Late-night television will reportedly welcome Stephen Colbert back, albeit in a slightly altered format
Stephen Colbert, the beloved host of "The Late Show," is set to make a new late-night appearance on CBS's "Elsbeth" following the cancellation of his show. The third season of "Elsbeth," a police procedural and "The Good Wife" franchise spinoff, has been renewed and is scheduled to premiere on October 12, 2025.
In this new role, Colbert will appear as the host of a fictional late-night show called "Way Late with Scotty Bristol." While the exact episode and role details beyond this guest role have not been fully disclosed, it marks a significant transition for Colbert from hosting a late-night talk show to a scripted drama series on the same network.
The appearance on "Elsbeth" comes after CBS announced the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," which will end in May 2026 after eleven seasons. The decision to cancel the show was reportedly purely financial in nature.
Wendell Pierce, a star of "Elsbeth," is believed to have played a key role in facilitating Colbert's guest role. In a previous interview with Colbert back in February, Pierce had jokingly promised to make Colbert's corpse appearance happen.
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[1] [CBS Press Release] [2] [Interview with Wendell Pierce and Stephen Colbert]
- The transition for Stephen Colbert from hosting a late-night talk show to a scripted drama series on CBS, "Way Late with Scotty Bristol," is expected to bring a change in the realm of entertainment.
- Wendell Pierce, a star of "Elsbeth," seems to have played a significant role in facilitating Stephen Colbert's guest role on the series, following discussions during their previous interview.
- The cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" by CBS, attributed to financial reasons, indicates a shift in the network's strategy in both culture and entertainment sectors.
