Colbert Beats About the Bush

Billy Bush, the broadcaster who lost his job because of the infamous Access Hollywood tape, appears on tonight’sThe Late Show With Stephen Colbert (Prime, 11.35).

It’s his first TV appearance since being fired from NBC’s Today show, whose Matt Lauer was dumped last week, and follows an op-ed he penned for The New York Times rebuking President Trump.

“Along with Donald Trump and me, there were seven other guys present on the bus at the time, and every single one of us assumed we were listening to a crass standup act,” he wrote.

The Hollywood Reporter observed he made no mention of the former colleague who was fired for his own sexual misconduct claims. “Surely Colbert will have him address it on tonight’s show?”

UPDATED: According to Deadline Hollywood, Colbert asks Bush: “How do you feel about NBC firing you especially in light of Matt Lauer being fired for allegations of actual sexual impropriety?”

“Bush’s op-ed for the New York Times comes amid rumblings that the host is preparing to emerge from his post-Trump exile and seek new TV work,” Variety reported while USA Today dubbed it the start of his “comeback tour“.

Scheduled for the rest of the week on The Late Show are:

• Saoirse Ronan, CNN’s Van Jones and a musical performance by Morrissey (11.55 Wednesday)
• Ed Helms, Bull’s Christopher Jackson and a musical performance by Bleachers (10.30 Thursday)
• Sarah Paulson and John Hodgman (10.30 Friday)
• Mark Hamill (11.05 Monday).