Stephen Colbert is set to guest star inElsbethafter CBS cancelledThe Late Show, joining the drama on the network ahead of his show’s final year. In July 2025, it was confirmed thatCBS will be endingThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertand retiring the franchise in May 2026. This has drummed up controversy due to its popularity.
Now,Vulture(viaBleeding Cool) reports thatColbert will be joining the cast ofElsbethseason 3 in a guest role. Colbert is expected to appear as the host of the fictional late-night TV seriesWay Late with Scotty Bristol. His exact involvement in the police procedural is unknown, and it’s currently unclear which episode he’s going to appear in.
What Colbert’s Role In Elsbeth Season 3 Means For The Show
How He’ll Factor Into The Good Wife Spinoff
Elsbethseason 3is set to continue the story of its title character, who has been a major part ofThe Good Wifefranchise since her debut in season 1 of the first show.The current series focuses on her work with the NYPD in solving murder cases, using the inverted detective format as how its cases are presented.
As for Colbert joining the series, it’s reported thatthe late-night talk show storyline was in the works prior to the end ofThe Late Show. It’s also reported that Wendell Pierce, who portrays C.W. on thecast ofElsbeth, helped him get the role. As for his importance to the plot, that remains unclear until the episode airs.
Colbert has previouslyexpressed interest in having a role on one of CBS' TV shows, particularly joking about playing a dead body. While this doesn’t confirm the status of his Scotty Bristol character, it does signal that he’ll have some important role in the larger storyline of the episode. Perhaps he will be portraying the victim of a crime.
Our Take On Colbert’s Casting In Elsbeth Season 3
He’ll Add Some Interesting Elements To The Narrative
While Colbert’s appearance inElsbethmay not have been planned from the start,it makes sense to incorporate him into their late-night show storylinegiven his upcoming departure from the network. Not only does he have real-world experience as a comedian on TV, but it makes for a fun cameo beforeThe Late Showcomes to a close.
It also fulfills his wish of being involved in one of the network’s dramas. This makes his new role even better, since it’ll give him an important part inElsbeththat will be remembered because of how unique it is. Even though it doesn’t make up for his departure, it’s still a strong development for his final year at CBS.
