Wipe your tears, baby girl. Stephen Colbert is already back on TV. Just a day after he said good-bye to CBS, Colbert made his return to Only In Monroe, a public-access show in Michigan that he guest-hosted before he took over The Late Show. “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,” Colbert began to a few chuckles in the studio. “It’s been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV, so I am grateful to be able to be here on Monroe Community Media before they also get acquired by Paramount.” He then ran a typical late-night show, business as usual, except for the Michigan-centric news, with special guests including Jeff Daniels, Eminem, and Steve Buscemi. While it looked like bandleader Louis Cato didn’t make the trip, Jack White filled in as the musical director for the night.
Colbert gave Byron Allen, who’s taking over the Late Show timeslot, a quick FaceTime call, and luckily, Allen picked up and was more than happy to chat with an old friend. While holding his iPhone, which is adorned with the classic phone case/wallet combo, he told Allen that if he ever needed a guest host, he should give Only in Monroe hosts Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson a chance.
He ended his time in Monroe the only way he knows how: through silly bits. With the help of White and Daniels, Colbert, with permission from the studio, started smashing up the old set, threw the pieces away into a dumpster, and lit it on fire — thanks to the approval of their fire Marshall (Mathers). A real dumpster fire is way better than an A.I. one.