Surprise: Stephen Colbert Hosted a Public Access TV Show in Michigan After Signing Off CBS

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24 hours after hosting the last ever Late Show on CBS, Stephen Colbert returned to late night… on Michigan public access TV.

Colbert hosted Only in Monroe in Monroe, Michigan, at 11:30 p.m. Friday, bringing out surprise guests like Jack White and Jeff Daniels, and surprise appearances from Steve Buscemi, Eminem and Byron Allen (via FaceTime). He also hosted the show’s normal hosts, Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson (a former Miss America!).

“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 said at the top of the program. “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.”

The show, which was spotted by LateNighter, was structured like a classic late night show, albeit with a monologue focused on issues relevant to southern Michigan and interviews. The show closed with Colbert, Baumann, Wilson, Daniels and White destroying the Only in Monroe set in a dumpster.

In fact, as Colbert alluded to, this was the second time he hosted Only in Monroe. He also hosted an episode in the summer of 2015, before succeeding David Letterman atop The Late Show on CBS. Colbert even referenced the appearance in the late night show’s finale: “We were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years, we can’t take this for granted,” he told the audience. “Though technically our first show in July of 2015 was from a public access station in Monroe, Michigan, for an audience of 12 people. Show business being what it is these days, that’s probably where you’ll see me next.”

As it happens, that is exactly where he went next.

Watch Stephen Colbert’s Only in Monroe, below.

It is not immediately clear when Colbert taped the Only in Monroe appearance. He told The Hollywood Reporter in an exit interview that he will be spending Memorial Day weekend in Washington, D.C., for his brother’s wedding.

“My brother is getting married, so my whole family is going to be here on the 21st, and then we’re all going to get on the train and go to D.C. for the wedding,” Colbert said. “So, immediately after the show’s over, there’s something much more important going on. And there’s something much more important going on the Monday before, too. My son is graduating from college. Then there’s a little blip in the middle where my 20-year late night career comes to an end. The universe has conspired to give me the proper perspective.”

But he still found time to return to Monroe, Michigan, a decade or so after his last visit.

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