Stephen Colbert hosts Michigan public access show day after last appearance on Late Show | Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert resumed his television hosting duties after his last appearance on CBS as host of The Late Show. Public demonstration in Michigan.
Just one day after leaving The Late Show on Friday night, Colbert hosted Only in Monroe in Monroe, Michigan. Colbert had been the host of The Late Show since 2015, and his tenure ended this week after CBS canceled its 33-year network affiliation due to a “financial decision” by CBS parent Paramount.
Colbert had previously stopped by Monroe, Michigan and guests were entertained Only in Monroe for one episode in 2015, just before she started hosting The Late Show. In this episode, he interviewed the famous Michigan rapper Eminem.
On Friday night, Colbert returned for another “Michigander” take. Jack White and Jeff Daniels joined Colbert at the public show, with special appearances from Steve Buscemi, Eminem and Byron Allen.
“It was an excruciating 23 hours without being on television, so I’m grateful I was able to be at Monroe Community Media before they too were acquired by Paramount,” Colbert joked on Friday.
Colbert took over The Late Show from David Letterman in 2015 after hosting Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report for years.
This week’s final episode of the Late Show featured Paul McCartney and other celebrities and culminated in a final farewell as the show’s entire cast turned off the lights at the Ed Sullivan Theatre.
Last year, Paramount announced it would cancel The Late Show as it sought approval from the Trump administration for an $8 billion merger with Hollywood studio Skydance. The merger deal was delayed for months by Trump’s lawsuit over an interview with Kamala Harris that the CBS news program 60 Minutes aired.
Paramount agreed to settle the lawsuit with Trump last summer, pledging a $16 million donation to Trump’s future presidential library. Colbert called the deal a “massive bribe.”
Colbert was one of the most outspoken late-night hosts who continued to criticize Trump and his administration. Critics saw the show’s cancellation as a move to further appease the Trump administration while the Paramount-Skydance merger awaits federal approval. Late night shows have been losing viewership and revenue for years.
On Friday night, Trump posted an AI-generated video online showing him grabbing Colbert, picking him up, and throwing him into a trash can. In the video, Trump continues dancing as the studio audience applauds.
Trump also lashed out at other late-night show hosts last year, calling on other networks to fire hosts like ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel and NBC’s Seth Meyers. He also tried to weaponize the Federal Communications Commission to revoke the licenses of broadcast networks.
“Stephen Colbert’s firing from CBS was ‘The Beginning of the End’ for untalented, obnoxious, overpaid, unfunny and very poorly rated Late Night Television Hosts,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Others of less talent will soon follow. May they all Rest in Peace!”
