Stephen Colbert may be winding down his run on The Late Show, but fans won’t have to wait long to see him back on TV. The Emmy-winning host has lined up a new gig — one that lets him poke fun at the late-night world from an entirely different angle.

Colbert will appear in the season 3 premiere of CBS’s hit police procedural dramedy Elsbeth, playing a fictional late-night host named Scotty Bristol. The episode, titled “Yes, And…” is set to air October 12 and features Colbert sharing the screen with some very familiar comedic faces.

The Plot: Backstage Drama in Late Night

According to CBS, the premiere will throw quirky attorney Elsbeth Tascioni (Carrie Preston) into the cutthroat world of late-night TV. The synopsis reads:

“Elsbeth dives into the world of late-night comedy when backstage tensions rise between a talk show host (Stephen Colbert), his head writer Laurel (Amy Sedaris), and her on-air sidekick husband, Mickey (Andy Richter).”

The setup blends Elsbeth’s signature murder-mystery tone with a satirical spin on late-night dynamics. A host clashing with his writer? A sidekick getting pulled into the drama? It’s a send-up of the industry Colbert knows all too well.

Colbert Reunites with Amy Sedaris

The guest role also marks a reunion between Colbert and Amy Sedaris, with whom he co-created the cult classic Strangers With Candy alongside Paul Dinello and Mitch Rouse.

Colbert and Sedaris have been comedic collaborators since the 1990s, their oddball chemistry helping Strangers With Candy achieve its enduring cult status. On Elsbeth, however, the pair won’t be partners in crime — they’ll be a host and head writer butting heads.

That dynamic is sure to make for sharp banter, especially since Sedaris thrives in roles that lean into chaotic energy.

Enter Andy Richter, Sidekick Extraordinaire

Also joining the episode is Andy Richter, best known as Conan O’Brien’s longtime sidekick on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Conan. Here, Richter will play Mickey, Laurel’s on-air sidekick and husband — a role that seems tailor-made for someone who spent decades navigating the peculiar tensions of talk-show hierarchy.

Richter’s presence adds an extra layer of authenticity. Few people understand the quirks of being a talk-show sidekick better than Richter, and watching him parody that experience opposite Colbert feels like a late-night in-joke come to life.

Could Colbert Be the Victim?

Elsbeth has a reputation for putting its big-name guest stars in compromising positions — sometimes literally. Rob Riggle and Vanessa Bayer (both SNL alumni) popped up in season 2, and more often than not, one of the celebrity players ends up the victim in the case of the week.

In fact, Colbert himself hinted earlier this year that he might want to play a corpse. During a February interview with Elsbeth star Wendell Pierce, Colbert joked about wanting to appear on the show as “a dead body.”

If that wish comes true, fans may not see Scotty Bristol making it to the end credits alive.

A Glimpse at Colbert’s Post-Late Show Future?

Colbert’s guest spot comes at an interesting time. CBS has already confirmed that The Late Show will end in May 2026, wrapping Colbert’s tenure as host. That leaves the Emmy winner with a wide-open lane to explore what comes next.

His appearance on Elsbeth could be a hint that he’s interested in stepping back into scripted roles. Colbert has a long history as an actor and writer — from Strangers With Candy to voice work on animated series like Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law.

While it’s unlikely Colbert will sign on for a CBS scripted series full-time, dipping his toes back into acting suggests a career pivot could be in the works once he exits late night.

Colbert’s Comedy Legacy

Colbert, 60, has been a fixture in American comedy for decades. After cutting his teeth at Chicago’s Second City, he became a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where his satirical takes became a highlight of the program.

That led to The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, where his faux-conservative pundit persona made him a cultural phenomenon. His move to CBS in 2015 as David Letterman’s successor gave him the biggest stage of all.

As he gears up for his final stretch on The Late Show, Colbert is clearly not retreating from the spotlight — he’s simply experimenting with different platforms.

The Bigger Trend: Late-Night Hosts on Dramas

Colbert isn’t the first late-night figure to pop up in scripted TV. James Corden guest-starred on Doctor Who before his Late Late Show run. Seth Meyers has cameoed in sitcoms like Parks and Recreation. Even Jimmy Fallon and Conan O’Brien have parodied themselves in films and TV sketches.

But Colbert’s Elsbeth appearance feels particularly pointed because the role — a late-night host caught in workplace chaos — is such a winking nod to his real life.

What Fans Can Expect

The Elsbeth season 3 premiere promises:

Colbert stepping into a role that blurs satire and scripted drama.

A reunion between Colbert and Amy Sedaris, sure to spark wild chemistry.

Andy Richter parodying the very sidekick persona that defined his career.

A possible twist that sees Colbert’s character becoming the murder victim of the week.

For fans of late-night TV, the episode doubles as a behind-the-curtain spoof of the industry — filtered through Elsbeth’s quirky crime-solving lens.

The Bottom Line

Stephen Colbert may be nearing the end of his Late Show run, but he’s hardly fading away. His guest turn on Elsbeth proves he’s still eager to play, collaborate, and even poke fun at his own late-night legacy.

Whether Scotty Bristol ends up as a murder suspect, a victim, or simply the diva host at the center of the drama, Colbert’s episode is already shaping up as one of the highlights of Elsbeth season 3.

Fans can catch Colbert’s guest spot when Elsbeth returns with its premiere episode, “Yes, And…” on October 12, 2025. Until then, he’s back behind the desk at The Late Show on Sept. 2 after his summer hiatus — keeping one foot in late night, and another in the world of scripted TV.