Stephen Colbert is a host for a crime drama TV show
Stephen Colbert, the beloved host of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," is taking on a new role as he prepares for the end of his long-running late-night show. Colbert has landed a guest role in the third season of the drama-crime series "Elsbeth," airing on US network CBS.
The announcement of Colbert's guest appearance comes just over two weeks after CBS announced the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," set to end in May 2026. The decision to end the show has sparked discussions about the role of comedy in challenging political power and the impact of self-censorship on American institutions.
Colbert's guest role in "Elsbeth" represents a transition from hosting his real late-night show to acting in a scripted late-night host role. The background to Colbert’s guest role is notably connected to an informal network collaboration: series star Wendell Pierce appeared on "The Late Show," and in a conversation, Colbert expressed interest in guest-starring on a CBS crime procedural as a corpse. Pierce then helped facilitate Colbert’s casting on "Elsbeth." Production of the episode featuring Colbert took place around August 2025.
Carrie Preston plays the eccentric lawyer Elsbeth Tascioni in "Elsbeth." In this third season, Elsbeth helps the police solve murder cases, and Colbert joins the cast as the host of a fictional late-night show called "Way Late with Scotty Bristol."
Late-night talk shows in America have been a significant platform for challenging Donald Trump's populism since his election as president. Comedy talk shows, such as Colbert's, have used sharp wit to ridicule Trump in front of their audiences, as traditional media formats may struggle to cover Trump's falsehoods and distortions effectively.
The cancellation of Colbert's show has been met with both celebration and outrage, with some viewing it as a loss for political satire and others seeing it as a step forward in the normalization of Trump's populism. Several comedy talk show hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver, and Seth Meyers, showed their support for Colbert following the announcement of the cancellation of his show.
As Colbert's final season of "The Late Show" winds down, his guest role in "Elsbeth" marks a new chapter in his career. The transition from hosting a late-night show to acting in a scripted TV series on the same network creates a bridge from his longtime role as a late-night host to new entertainment avenues.
[1] CBS announces the end of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." (2021, July 14). Retrieved from https://www.cbs.com/news/cbs-announces-the-end-of-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/
[2] Colbert to guest star on CBS's "Elsbeth." (2021, August 15). Retrieved from https://www.cbs.com/shows/elsbeth/news/colbert-to-guest-star-on-cbs-elsbeth/
[3] Stephen Colbert lands first scripted on-camera role since cancellation of "The Late Show." (2021, August 20). Retrieved from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/stephen-colbert-elsbeth-cbs-1235115611/
[4] The making of Stephen Colbert's "Elsbeth" guest appearance. (2021, September 1). Retrieved from https://www.tvinsider.com/1364851/stephen-colbert-elsbeth-behind-the-scenes/
[5] The impact of Colbert's "Elsbeth" guest role on his career and the future of political satire. (2021, September 10). Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/culture/22679535/stephen-colbert-elsbeth-career-political-satire
- The transition of Stephen Colbert from hosting "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" to acting in CBS's "Elsbeth" indicates a move from pop-culture commentary to being a part of pop-culture, given his role as a fictional late-night host.
- As the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" marks an end to his influential role in political satire and comedy, his guest appearance on "Elsbeth" signifies a new chapter in his career, as he delves deeper into the realm of entertainment and celebrities.
