Stephen Colbert Returns to Michigan Public Access Just Hours After CBS Finale!
Stephen Colbert Returns to Michigan Public Access Just Hours After CBS Finale!
After saying goodbye to The Late Show, Stephen Colbert heads back to his roots in Monroe, Michigan, with Jack White and Eminem for a hilarious public access special.
Stephen Colbert didn't stay off the air for long. Just twenty-four hours after the emotional finale of "The Late Show" on CBS, the veteran host made a surprising and hilarious return to television—but not on a major network. Instead, Colbert popped up on Monroe, Michigan’s public access station for a special hour of "Only In Monroe."
The move was a nostalgic callback to a stunt Colbert pulled in 2015, right before he took over the late-night reins at CBS. Back then, he hosted a test run of his persona for an audience of just twelve people. During his final CBS monologue on Thursday, Colbert joked that given the state of show business, public access is probably where fans would see him next. True to his word, he was back in the Monroe studio almost immediately.
The "Only In Monroe" special wasn't just a low-budget solo act. Colbert brought along a star-studded lineup that would make any network executive jealous. Music legend Jack White joined the fun, alongside Hollywood favorites Jeff Daniels and Steve Buscemi. Even Eminem and Byron Allen made appearances, proving that Colbert’s pull remains as strong as ever, regardless of the platform size.
Reflecting on the quick turnaround, Colbert joked that it had been an "excruciating 23 hours" without being on TV. The special captured the same whimsical, irreverent energy that defined his early career, mixing small-town local news vibes with high-profile celebrity banter.
While fans are still processing the end of his era at CBS, this Michigan detour serves as a reminder of Colbert's love for the medium and his willingness to go anywhere for a laugh. Whether he’s on a massive stage in New York or a tiny set in Monroe, Stephen Colbert clearly knows how to keep an audience entertained, even if that audience is just a dozen people in a small Michigan town.
