Stephen Colbert’s surprise return as a late-night host on ‘Elsbeth’ has fans doing a double take.NH

ngoc huyen3 weeks ago

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Stephen Colbert is stepping into a new late-night role – a fictional one, at least.

The comedian is set to play the host of a late-night talk show in the Season 3 premiere of the CBS series “Elsbeth,” and the network has released first-look photos showing him in the role.

According to CBS, the episode, entitled “Yes, And…,” explores “the world of late-night comedy when backstage tensions rise between a talk show host,” played by Colbert, his head writer, Laurel (Amy Sedaris) and “her on-air sidekick husband,” Mickey (Andy Richter).

“Also, Elsbeth meets a new police officer (Lindsay Mendez) who is an aspiring stand-up comic when off the clock,” the network said.

Marcia DeBonis as Sheryl Jacobs and Stephen Colbert as Scotty Bristol on "Elsbeth." — Marcia DeBonis as Sheryl Jacobs and Stephen Colbert as Scotty Bristol on “Elsbeth.”

The episode marks a reunion between Colbert and Sedaris, friends since the 1980s, who starred together in the Comedy Central sitcom “Strangers with Candy” and the 2006 film based on the show.

Carrie Preston stars on “Elsbeth,” a spinoff of “The Good Wife,” in the lead role of an attorney and de facto detective. The series, which debuted in 2024, frequently recruits major stars for one-off guest roles and has previously featured Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, among others.

Stephen Colbert to play late-night host on CBS’ ‘Elsbeth’ after ‘Late Show’ cancellation

Colbert’s appearance on the CBS show will air just months after the same network canceled his late-night program, “The Late Show,” which is set to end in May 2026. The cancellation prompted outrage and allegations that the network caved to political pressure, given Colbert is a critic of President Donald Trump. But CBS said canceling the show was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late-night.”

Stephen Colbert as Scotty Bristol and Amy Sedaris as Laurel Hammond-Muntz on "Elsbeth." — Stephen Colbert as Scotty Bristol and Amy Sedaris as Laurel Hammond-Muntz on “Elsbeth.”

Months before his show’s cancellation, Colbert had expressed interest in appearing on “Elsbeth.” When “Elsbeth” star Wendell Pierce was a guest on “The Late Show” in February, Colbert playfully asked for help getting a role as a “corpse on one of these shows,” joking, “I want to be the body that’s found behind the pile of lettuce boxes.” Pierce told Colbert he could “make that happen.”