How is this for an ironic twist — as Stephen Colbert is preparing to say goodbye as the host of CBS ‘ The Late Show , he also is portraying a late-night host for CBS with a guest role on the upcoming third season of the network’s crime anthology Elsbeth , Deadline has confirmed.

Colbert is not playing himself in the episode, which filmed this week. According to Vulture , which first reported the news, he plays the host of the fictional Way Late with Scotty Bristol . Each episode of Elsbeth solves a different murder; it is unclear how Bristol is connected to that case of the week.

A rep for CBS declined comment.

Primetime series take months of lead time from conceiving an episode to its filming, Colbert’s appearance is believed to stem from a handshake “deal” he made wi

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