Only Colbert
Back 11 years ago, Just days before his Late Show went on the air, Stephen Colbert guest-hosted a 40-minute episode of the Only in Monroe public access cable show in Monroe, Michigan. He not only had guests, but they were Jack White, Jeff Daniels and Eminen, who are all from Michigan.
That brings us to today.
The very next day after his CBS show ended on Thursday, Colbert went back to Monroe and hosted Only in Monroe again, on Friday! This time again with Jack White and Jeff Daniels, along with an appearance by Steve Buscemi. Plus some locals. For a full hour this time.
Beyond just the brilliant concept of doing this in the first place, the full hour show (!!) is wildly hilarious. And very clever. Clearly this is something he planned for a long while – since it’s so deeply well-written and the production graphics and video pieces are so well done. (Though, of course, much is obviously ad-libbed and winging it, which is much of the fun.)
And it stays funny all the way through – including some things in the closing credits. There were many parts laughed out loud. And what makes it all the funnier to me is that it's basically the show Colbert did on CBS for 11 years -- just on a really, really, really, really, really low-key level.
And I love Genevieve. Not a guest. Nothing planned. Just a natural joy. If you watch the whole thing, you’ll understand.
I know it’s risky to praise humor so highly, but I feel confident about this. Even if you don’t like it as much as I did (but you may), I feel confident that you’ll find a lot of it wonderful. If you’re swamped and can't watch the whole thing, at least check out the opening five minutes which is largely (not exactly a monologue) his introduction.
And as a bonus, here is that original "Only in Monroe" broadcast that Stephen Colbert made in July, 2015.
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