How Stephen Colbert’s ‘Elsbeth’ Episode Was Impacted by ‘Late Show’ Cancellation

Stephen Colbert plays a parody of a late-night talk show host in the Elsbeth Season 3 premiere, airing on Sunday, October 12, on CBS. Carrie Preston reveals to TV Insider that this episode was filmed one week after The Late Show was abruptly canceled, which raised concerns about whether Colbert would even be allowed to guest star on the CBS procedural. Colbert’s casting was already locked in when The Late Show was canceled on July 17. “For months and months, the producers and the writers had been looking to get him on the show,” Preston tells TV Insider. “And then [Jonathan] Tolins, our showrunner, he specifically wrote this episode for Steven Colbert, and…