Elsbeth Season 3 first look images tease Stephen Colbert’s return as a late-night host

Elsbeth Season 3 will premiere on CBS on October 12, 2025, and first-look photos affirm that Stephen Colbert will play Scotty Bristol, a fictional late-night talk show host. Colbert's character is completely the show's invention and not a crossover of his actual on-screen character to host The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

The photos depict Colbert standing before an old-fashioned late-night desk with a book, a telephone, and flowers, suggesting the show will explore dimensions of the late-night television universe in addition to its typical legal TV drama.

CBS has remained tight-lipped beyond press releases, but the photos provide the first official glimpse at his character for Season 3 of Elsbeth.

Colbert's role and episode details in Elsbeth Season 3

According to TV Insider, Colbert guest stars during the season premiere, "Yes, And…," a behind-the-scenes sitcom about a fictional late-night program. His character, Scotty Bristol, engages in a dispute with head writer Laurel (Amy Sedaris) and on-air sidekick husband Mickey (Andy Richter). Elsbeth is dating a new cop, played by Lindsay Mendez, who leads a secret double life as a stand-up comedian.

While significant information about Colbert's casting, character, and episode title is true, CBS hasn't confirmed some of the huge plot twists, such as potential shockers or whether Colbert's character is a crime victim, leaking some of the story lines, and keeping others mum until the episode actually airs.

Behind the scenes of Elsbeth Season 3

Colbert's cameo was conceived several months before the CBS announcement that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will come to an end in 2026. No narrative connection, however, can be determined between the two series; his extra-guest stint in Season 3 is likewise disparate from his late-night hosting persona.

Supporting cast and guest appearances in Elsbeth Season 3

Aside from Colbert, the premiere greets recurring cast Carrie Preston and Wendell Pierce, as well as guest stars Amy Sedaris, Andy Richter, and Lindsay Mendez. The union of recurring and guest cast members solidifies the show's further focus on integrating legal drama and media-related humor.

Narrative themes and fan expectations from Elsbeth Season 3

Elsbeth Season 3 strikes a balance between showbiz and media, courtroom drama, and comedy narratives. Colbert's late-night-host expertise adds another level of storytelling, and the show can delve into behind-the-scenes TV politics, character comedy, and unexpected media-law intersections.

Audiences can expect sharp banter, clever jokes, and quick-witted exchanges that elevate the show while channeling the energy of late-night television. The premiere stills and cast reveal hint at a debut that blends comedy, media satire, and courtroom drama into a lively culmination.

In brief, Elsbeth Season 3 has guest star Stephen Colbert playing a fictionalized late-night talk show host character named Scotty Bristol. While some of the plots are unreleased, the factual information, Colbert's casting, role, episode title, and guest cast, is out and has been confirmed by credible sources.

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The season premiere, "Yes, And…," will continue where the series left off previously and continue its mix of legal dramedy and media satire, presenting viewers with a mix of humor, courtroom drama, and back-stage television drama. Colbert's character creates a further level of depth for the series without ever becoming part of his real late-night persona.

Also read: Elsbeth Season 3 to feature these as guest stars, find out who

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