Overview

• Stephen Colbert has completed filming as Scotty Bristol, the host of the fictional Way Late with Scotty Bristol, for an episode of Elsbeth’s upcoming third season.
• The role stems from a handshake deal with Elsbeth star Wendell Pierce, who pledged during a February appearance to secure Colbert a spot on the crime-comedy.
• The episode will be part of Elsbeth’s third season, which premieres October 12, as CBS retires The Late Show franchise in May 2026 for financial reasons.
• CBS and Paramount Global cite rising production costs, declining advertising revenue and the $8.4 billion Skydance merger as drivers behind the late-night show’s cancellation.
• Industry insiders say the guest spot was locked in before the cancellation announcement, underscoring CBS’s efforts to redeploy talent across its programming portfolio.