CBS has released first-look images from the Season 3 premiere of its light crime drama Elsbeth, featuring an unexpected guest star — Stephen Colbert. The late-night host filmed his role just two weeks after CBS announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would end in May, with the entire Late Show franchise canceled.
In the episode, titled “Yes, And…”, Colbert plays fictional late-night host Scotty Bristol, diving into a world he knows well but with a crime twist. Photos show him behind the desk of his talk show, engaging with a star-struck Elsbeth (Carrie Preston).
Guest Stars and Roles
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Stephen Colbert as Scotty Bristol, a talk show host
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Amy Sedaris as Laurel Hammond-Muntz, his wife and the show’s head writer
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Andy Richter as Mickey Muntz, her husband and the on-air sidekick
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Lindsay Mendez as a police officer who moonlights as an aspiring stand-up comic
The episode’s plot centers around backstage tensions between Colbert’s host character, his head writer (Sedaris), and her sidekick husband (Richter). As with every Elsbeth case, murder and mystery soon unfold — though it remains unclear who among Colbert, Sedaris, or Richter plays the victim or killer.
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Behind the Scenes
The Season 3 premiere was written by Jonathan Tolins and directed by Joe Menendez. Executive producers include Robert King and Michelle King, along with Tolins, Liz Glotzer, Erica Shelton Kodish, Bryan Goluboff, and Gail Barringer.
Premiere Date and Schedule
Elsbeth will help kick off CBS Premiere Week with a special sneak peek on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at 9:30 PM, following the Matlock Season 2 premiere at 8:30 PM. Both shows return to their regular Thursday night slots on October 16, with Matlock at 9 PM and Elsbeth at 10 PM.
Episodes will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Premium subscribers; next-day for Essential subscribers).
With Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, and Andy Richter stepping into guest roles, Elsbeth Season 3 promises a premiere packed with witty banter, late-night satire, and the series’ signature blend of lighthearted mystery. Fans of Carrie Preston’s quirky lawyer-turned-investigator can look forward to a fresh case that kicks off the season in style.
