Overview

• Colbert completed filming his guest spot as fictional host Scotty Bristol on CBS’s crime comedy Elsbeth this week, fulfilling a handshake deal he made with star Wendell Pierce in February.
• Season 3 of Elsbeth, created by Robert and Michelle King and starring Carrie Preston, premieres October 12 and will feature Colbert in a standalone murder-of-the-week episode.
• CBS plans to conclude The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May 2026 to retire the franchise as production costs rise and ad revenue declines.
• The network described the cancellation as a financial decision in light of budget pressures, shifting viewing habits and Paramount Global’s Skydance merger.
• His crossover underscores CBS’s strategy to leverage established talent across late-night and primetime as it restructures its lineup.