Content Advisory: This article discusses late-night TV cancellation and network shakeups. Reader discretion is advised.
Stephen Colbert did not stay off late-night television for long.
Just one night after his final episode of ‘The Late Show’, Colbert returned to the 11:35 p.m. slot in the least CBS-like way possible: on a public access show in Monroe, Michigan.
The move turned a joke from his final monologue into a real follow-up appearance, complete with Jack White, Steve Buscemi, Jeff Daniels, and even a FaceTime cameo from Eminem.
Colbert Returns To ‘Only In Monroe’
During his final ‘Late Show’ monologue, Colbert reminded viewers that before officially taking over CBS’ late-night desk in 2015, he had done a test-run appearance on the public access show ‘Only In Monroe’.
“Show business being what it is these days, that’s probably where you’ll see me next,” Colbert joked.
He was not kidding.
Colbert appeared on ‘Only In Monroe’ the following night, joining hosts Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson. “Since I was last here in Monroe, Michigan, I spent 11 years as the primary host of ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’, which came to an end last night,” Colbert said.
Then he added, “It’s been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV.”
Jack White Becomes His Public Access Music Director
Colbert’s return had a deliberately scrappy public access setup.
He introduced Jack White as his volunteer “music director,” with White sitting beside the stage using a boombox and reel-to-reel setup.
The episode then moved through a series of intentionally odd local-TV bits. Colbert placed a FaceTime call to Byron Allen, whose ‘Comics Unleashed’ is replacing ‘The Late Show’ in CBS’ 11:35 p.m. slot.
Steve Buscemi also appeared in a fake-style local ad for Buscemi’s, a Monroe-area pizza place, while clarifying he had no connection to the restaurant. Jeff Daniels also appeared for a cooking segment, showing Colbert how to make a pita sandwich using random leftovers.
Eminem Gives Colbert Permission To Burn The Set
The episode ended with Colbert, White, and Daniels dismantling the makeshift set and taking it to a nearby dumpster to burn it.
Before doing so, Colbert called the “fire marshal”: Marshall Mathers, better known as Eminem. “Stephen, Marshall here, you’re absolutely clear to burn that set down,” Eminem said.
Colbert closed the episode with a final thank-you to viewers who had watched ‘Only In Monroe’ or any of his other talk shows over the years.
