Stephen Colbert appeared on the Michigan public access program Only in Monroe on May 23, one day after his final episode of The Late Show aired on CBS on May 22 [1, 2].
Colbert had hosted The Late Show since 2015 until its cancellation in 2026, concluding an 11-year run [1, 2]. CBS and Paramount ended the show as part of financial cutbacks amid an $8 billion merger with Skydance and political pressures linked to former President Trump [1, 2].
Paramount settled a lawsuit filed by Trump related to a 60 Minutes interview by agreeing to donate $16 million to Trump's future presidential library in summer 2025 [1]. After the show's cancellation, Trump posted an AI-generated video of himself throwing Colbert into a dumpster [1].
Colbert joked on Only in Monroe, "It's been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV, so I am grateful to be here on Monroe Community Media before they also get acquired by Paramount" [1, 2]. He was joined by Michigan icons including Jack White, Jeff Daniels, Eminem, Steve Buscemi, and Byron Allen during the show [1, 2].
The final Late Show episode featured appearances from Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Paul Rudd, Ryan Reynolds, and Tim Meadows [1, 2]. Late-night TV ratings and revenue have been declining as audiences increasingly turn to podcasts and online clips [2].
Colbert’s appearance on Only in Monroe included local discussions about legal cannabis, chili dog rivalries, and Bigfoot sightings [2]. It is not clear if the Ed Sullivan Theater will host any new live broadcasts after The Late Show’s end [2].
