Despite the impending conclusion of “The Late Show,” Stephen Colbert has secured a new late-night television role, making a guest appearance in the third season of the CBS dramedy “Elsbeth.” In the episode, Colbert will portray a late-night host.
The booking is particularly notable following the network’s controversial decision to cancel “The Late Show.” However, long before the cancellation was announced, Colbert had expressed a keen interest in appearing on “Elsbeth.” During a February segment of “The Late Show” with “Elsbeth” star Wendell Pierce, Colbert joked, “I keep asking CBS, I want to be a corpse on one of these shows.” Pierce assured him he could “make that happen.”
“Elsbeth,” a spinoff of “The Good Wife” starring Carrie Preston as an unconventional attorney, has featured numerous high-profile guest stars, including Jane Krakowski, Nathan Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, and Laurie Metcalf. The show is scheduled to return for its third season on October 12.
CBS announced on July 17 that “The Late Show” will end its run in May 2026. The network stated the cancellation was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” though the move sparked public outcry and speculation that it was politically motivated to appease President Donald Trump, a frequent target of Colbert’s satire.
This guest spot marks a relatively rare acting role for the comedian, who previously lent his voice to the animated film “Despicable Me 4” and appeared in an episode of the sitcom “Girls5eva.” Before hosting “The Late Show,” Colbert showcased his acting abilities nightly on “The Colbert Report,” where he played a satirical conservative pundit.
While Colbert has not officially announced his plans following his late-night departure, he recently hinted at a possible venture into podcasting. During an interview with “Las Culturistas” hosts Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, he quipped, “I’m going to need a gig soon, so sell me on podcasting. Is it fun?”
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