Stephen Colbert has one of the most stressful jobs in show business. After nearly a decade hosting The Colbert Report, one of the greatest political satire shows in television history, he decided to take a break and focus on something a little different – taking over The Late Show from David Letterman, who has ruled late night TV for the past 22 years. Simple stuff.
Of course, in preperation for that, Colbert has to go through some rigorous training. He’s already documenting the process on YouTube, and it includes trying out material, finding a house band and designing a set. And more importantly, going through a quick test, by hosting a local television show in a small town in Michigan.
This weel Colbert took over Only In Monroe, a small show held on a public access cable television channel in Monroe, Michigan. The show usually covers local events, as well as fundraisers and information about charities. But for one night only it was hosted by Colbert himself, who covered all the local news – as well as conducted an interview with none other than rap god and Michigan icon Eminem. Here are some of the best moments from the 40-minute program.
There’s No ‘I’ In MPACT
The intro to Only In Monroe starts in classic Colbert fashion. There are fast-flying jokes and straight-faced irony as he explains that he is sitting in for Michel Bowmen and Kay-Lanyee Ray Ralfco Wilson and thanks the fine people at Monroe Public Access Cable Television. He’s here to give Monroe a ‘Michigander’, and find out what makes Monroe, Mongo…
Beautiful Monroe, Michigan
Originally named after a US president wishing to advertise his ‘Jalapeno Lard on a Hard Tack Biscuit’, Monroe has a proud history that Colbert is more than willing to inform the audience of. He covers a major news story of a Yelp review left about a dining experience that happened in the ’90s. He also interviews the local cable access hosts (the same ones that he was replacing). The whole segment feels fake, mostly because it’s hard to believe that this show could be real, but it’s very much a staple of the MPACT schedule. He discusses if you can buy popcorn at the movie theatre without a ticket, and there is even a nail-painting competition.
Interviewing Eminem
Only In Monroe picks up when Stephen Colbert invites a “local Michigander making a name for himself in the competitive world of music”. Colbert is of course referring to the 15-time Grammy-winner, Eminem. The interview is awkwardly hilarious, and if you have ever watched Between Two Ferns, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Colbert tests Eminem on his Bob Segar knowledge, asking him to sing sections of the songs he calls out. He asks if Eminem is “one of those fast-talking rappers or those slow talking rappers”, if he is one of those “street rappers like Will Smith”, and if this whole rapping thing is going to be a career for him, or if it’s just more of a hobby.
Colbert life-coaches Eminem, letting him know that he needs to have a plan “for when the dream dies” and offers up carpentry as a potential career avenue for him. Things started going a little south when Colbert suggest that maybe the rapper needs a real job so he doesn’t end up a Walmart greeter.
At the end of the interview, Eminem asks if he is going to perform (his first TV performance in years), but unfortunately Colbert is a little tight on time. Colbert eventually recognises Eminem as “the guy who did that thing with Elton John at the Grammys”.
Watch Stephen Colbert host Only In Monroe in all its glory here:
