After forging his own path, how far can Stephen Colbert go on YouTube and TikTok?

After hosting his final episode of CBS‘ long-running Late Show, Stephen Colbert made an unsurprising move: He set up his own channels on YouTube and TikTok.

Both channels feature the simple handle @colbert, and they’ve attracted hundreds of thousands of Colbert fans a few days after they were first spotted. On YouTube, Colbert has already attracted nearly 200,000 subscribers; his TikTok follow count is hovering around 140,000.

Those subscribers and followers haven’t found many videos to watch yet. On TikTok, Colbert’s account is bare. His YouTube hub kicked off with a single, hour-long video: An appearance on public access television in Monroe, Michigan.

If Only In Monroe is an indication of what’s coming to Colbert’s social channels, his fans will be excited to see what’s next. His lo-fi program is a far cry from the splashy CBS fare that made The Late Show into a YouTube favorite more than a decade ago. Back then, late night TV was thriving online, driven by a YouTube meta that valued long-form programming over quick-hitting Shorts.

Colbert and CBS struck YouTube gold

during that era, and the Late Show host even got to hang out with popular creators like PewDiePie and Sean Evans. But times have changed. These days, short-form feeds draw more viewership than long-form channels. Can Colbert switch up his tune to keep up with the times that are a-changing?

Of course he can. Comedy works better than most other categories on YouTube Shorts, and Colbert is a micro-humor pioneer. The pithiness of the Colbert Report segment “The Word” harnessed the then-new idea of meme culture. If Colbert can return to that approach, he’s all but guaranteed to become a TikTok star.

Only In Monroe portended that Colbert is eager to return to the days of the Report. His public access show had a distinct “Better Know A District” feel.

With more videos like that, Colbert will prove CBS wrong regarding their claims about declining Late Show viewership. The Daily Show alum is a beloved cultural figure, and his early subscriber surge on YouTube shows that his shtick still has legs.