Jack White Joins Stephen Colbert on Monroe Public Access After ‘Late Show’ Finale
On Thursday, May 21, Stephen Colbert hosted the finale of The Late Show. During his monologue, he reflected on his 2015 appearance on Michigan’s public access station, Only in Monroe, where he did a test of The Late Show in front of a 12-person audience and had Eminem as a guest. “Show business being what it is these days, that’s probably where you’ll see me next,” he said in the monologue, before making his way through yesterday.
The late-night legend occupied the 11:35 p.m. time slot last night with show hosts Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson, as well as guests including Detroit’s Jack White, who served as music director, and actors Steve Buscemi and Jeff Daniels.
It was a hectic hour. “You know you’ve got a lot of equipment over there,” Colbert said while introducing the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer. “Uh, did you leave your wax cylinders at home?” The host and guests took a few photos after Colbert presented local news, then he got “high as a kite” by inhaling helium and singing along to The White Stripes’ “Fell in Love with a Girl.” White and Colbert had an intimate moment sharing a hot dog (as pictured above) during a segment about the rivalry between two local “Monroe-style” hot dog shops. Buscemi appeared in a public service announcement—not an advertisement—for The Original Buscemi’s Pizza & Subs, with which he is not affiliated. White also revealed that he was a Bigfoot expert.
At the end, everyone started demolishing the makeshift set. White’s Detroit icon, Marshall Mathers—aka Eminem—appeared via video as the “fire commissioner” to give Colbert, White, and Daniels the go-ahead to burn the remains in a dumpster. (Speaking of dumpsters, Donald Trump tweeted an AI-generated video of himself throwing Colbert into one.)
White has appeared on The Colbert Report and The Late Show several times over the years and recorded a Third Man 7″ with the comedian in 2011. On Instagram yesterday, he posted, “America must give this man a standing ovation tonight. God bless you Stephen, it is absolutely ridiculous that we live in a country where a president’s ego can vindictively censor network television… and nobody stops him. Keep going on your new path with your head held high, sir.” You spoke the truth and gave us so many reasons to laugh, and we look forward to even more in the future. Thank you.
Watch some highlights and the full episode below.
The unexpected Monroe appearance quickly became a viral sensation online, with fans praising Colbert for turning a joke from his Late Show farewell into a real event. Clips from the public access broadcast spread rapidly across social media, especially moments featuring Jack White’s offbeat humor and Colbert’s playful chemistry with the local hosts.
For longtime viewers, the return to Monroe carried symbolic meaning. Colbert’s original 2015 visit to Only in Monroe came just before he officially launched The Late Show, making this latest appearance feel like a full-circle moment. What began as a quirky experiment more than a decade ago had suddenly become an emotional and surprisingly fitting epilogue.
Jack White’s presence added even more weight to the evening. Having collaborated with Colbert multiple times throughout the years, White seemed perfectly suited for the bizarre and unpredictable atmosphere of public access television. Whether joking about obscure music equipment or enthusiastically joining strange local segments, the musician embraced the chaos with enthusiasm.
The chemistry among the guests gave the broadcast an intentionally unpolished charm rarely seen in mainstream late-night television. Steve Buscemi’s deadpan humor and Jeff Daniels’ laid-back participation helped create an atmosphere that felt spontaneous rather than scripted, reminding viewers of the unpredictable magic that small-scale broadcasting can sometimes deliver.
Meanwhile, White’s emotional Instagram message sparked widespread discussion among fans and commentators. His public support for Colbert resonated deeply with viewers who saw the Late Show cancellation as more than just a business decision. For supporters, White’s comments reflected growing frustration over politics, media influence, and artistic freedom in America.
Even Eminem’s brief cameo as the fictional “fire commissioner” became one of the night’s standout moments. Though short, the Detroit icon’s appearance reinforced the local flavor of the broadcast and connected back to Colbert’s earlier Monroe visit, where the rapper had famously appeared as a guest during the show’s unusual test run.
As the makeshift set came crashing down at the end of the night, the symbolism was hard to miss. Rather than mourning the conclusion of The Late Show, Colbert chose absurdity, laughter, and nostalgia to mark the transition. For many fans, Monroe Public Access didn’t just feel like an afterparty—it felt like the beginning of whatever strange and creative chapter comes next.
