Stephen Colbert Interviews Eminem on a Michigan Cable Access Show

— -- While the set for his new CBS late-night program is being built, Stephen Colbert is apparently itching to get behind a chat show desk -- which, he explained, was why he recently hosted a Michigan public access show called "Only in Monroe."

While not in his "Colbert Report" persona, Colbert was certainly in character, deadpanning through the 41-plus minute program as any local host would, on location in the local access channel's studio, which Colbert said was the perfect channel "to binge watch 2014 city council meetings. Spoiler alert: don't get too attached to that free parking on Cass Street. It doesn't end well."

Colbert also performed live spots for local eateries and interviews with local newsmakers, including "a local Michigander who is making a name for himself in the competitive world of music... Marshall Mathers."

The footage was posted on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" YouTube channel on Wednesday night.

Colbert acted as if he'd never heard of Mathers, who is of course rapper Eminem, sometimes to Eminem's apparent disbelief, and checked the Detroit native's Michigan bona fides by quizzing him on Bob Seger's songs.

"You claim to be from Michigan, but you don't know these songs," Colbert chided him.

"So, where do you hope this goes," Colbert asked about Mathers' music. "Is it a career? A hobby?" He also warned Eminem, "This is a tough business, do you have a fallback position? Carpentry? You just have to make plans for when the dreams die."

"I'm so confused right now," said Eminem, who was there to promote the boxing movie "Southpaw." "I'm trying to figure out if you're serious..."

Em clearly was game, however, reading entries from the Monroe Community Calendar, and waving goodbye through absurdly long end credits.

"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" premieres September 8.