Stephen Colbert won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Series at the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday. This victory came just months after CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The show will end in May 2026. Colbert received strong support from the audience during the event. He also made jokes about looking for new work while accepting the award.
The Emmy Awards ceremony was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Colbert beat other nominees Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Daily Show. This was the first time The Late Show with Stephen Colbert won this award. The show also won an Emmy for directing the previous week.
Colbert’s Emmy Speech and Jokes About Cancellation
Stephen Colbert presented an award early in the ceremony. He received a standing ovation from the crowd. Many audience members chanted his name. Colbert used the moment to joke about his show’s cancellation.
“While I have your attention, is anyone hiring? Because I’ve got 200 very qualified candidates with me here tonight, who will be available in June.”
He mentioned bringing his resume and a headshot to the event. Colbert even handed his resume to actor Harrison Ford in the audience. He asked Ford to pass it to filmmaker Steven Spielberg.
Later, Colbert returned to the stage when his show won the Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series. The audience again gave him a standing ovation and chanted his name. In his acceptance speech, he thanked CBS for the opportunity to host the show.
“I want to thank CBS for giving us the privilege to be part of the ‘Late Night’ tradition, which I hope continues long after we’re no longer doing this show.”
Colbert also reflected on the show’s purpose. He mentioned that he initially wanted to create a show about love. But over time, it became more about loss. He connected this feeling to his love for the United States.
“Ten 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!”
CBS Cancels The Late Show After Ten Years
CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in July 2025. The network stated the decision was based on financial reasons. They said the show was losing money. Some reports suggested annual losses could be as high as $40 million.
The final episode is scheduled for May 2026. CBS said they consider Colbert “irreplaceable” and plan to retire The Late Show franchise. The show began in 1993 with David Letterman as host. Stephen Colbert took over in 2015.
The cancellation timing raised questions. It came just days after CBS parent company Paramount settled a lawsuit with former President Donald Trump. The settlement was for $16 million. Colbert had called this settlement a “big fat bribe” on his show. Paramount was also pursuing a merger with Skydance Media at the time. Some people believed the cancellation was politically motivated.
Online Reactions to Colbert’s Emmy Win
Many people online expressed confusion about Colbert winning an Emmy after his show was cancelled. Some social media users did not understand how a cancelled show could win an award. Others supported Colbert and were happy for his victory.
One user on X (formerly Twitter) asked:
“Didn’t he just get cancelled?”
Another user wrote:
“So he got cancelled but still won an Emmy? That’s pretty awesome.”
Many fans praised Colbert’s work and expressed sadness about the show ending. One user called the win “bittersweet” but deserved. Others criticized CBS for cancelling the show.
Political Context and Trump’s Response
Stephen Colbert has been a frequent critic of former President Donald Trump. Trump appeared on The Late Show in 2015 but later became a target of Colbert’s jokes. After CBS announced the cancellation, Trump posted on Truth Social:
“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.”
Trump also suggested other late-night hosts might be cancelled next. He praised Fox News host Greg Gutfeld as better than all of them.
The cancellation followed Paramount’s settlement with Trump. The company had been seeking government approval for its merger with Skydance Media. Some observers believed cancelling Colbert’s show was meant to avoid political problems. After the merger, Paramount made other changes that pleased conservatives. They eliminated diversity programs and changed news editing rules.
Industry Support and Celebrity Reactions
Many celebrities expressed support for Stephen Colbert after the cancellation news. Actor and director Ben Stiller called The Late Show “one of the best shows” on CBS. Adam Scott, star of Severance, called the cancellation “absolute bullshit.”
Writer and director Judd Apatow shared his admiration for Colbert on Instagram. He said he was excited to see what Colbert would do next. Broadcast journalist Katie Couric said she was upset and needed more information.
Actor Rachel Zegler said she was “extremely sad” about the news. Author Stephen King asked if the cancellation was a joke. Senator Bernie Sanders suggested a connection between the Trump settlement and Colbert’s firing. He said it was not a coincidence.
Other late-night hosts also supported Colbert. Jimmy Kimmel posted “Love you, Stephen” on Instagram. Jimmy Fallon said he was shocked and called Colbert one of the sharpest hosts. Seth Meyers said Colbert was an even better person than comedian.
The Future of The Late Show and Colbert’s Plans
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will continue production until May 2026. Colbert said he plans to savor every remaining day of the show. He wants to “land this plane beautifully” and has nothing else on his mind.
Backstage at the Emmys, Colbert talked about his team. He said the 200 people working on the show are the engine that drives it every day. He expressed pride in being part of the late-night tradition. This tradition includes hosts like David Letterman, Johnny Carson, and Steve Allen.
Colbert has had a successful career in television. He has won 11 Primetime Emmy Awards from 44 nominations. He also has 2 Grammy Awards, 5 Peabody Awards, and several guild awards. His work on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report earned him critical praise.
The Late Show win marks the first time a broadcast late-night show won the Outstanding Talk Series Emmy since 2015. The last network show to win a similar award was The Late Show with David Letterman in 2002.
Also Read: CBS Cancels The Late Show With Stephen Colbert After Host Criticizes Trump Settlement
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