Stephen Colbert has a couple more months before he takes over as host of CBS's "Late Show." In the meantime, he traveled to Michigan to host a public access TV show and interviewed a local celebrity, rapper Eminem.
Public Access Cable Television in Monroe, Mich. welcomed Colbert as the one-time host for their monthly program, "Only in Monroe." In exchange for their hospitality, the 51-year-old comedian invited regular hosts, Michelle Bauman and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko, as his first guests on the show.
Crowned Miss America in 1988, Rafko taught Colbert the proper Miss American wave. He then competed in a game of nail-polishing with Bauman, who bragged in an earlier episode that she could paint two nails per red light.
The substitute host then gave the local news report which included a new headquarters for the La-Z-Boy corporation in Monroe, the local River Raisin cresting, and the band Little Big Town performance at the upcoming Monroe County Fair. Colbert also took to task a Yelp reviewer who complained about his bill at a local eatery in the late '90s.
The second half of the program, Colbert sat down with Eminem who made the 45-minute drive down I-75 from his hometown of Detroit. The rapper is promoting the Jake Gyllenhaal movie, "Southpaw," which he produced and provided the soundtrack for the film.
The 42-year-old Marshall Mathers appeared in on the joke, but kept his tough guy exterior during the nearly 20-minute interview. As they wrapped up, Colbert finally remembered what he knew Eminem from - he was that guy that sang with Elton John at the Grammys!
During the transition, the former Comedy Central hosts has been posting videos to "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" YouTube channel in preparation for his debut. He shaved his beard, introduced his new band leader, Jon Batiste, and recently blasted Justice Antonin Scalia for his dissent in the marriage equality decision.
"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" premieres on Sept. 8 on CBS.
Check out the full episode of "Only In Monroe" below.
