Stephen Colbert made a surprise return to late night television Friday, just 24 hours after the finale of longrunning CBS talk show The Late Show.
The 62-year-old comedian appeared as the host of Only in Monroe, the same local access show in Michigan he commandeered for one night shortly before starting his Late Show stint 11 years ago.
Colbert referenced that stunt during his final Late Show monologue, telling his audience: “We were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years, all right? Can’t take this for granted.”
“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,” he added.
Colbert ensured that joke came true when he returned to the local station on Friday at 11:35pm, delivering a monologue tailored to the Monroe area and joined by guests including musician Jack White and actor Jeff Daniels. Steve Buscemi also made an appearance in a commercial for a local pizza restaurant.
As Late Nighter reports, Colbert was also joined by Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson, the regular hosts of Only in Monroe.
White appeared as the show’s “musical director” and also joined the host for a taste test of chili dogs from rival Michigan restaurants. Meanwhile, Daniels made Colbert his idiosyncratic favorite sandwich that he’d previously described during a Late Show appearance: pita bread filled with peanut butter, crushed Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream potato chips and Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce.
At the end of the show, rapper Eminem called in for a cameo appearance as Colbert prepared to burn the show’s set. Eminem featured in a viral interview skit from Colbert’s 2015 episode of Only in Monroe, described by Colbert at the time as: “Marshall Mathers, a local Michigander who is making a name for himself in the competitive world of music.”
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The final episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert attracted an audience of 6.74 million viewers, making it the most-watched weeknight episode during the show’s 11 year run.
In general, the series attracted an average audience of 2.7 million throughout its final season on air.
Colbert’s final guest was Paul McCartney, who ceremonially turned out the lights at the Ed Sullivan Theater, where the Beatles famously performed on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.