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

USA Today

2 days ago

"The Late Show" may be ending, but Stephen Colbert has already booked another late-night role — sort of.
The comedian, 61, will play a late-night host in an upcoming Season 3 episode of the CBS dramedy "Elsbeth," sources say. The show, a spinoff of "The Good Wife," stars Carrie Preston as an attorney and de facto detective.
CBS declined to comment. The news was first reported by Vulture.
Colbert's appearance as a guest star on another CBS show will be notable in the wake of the network's controversial decision to cancel "The Late Show." But even before that shock news was announced, Colbert expressed interest in popping up on "Elsbeth" — ideally, as a dead body.
While speaking to "Elsbeth" star Wendell Pierce on "The Late Show" in February, Colbert playfully asked, "Will you talk to somebody over there? Because I keep asking CBS, I want to be a corpse on one of these shows." He joked, "I want to be the body that's found behind the pile of lettuce boxes." Pierce assured Colbert he could "make that happen."
"Elsbeth" will return for its third season on Oct. 12. Numerous other stars have had guest roles on the series, including Jane Krakowski, Retta, Rob Riggle, Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Keegan-Michael Key, Alan Ruck and Laurie Metcalf.
Colbert's "Late Show" will end in May 2026, he announced July 17. The surprise move sparked outcry and claims that CBS canceled the show to appease President Donald Trump, given Colbert is a prominent critic.
However, CBS said it was "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night."
Colbert's "Elsbeth" appearance will mark a somewhat rare acting role for the comedian. In recent years, he also had a voice role in the animated film "Despicable Me 4" and appeared in one episode of the sitcom "Girls5eva" as a fictional songwriter.
Before "The Late Show," Colbert flexed his acting chops every night on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," on which he played a fictional conservative pundit, also named Stephen Colbert.
Colbert has not said what he might do next after "The Late Show." But while interviewing comedians Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers late last month, he alluded to the possibility of starting his own podcast. Colbert said to Yang and Rogers, the hosts of "Las Culturistas," "I'm going to need a gig soon, so sell me on podcasting. Is it fun?"
Contributing: Ralphie Aversa, USA TODAY