How is this for an ironic twist — as Stephen Colbert is preparing to say goodbye as the host of CBS‘ The Late Show, he also is portraying a late-night host for CBS with a guest role on the upcoming third season of the network’s crime anthology Elsbeth, Deadline has confirmed.
Colbert is not be playing himself in the episode, which filmed this week. According to Vulture, which first reported the news, he plays the host of the fictional Way Late with Scotty Bristol. Each episode of Elsbeth solves a different murder; it is unclear how Bristol is connected to that case of the week.
A rep for CBS declined comment.
Primetime series take months of lead time from conceiving an episode to its filming, Colbert’s appearance is believed to stem from a handshake “deal” he made with Wendell Pierce during the Elsbeth star’s appearance on The Late Show in February.
After Colbert professed that he had long been asking CBS to play a corpse on one of the network’s crime dramas, Pierce promised to help. “I can make that happen,” he said, referring to Season 3 of Elsbeth, which had just been picked up. “I know a guy who knows a guy. We can get you on,” he added. (You can watch the video below.)
The jokey exchange led to real discussions and Colbert’s appearance on Elsbeth. The role of Bristol is believed to have been written for him. In the wake of the Late Show cancellation, the part could’ve been recast but everyone proceeded with the original plan.
Elsbeth, from Robert and Michelle King and CBS Studios, is headlined by Carrie Preston reprising her role from The Good Wife. Notable guest stars over the show’s first two seasons include Nathan Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Laura Benanti, Matthew Broderick and Retta.
