in chaotic fashion, with Colbert, Daniels, and White destroying the set and tossing it into a dumpster before setting it on fire—with Eminem humorously giving the “fire marshal” approval.
The surprise appearance wasn’t entirely unexpected. In his final Late Show monologue, Colbert hinted he might return to his early roots in Monroe, recalling that his first appearance there in 2015 was on a public access program before he took over CBS’s flagship late-night slot following David Letterman’s departure.
“Show business being what it is these days,” he said, “that’s probably where you’ll see me next.”
Even in his farewell, Colbert reflected on the show’s mission, saying bringing joy to audiences was always central to its identity. “This show has been a joy for us to do for you,” he said. “We call it ‘The Joy Machine.’”
