Jimmy Kimmel shared a viral selfie with fellow late-night hosts Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, and Jon Stewart backstage at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, September 14, 2026. The four veteran comedians posed with their chins out, showing off their matching salt-and-pepper facial hair, and Kimmel’s playful caption calling it the “first annual meeting of the Emmys beard squad” quickly caught attention online. But one comment stood out above the rest, with a fan pointing out that Seth Meyers was noticeably missing from the group because he simply cannot grow a beard.
The Bearded Selfie That Got Everyone Talking
Kimmel, 58, posted the photo on Instagram as a joint post with Stewart. The image showed all four hosts leaning in close, sticking out their chins to highlight their scruff. The caption read, “First annual meeting of the Emmys beard squad”. The photo was taken backstage during the ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, where the four men were competing in the same category: Outstanding Variety Series.
The nominees in that category included The Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Saturday Night Live. Colbert’s show ultimately took home the award, more than three months after The Late Show aired its final episode on May 21, 2026.
Each host brought his own style of facial hair to the picture. Kimmel has had his beard for years, Stewart’s gray scruff has become a regular part of his Daily Show look, and Oliver appeared to have skipped a few shaves during a break from Last Week Tonight. Colbert’s new goatee drew the most attention, with one writer describing it as making him look “like Guy Fieri after a semester at Oxford”.
Fans Notice Seth Meyers Is Missing From The Beard Squad
The comment section and social media threads quickly filled with reactions, and a large number of fans zeroed in on the fact that Seth Meyers was not part of the group. A popular comment read, “That’s not fair. Seth Myers can’t grow one,” pointing out that Meyers usually sports a nearly clean-shaven look and would not have been able to join the squad even if he wanted to.
Other reactions ranged from playful to admiring. One fan wrote, “I like how they obviously communicate as friends IRL, off camera. They must have planned this grooming style decision some weeks back”. Another joked, “Why are you all starting to look alike? Is that to just confuse Trump??”. A third added, “So jealous I can’t grow one in solitary! Handsome boys”. Comments on the Instagram post itself included “Can we get a LOTR reboot with these 4 as hobbits?” and “My Mt. Rushmore”. Fans also celebrated the hosts embracing their gray hair, with one writing “Silver Foxes!!!” and another calling them “Our favorite salt & pepper crew!”.
Not every response was positive. A few users on Threads dismissed the group as the “Worst night show hosts,” and one person left a critical remark directed at the hosts’ political views.
Stephen Colbert Jokes About His Beard Being AI
Colbert, 62, had some fun with his new look on the red carpet. During an interview with E! News, he joked that his beard was not real. “This is all A.I. This isn’t actually on my face. This could transform at any moment into a robot or something,” he said. He even gave it a nickname, calling it a “beard-bot” and adding, “I’ve got to deal with Michael Bay and Gillette“.
The beard became a talking point throughout the night, especially after Colbert won the Outstanding Variety Series award. His acceptance speech focused on the team behind The Late Show, which ran for 11 years on CBS. “Thank you so much on behalf of the over 200 people who threw themselves at this show for 11 years to try to do the best show they possibly could for you,” he said. He also used the moment to urge the industry to hire his former staff. “They’re all tech avail. Hire them: they will make your show better and your day easier,” he said backstage.
When asked about a possible return to late-night television, Colbert played down the idea. “I think the Jimmys have got that locked down for right now. But thank you for the invitation,” he said, referring to Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon.
Related:
Emmy Awards 2026: Key Details At A Glance
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards took place on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony aired on NBC and streamed on Peacock at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Mariska Hargitay hosted the show, which honored the best in television from the 2025-26 season.
For viewers in the United States, the ceremony was available on NBC and Peacock. In the United Kingdom, the event aired early on Tuesday, September 15, with red carpet coverage starting at 4:30 a.m. IST and the main ceremony at 5:30 a.m. IST for Indian audiences. Fans in Canada and Australia could stream the event through Peacock and local NBC affiliates, while viewers in India caught the telecast on the morning of September 15.
The Pitt led the nominations with 25 nods, followed by Hacks with 24 and Widow’s Bay with 19. Noah Kahan performed “Bridge Over Troubled Water” for the In Memoriam segment, and the ceremony also celebrated the 30th anniversary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the 50th anniversary of Charlie’s Angels.
Colbert is set to appear as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 15, marking one of his first late-night appearances since The Late Show ended.
Also Read: Jimmy Kimmel Live! Cancellation Rumors Explained: ABC Denies Report as Spencer Pratt Celebrates
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more Emmy Awards 2026 coverage and the latest entertainment news as it happens.
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