Stephen Colbert, Eminem tape Monroe public access show

Stephen Colbert doesn't take over as host of CBS' "The Late Show" until September, but he warmed up for the gig Tuesday by getting in front of the camera and taking over as host for "Only in Monroe," a public access TV show in Monroe.

If it sounds like a bizarre stunt, it is: the comedian played it straight while giving a tour through Monroe's history ("Monroe is the birthplace of the La-Z-Boy. La-Z-Boy: Don't sit there, that's dad's chair!"), sitting down with the show's regular hosts and interviewing "a local Michigander who is making a name for himself in the competitive world of music" — Eminem.

Colbert interviews Eminem for nearly 20 minutes. They talk about Em's influences, his route to get to the TV studio ("did you take I-75?" Colbert asks) and he even gets Em to sing a few Bob Seger songs. The episode can be watched in all its surreal glory in the video below.

Colbert's production team reached out to MPACT, Monroe Public Access Cable Television, a few weeks ago, the station's Beth Kern said Wednesday. The taping took place Tuesday afternoon and took several hours, and Kern says Colbert and his team were a pleasure to work with and be around.

"It's quite an honor," she said.

The 40-minute episode was posted to YouTube early Wednesday and has been making the viral rounds. Phones at the station have been lighting up all day on Wednesday, Kern said. Eminem tweeted about the clip Wednesday afternoon.

Kern said Colbert was friendly and outgoing and posed for pictures with the station's staff. Eminem was "more restricted," she said.

A new episode of "Only in Monroe" is set to tape soon. As for how they'll top the Colbert episode, "I don't think we can!" Kern said.

agraham@detroitnews.com

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