Stephen Colbert Scores First Emmy as ‘The Late Show’ Nears Cancellation
Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show” scored its first Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series, a milestone that comes as the long-running show faces cancellation.
Colbert took the stage with heartfelt remarks about his journey, sharing that a decade ago he told producer Spike Jonze, “I don’t know how you could do it, but I’d kind of like to do a late night comedy show that was about love.”
He continued, “I realized that in some ways, we were doing a late night comedy show about loss. And that’s related to love, because sometimes you only truly know how much you love something when you get a sense that you might be losing it.”
Stephen Colbert on continuing "The Late Show" through the series' end in May 2026: "I want to land this plane absolutely beautifully and I got nothing else on my mind." https://t.co/0emk2YYzuz pic.twitter.com/IbzI1EXnQ7
— Variety (@Variety) September 15, 2025
Colbert reflected on the moment, saying, “And 10 years later, in September of 2025, my friends, I have never loved my country more desperately. God bless America. Stay strong. Be brave, and if the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy and punch a higher floor.”
The show, which competes against “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and defending champion “The Daily Show,” had its cancellation announced earlier this year. CBS stated the decision to end the series at the conclusion of its current season was due to financial reasons and was “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount,” according to a statement from CBS Chief Executive George Cheeks and other executives.
The network was also navigating the pending sale of Paramount to Skydance Media and settling a $16 million lawsuit with former President Trump over a segment on “60 Minutes.”
Just days before the cancellation news, Colbert addressed the situation on air, joking about the settlement, calling it a “big fat bribe” and saying, “As someone who has always been a proud employee of this network, I am offended. And I don’t know if anything will ever repair my trust in this company. But just taking a stab at it, I’d say $16 million would help.”
Colbert’s sharp political humor has earned him a loyal audience, and despite declining advertising revenue, the show has consistently been number one in late-night ratings for nine consecutive seasons.
CBS’s decision to end the show surprised many, as it has been a staple of the network’s late-night programming since David Letterman launched the block in 1993. Colbert took over from Letterman after hosting “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central, where he played a satirical political pundit for nine years.
Before this Emmy, “The Late Show” had been nominated multiple times but had never won for talk series. The show did recently claim a Creative Arts Emmy for directing. During the ceremony, Colbert received a standing ovation when he presented the first award, humorously asking if anyone was hiring and handing a headshot to Harrison Ford to pass along to Steven Spielberg.
This Emmy win is both a victory and a bittersweet moment for Colbert and the crew. It’s a reminder of the impact the show has had on television and late-night comedy. Personally, I think it’s a fitting recognition for a program that has entertained and challenged viewers for a decade. What do you think about “The Late Show” winning its first Emmy just as it ends? Share your thoughts in the comments.