Stephen Colbert’s Viral Public Access Show Appearance

Stephen Colbert attended The Hollywood Reporter’s celebration for The Most Powerful People in New York Media earlier this month. Following his departure from hosting ‘The Late Show,’ he made a surprising appearance on a local cable access program in Monroe, Michigan.

Colbert’s parody on ‘Only In Monroe’ came shortly after he was ousted from his nearly 11-year stint at ‘The Late Show.’ The hour-long program, featuring rockstar Jack White as a sidekick, gained widespread attention online. Colbert humorously addressed the transition, saying, “It’s been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV,” and expressed gratitude for being on Monroe Community Media.

The show featured discussions on topics such as Bigfoot sightings in Michigan, and actor Jeff Daniels showcased the town’s community calendar and even made sandwiches. Colbert also called Byron Allen, host of ‘Comics Unleashed,’ during the program, with Allen praising Colbert.

CBS, which produced and financed the ‘Only In Monroe’ episode, initially attempted to limit its reposting through copyright notices. However, the network decided to halt further enforcement after receiving feedback and conducting additional reviews. CBS clarified their regular practice of sending copyright notices to unauthorized websites.

The cancellation of Colbert’s late-night show in July 2025 was described by CBS as a financial decision, coinciding with Paramount Global’s merger with Skydance Media. Colbert’s final ‘Late Show’ episode featured a star-studded lineup of guests, including Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney.

CBS statement noted, “As is our regular practice, we send copyright notices to unauthorized websites that post copyrighted content from CBS and our network/studio talent such as Stephen Colbert.”

Byron Allen, in an NPR interview, referred to Colbert as “an American treasure” and mentioned his own show’s approach, steering clear of political comedy that marked Colbert’s tenure. Allen added that his path to success taught him important lessons, contributing to his status as a billionaire.