Trending Now - Stephen Colbert Returns to Michigan Airwaves With Star-studded Show

WHO:

ABC News Entertainment - Byron Allen will be hosting “Comics Unleashed” that is replacing Colbert’s canceled “Late Show.”

AP News - Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson, the normal hosts of the community access program, participated in a segment with Colbert.

Variety - Stephen Colbert, Jack White, Jeff Daniels, Eminem, Steve Buscemi, Byron Allen

ABC News Entertainment - Stephen Colbert, Jack White

AP News - Stephen Colbert, Jack White, Jeff Daniels, Steve Buscemi, Eminem, Byron Allen, Michelle Baumann, Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson

WHAT:

LateNighter - Byron Allen's "Comics Unleashed" will feature guests including Kim McVicar, Tobe Hixx, Carlos Oscar, and Jonathan Flanagan on May 27.

LateNighter - The guest lineup for Byron Allen's show includes comics Maryellen Hooper, Mike Finoia, Chase Anthony, and Ramsey Badawi on May 28.

LateNighter - The lineup for Byron Allen's show includes guests Ali Kolbert, Sean Corvelle, Zak Toscani, and Ali Sultan on May 29.

LateNighter - Byron Allen's "Comics Unleashed" will feature guests Kaycee Conlee, Skyler Higley, Greg Baldwin, and Mattio Martinez on May 25, and additional guests including Johana Coca, Noah Copfer, Marc Theobald, and Jeff Leach on May 26.

LateNighter - The lineup for the week following includes guests such as Kim McVicar, Tobe Hixx, Carlos Oscar, and Jonathan Flanagan on May 27, and Maryellen Hooper, Mike Finoia, Chase Anthony, and Ramsey Badawi on May 28, followed by Ali Kolbert, Sean Corvelle, Zak Toscani, and Ali Sultan on May 29.

LateNighter - Byron Allen's "Comics Unleashed" will feature a lineup including Kaycee Conlee, Skyler Higley, and Greg Baldwin on May 26, and additional guests through May 29.

LateNighter - The premiere of Byron Allen's "Comics Unleashed" is scheduled for May 25 at 11:35 PM.

CNBC - Colbert stated, "It's been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV, so I am grateful to be able to be here on Monroe Community Media before they also get acquired by Paramount," during the broadcast.

LateNighter - The guest lineup for Byron Allen's first week includes comics Hannah Dickinson, Mark Smalls, Lance Woods, and Joe Sib, with the premiere on May 25.

LateNighter - The lineup for the week following includes guests such as Kaycee Conlee, Skyler Higley, and Greg Baldwin on May 26, and others through May 29.

LateNighter - The guest lineup for Byron Allen's first week in the 11:35 PM time slot includes comics Hannah Dickinson, Mark Smalls, Lance Woods, and Joe Sib.

LateNighter - The lineup for the week following includes guests such as Kaycee Conlee, Skyler Higley, and Greg Baldwin.

Variety - Colbert referred to his first show in July of 2015 as being from a public access station in Monroe, Michigan, for an audience of 12 people.

Variety - Stephen Colbert hosted a community access television show titled “Only in Monroe.”

AP News - Colbert made a surprise appearance on the show one night after recording his final episode of “The Late Show” on CBS.

AP News - The broadcast featured Michigan-centric jokes and included a recorded bit with Steve Buscemi joking about Buscemi’s Pizza in Monroe.

AP News - Eminem appeared on tape as the “fire marshal” who approved setting fire to remnants of the set destroyed at the end of the show.

AP News - Colbert interviewed Jeff Daniels during the hourlong broadcast.

WHERE:

Variety - The show was broadcast in southeast Michigan along the shores of Lake Erie.

AP News - The community access program is located in Monroe, Michigan.

WHEN:

LateNighter - The lineup for Byron Allen's show includes guests such as Kaycee Conlee, Skyler Higley, and Greg Baldwin on May 26, and others through May 29.

LateNighter - The guest lineup for Byron Allen's first week in the 11:35 PM time slot includes comics Hannah Dickinson, Mark Smalls, Lance Woods, and Joe Sib, with the premiere on May 25.

LateNighter - Byron Allen's “Comics Unleashed” is set to premiere in the 11:35 PM time slot on May 25.

AP News - The latest episode aired exactly 24 hours after Colbert's final “Late Show” on CBS.

AP News - Colbert previously hosted an episode of “Only in Monroe” in the summer of 2015.

WHY:

AP News - Colbert's appearance on community access television was a return to his roots, harking back to his first show in July of 2015.

HOW:

AP News - During the broadcast, a warning was displayed stating, “Former professional TV host, do not try this at home,” while Colbert and the normal hosts sucked helium from balloons.

AP News - During the broadcast, a warning was displayed stating, “Former professional TV host, do not try this at home,” while Colbert and the normal hosts sucked helium from balloons while discussing Baumann’s battle with cancer.

AP News - During the broadcast, a warning was displayed stating, “Former professional TV host, do not try this at home,” while Colbert and the normal hosts sucked helium from balloons.

AP News - Colbert and the normal hosts of the program sucked helium from balloons while discussing Baumann’s battle with cancer, with a warning displayed on the screen stating, “Former professional TV host, do not try this at home.”

AP News - Colbert hosted the show with Jack White as his “volunteer music director” and interacted with guests via FaceTime, including Byron Allen.

(UPDATED May 24, 2026 15:15 UTC)

Byron Allen's "Comics Unleashed" is set to feature a star-studded lineup with guests including Kim McVicar, Tobe Hixx, Carlos Oscar, and Jonathan Flanagan on May 27, followed by Maryellen Hooper, Mike Finoia, Chase Anthony, and Ramsey Badawi on May 28. The show will continue with Ali Kolbert, Sean Corvelle, Zak Toscani, and Ali Sultan joining the fun on May 29. During a recent broadcast, a warning was displayed stating, “do not try this at home,” as Colbert and the regular hosts entertained viewers by sucking helium from balloons.

(UPDATED May 24, 2026 11:17 UTC)

Byron Allen's "Comics Unleashed" will feature a lineup of guests including Kaycee Conlee, Skyler Higley, Greg Baldwin, and Mattio Martinez on May 25, followed by Johana Coca, Noah Copfer, Marc Theobald, and Jeff Leach on May 26. The week after will showcase Kim McVicar, Tobe Hixx, Carlos Oscar, and Jonathan Flanagan on May 27, with Maryellen Hooper, Mike Finoia, Chase Anthony, and Ramsey Badawi on May 28, and wrapping up with Ali Kolbert, Sean Corvelle, Zak Toscani, and Ali Sultan on May 29. During a recent broadcast, a warning was displayed stating, “Former professional TV host, do not try this at home,” as Colbert and the regular hosts entertained viewers by sucking helium from balloons while discussing Baumann’s battle with cancer.

(UPDATED May 24, 2026 09:31 UTC)

Byron Allen's "Comics Unleashed" is set to premiere on May 25 at 11:35 PM, featuring a lineup that includes Kaycee Conlee, Skyler Higley, and Greg Baldwin, with additional guests joining the show through May 29. During a recent broadcast, a warning appeared stating, “professional TV host, do not try this at home,” as Colbert and the usual hosts inhaled helium from balloons. This unique moment added a playful twist to the show's promotional efforts ahead of its debut.

(UPDATED May 24, 2026 06:14 UTC)

Byron Allen's new show, LateNighter, is set to premiere on May 25 at 11:35 PM, featuring a lineup of comics including Hannah Dickinson, Mark Smalls, Lance Woods, and Joe Sib. Following that, guests like Kaycee Conlee, Skyler Higley, and Greg Baldwin will appear from May 26 through May 29. In a lighter moment on a recent episode, Colbert and the usual hosts inhaled helium from balloons while discussing Baumann’s battle with cancer, with a cautionary message on screen advising viewers not to attempt this at home.

(UPDATED May 24, 2026 04:17 UTC)

Colbert expressed his gratitude to be back on air during a broadcast on Monroe Community Media, saying, "It's been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV." Meanwhile, Byron Allen's new show, LateNighter, is set to premiere on May 25, featuring a lineup of comics including Hannah Dickinson and Mark Smalls, with more guests like Kaycee Conlee and Skyler Higley scheduled for the following week. In a lighthearted moment, Colbert and the show's hosts entertained viewers by sucking helium from balloons while discussing Baumann’s battle with cancer, accompanied by a warning not to try it at home.

(UPDATED May 23, 2026 23:13 UTC)

Byron Allen will be hosting "Comics Unleashed," which is set to replace Stephen Colbert's canceled "Late Show," premiering in the 11:35 PM time slot on May 25. During his first week, Allen will welcome a lineup of comics including Hannah Dickinson, Mark Smalls, Lance Woods, and Joe Sib, followed by guests like Kaycee Conlee, Skyler Higley, and Greg Baldwin in the week after. This new show promises to bring a fresh take on late-night entertainment.

(UPDATED May 23, 2026 21:10 UTC)

In a recent segment, Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson, the usual hosts of a community access program, joined Colbert for a lively discussion. During the show, Colbert reminisced about his first broadcast in July 2015, which he humorously noted was from a public access station in Monroe, Michigan, with just twelve viewers. The segment took a playful turn as Colbert and the hosts inhaled helium from balloons while addressing Baumann’s battle with cancer, accompanied by a cautionary message advising viewers not to attempt this at home.

(UPDATED May 23, 2026 19:18 UTC)

Stephen Colbert made a surprise return to community access television by hosting a special episode of “Only in Monroe,” just one day after wrapping up his final episode of “The Late Show” on CBS. The broadcast, which featured Michigan-centric humor and included a taped appearance by Eminem as the “fire marshal,” also showcased an interview with actor Jeff Daniels and was supported by Jack White as the music director. This nostalgic moment marked Colbert's return to his roots, as he previously hosted an episode of the show back in the summer of 2015.