Stephen Colbert hosted a one-hour public-access television special titled “Only in Monroe” on Friday, May 24, 2026 [3].

The appearance marks a sudden return to broadcasting for the comedian, occurring approximately 24 hours [2] after the final episode of The Late Show aired. The move signals Colbert's intent to remain on television while using his new platform to critique his former employer, CBS.

The special aired on Monroe Community Media, the public-access channel for Monroe County, Michigan [1, 2]. During the broadcast, Colbert mocked the corporate structure of the media industry. "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," Colbert said [1].

The program featured several high-profile guests, including musician Jack White, and actor Jeff Daniels [2]. Some reports also indicated that rapper Eminem appeared during the broadcast [3], though other sources did not list him among the guests [2].

Colbert's transition from a major network late-night slot to a local community channel happened almost immediately after his departure from the network. The comedian used the one-hour [3] format to take shots at CBS following the conclusion of his late-night career [3].

This rapid pivot to a grassroots medium allows Colbert to maintain a public presence without the constraints of a corporate network contract. By choosing a public-access station in Michigan, he has effectively shifted from a national stage to a hyper-local one—albeit with national guests.

“"It's been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV,"”

Colbert's immediate move to public-access television suggests a strategic effort to maintain his voice and brand independence immediately after exiting a major network. By utilizing a non-corporate medium, he avoids the traditional 'cooling off' period typical of late-night hosts and can openly criticize Paramount and CBS without fear of network interference.