Stephen Colbert marked a notable departure from network television by appearing on a local public-access program in Monroe, Michigan, the day after hosting the final episode of “The Late Show” on CBS. On Friday night, Colbert took over an episode of “Only in Monroe,” a community media program focused on the small town located about 40 miles southwest of Detroit.

During the hourlong broadcast, Colbert acknowledged the abrupt transition from late-night network television to the grassroots setting of Monroe’s local television. “It’s been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV,” he said early in the show, adding a humorous nod to the corporate media landscape by joking about Monroe Community Media potentially being acquired by Paramount. This reference echoed recent industry shifts, following the acquisition of CBS’s parent company, Paramount, by the media company Skydance, which coincided with the cancellation of “The Late Show.”

Friday’s episode mirrored the familiar structure of Colbert’s late-night tenure, beginning with a monologue rich in self-deprecating humor about the smaller scale of public-access TV and lighthearted commentary on local lore, including a Big Foot sighting. Colbert also poked fun at the show’s lack of sponsorships, comparing its modest finances to those of a major network.

The program featured appearances by “Only in Monroe” hosts Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson, a former Miss America, who were Colbert’s guests as well. The show also included musical direction by Jack White, the Detroit native and acclaimed musician, who performed using a boombox and reel-to-reel player, underscoring the program’s DIY aesthetic. Other notable guests with Michigan ties included Byron Allen, a comedian and entrepreneur whose show “Comics Unleashed” has taken over the late-night slot formerly held by Colbert, and the rapper Eminem. Actor Steve Buscemi appeared in a tongue-in-cheek segment promoting a local eatery named Buscemi’s Pizza & Subs, unrelated to the actor himself.

Throughout the episode, Colbert engaged with his guests in a convivial manner, sampling locally distilled spirits, tasting various renditions of Monroe-style chili dogs, and creating an unconventional snack combining peanut butter, potato chips, and barbecue sauce alongside actor Jeff Daniels, who resides in Michigan.

Colbert’s involvement with “Only in Monroe” dates back to 2015, shortly before he assumed hosting duties on “The Late Show.” At that time, he similarly interviewed the local hosts and welcomed Eminem to the program, humorously referring to the rapper as a “local Michigander making a name for himself in music.” During his final CBS broadcast, Colbert reminded viewers of his earlier appearance on the show, noting that it had drawn an audience of just a dozen people. “Show business being what it is these days, that’s probably where you’ll see me next,” he remarked.

The episode concluded with a symbolic act of closure as Colbert and his guests demolished the set with hammers before setting it ablaze in a dumpster outside, bringing a dramatic end to an unconventional chapter in his television career.