Why Did Colbert Do "Only In Monroe"

Published on Jul 1, 2015

Stephen Colbert just interviewed Eminem on a public access cable show in Monroe, Michigan

I'm going to be honest with you: I don't know what to say here. I almost didn't believe this video was real, except that it's hosted on an official YouTube account (albeit unlisted and somehow found by this Michigan Redditer). So let's set the stage here. At some point very recently, future CBS Late Show host Stephen Colbert filled in as host of Only in Monroe, an actual public access cable television talk show in Monroe, Michigan (population just over 20,000). It's a full show, too, at over 40 minutes long, titled "July 2015."

Only in Monroe, as hosted by Colbert (who ends up interviewing the actual hosts early in the show), is a absurdist blend of public access aesthetic and Colbert witticism, complete with Colbert Report style interstitials that'd fit in as a "Better Earn a District" segment — there are even short pauses after jokes for an audience that isn't in studio. This isn't some haphazard effort; the jokes and research are clearly there, and much of the joy in watching this lies in the earnestness of Colbert.

The major guest tonight? "A local Michigander who is making a name for himself in the competitive world of music," aka Marshall Mathers aka Eminem, who just upstaged his own Zane Lowe interview by appearing on public access and being cajoled into humming some Bob Seger tunes. Here's the most important Eminem quote without context: "Carpentry sounds like it could be good."

Colbert's Late Show doesn't begin until September 8th — without beard, with Jon Batiste — and I really hope this experimental streak of teasers is some indication of Colbert and team's plans to experiment with an otherwise staid late night format.

At about ~0:50 Colbert says since his last show ended in December he's been itching to do a new show but his new theater isn't ready yet so he went on Only In Monroe, but that's seem to warrant doing a public access show in Monroe, Michigan.

Why Did Colbert Do "Only In Monroe"?

only-in-monroe

Best Answer

Colbert answers the question himself in the link provided by OP, starting at about 00:47

"Since my last show ended in December, I've been itching to do a talk show again, but my new theater's not ready yet, so I decided to head over to Monroe, Michigan, look around, and give it a Michigander." --Stephen Colbert

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What was only in Monroe?

At some point very recently, future CBS Late Show host Stephen Colbert filled in as host of Only in Monroe, an actual public access cable television talk show in Monroe, Michigan (population just over 20,000).

What is Stephen Colbert political affiliation?

He claims to be politically independent, like his idol Bill "Papa Bear" O'Reilly; although in fact the character fawns over the Bush administration and the Republican Party, and frequently asks his guests, "George Bush: Great president, or the greatest president?"

Did Stephen Colbert act in Lord of the Rings?

Colbert earned himself a blink-and-you-missed-it cameo in The Desolation of Smaug, but perhaps the height of his public fandom came in 2015, when a Turkish doctor named Bilgin Ciftci was arrested by his government for posting pictures online comparing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan to Gollum.

Only In Monroe --- July 2015

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