In the wake of CBS canceling The Late Show, Stephen Colbert, who has been the face of the show for years, is gearing up for a new adventure—this time in a fictional setting on the same network.
The 61-year-old host is set to make a guest appearance in the upcoming season three of Elsbeth, a quirky crime comedy series that focuses on a unique attorney delving into murder cases in New York City.
According to Variety, Colbert will embody the character of a late-night talk show host named Way Late with Scotty Bristol. While it’s still a mystery how his character plays a part in the overall storyline, the episode has already been filmed.
This surprising casting was allegedly in the works for a while, thanks to Colbert’s future co-star, Wendell Pierce, who appeared on The Late Show in February.
During a chat with Pierce, Colbert humorously mentioned his interest in portraying a corpse on Elsbeth. Pierce responded playfully, saying, “I can make that happen. I know a guy who knows a guy. We can get you on.”
This amusing exchange took place around the same time CBS greenlit season three of Elsbeth.
As per Deadline, the role was crafted specifically for Colbert, and even though there was a chance of recasting after The Late Show‘s cancellation, CBS opted to keep him in the role.
Elsbeth, featuring Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni, is a spin-off that evolves from the acclaimed legal dramas The Good Wife and The Good Fight, where the character first appeared. The show has also welcomed notable stars like Nathan Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Matthew Broderick, and Laura Benanti during its initial seasons.
As of May 2026, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is set to end. CBS attributes this decision to a financial motive , although some speculation suggests it may have been a strategic fulfillment in response to pressure from Donald Trump.
The situation gets murky as Paramount, CBS’s parent company, approached the FCC for approval on a hefty $8 billion sale to Skydance, possibly needing to smooth over differences with the presidentially controlled commission.
Notably, Colbert has frequently critiqued Trump. His most recent clash arose when he characterized a $16 million payout by Paramount to Trump regarding another CBS program, 60 Minutes, as akin to a big fat bribe .
Soon after Colbert made the “bribe” comment, news of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert‘s cancellation broke, which is slated to go off the air next May.
Trump, enjoying the news, boasted on his Truth Social account about Colbert’s exit: I absolutely love that Colbert was fired.
Colbert’s response? He firmly stated that the “gloves are off.”
