Stephen Colbert took a swipe at Paramount and CBS whereas making a shock return to tv simply someday after filming his remaining episode of “The Late Present.”
Colbert was a visitor host on final Friday’s episode of Michigan public entry station, “Solely in Monroe,” which is broadcast from Monroe, Michigan.
He opened the native broadcast at 11:35 p.m. native time with a pointed message at Paramount, which owns CBS (the community that aired his night program).
“It’s been an excruciating 23 hours with out being on TV, so I’m grateful to have the ability to be right here on Monroe Neighborhood Media earlier than in addition they get acquired by Paramount,” Colbert joked.
He then took purpose immediately at CBS by addressing the native viewers.
“Viewers outdoors the larger Monroe space are capable of view Monroe Neighborhood Media due to one thing referred to as streaming, which I promised to not study whereas I used to be on CBS,” he mentioned, including, “And evidently, CBS additionally determined to not study it.”
Colbert, 62, welcomed a number of stars onto the present, together with musician Jack White and actor Jeff Daniels.
He additionally FaceTimed with comic Byron Allen, who is about to take over Colbert’s CBS time slot.
Colbert signed off the ultimate episode of his late-night present final Thursday after greater than 10 years serving because the host.
He shared an emotional goodbye to his viewers and staffers on the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York Metropolis.
“This present has been a pleasure for us to do for you,” he mentioned partially.
“I can’t adequately clarify to you what the individuals who work right here have accomplished for one another, and the way a lot we imply to one another,” Colbert continued. “We love doing the present for you, however what we actually love, is doing the present with you.”
Paul McCartney, Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows, Tig Notaro, Ryan Reynolds and extra stars appeared within the remaining taping.
Colbert celebrated the tip of his late-night run with a star-studded afterparty at NYC occasions area Second at the Kimpton Resort Eventi.
Notable attendees included Drew Barrymore, Ewan McGregor, Padma Lakshmi, Tiffany Haddish, John Oliver, Katie Couric, Gayle King, Keegan-Michael Key, Jon Batiste, Anderson Cooper, Bernadette Peters and so many extra.
Colbert shocked followers in July 2025 when he introduced that CBS canceled “The Late Present.”
“I’m not being changed,” Colbert shared on the time. “That is all simply going away.”
The community put out an announcement calling Colbert “irreplaceable” whereas explaining that they’re retiring “The Late Present” franchise – which was hosted by David Letterman from 1993 till 2015 when Colbert took over.
“We’re proud that Stephen referred to as CBS house,” they mentioned in an announcement. “He and the printed might be remembered within the pantheon of greats that graced late evening tv.”
CBS additionally claimed “the difficult backdrop in late evening” for ending the present.
“It isn’t associated in any technique to the present’s efficiency, content material or different issues occurring at Paramount,” CBS mentioned.
Colbert bought the axe shortly after he criticized Paramount for settling with President Trump for $16 million after he sued the corporate for allegedly enhancing a “60 Minutes” interview together with his presidential opponent Kamala Harris.
Web page Six has reached out to CBS for remark.
