Stephen Colbert turned the Emmys into an evening nobody will neglect. Simply two months after CBS introduced it was canceling “The Late Present with Stephen Colbert,” the 61-year-old walked away with an Emmy for Greatest Discuss Collection.
The viewers contained in the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles gave him a thunderous standing ovation, chanting his identify.
It was a strong reminder that even when CBS is transferring on, Colbert remains to be one of the crucial beloved figures in late-night TV.
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Stephen Colbert Wins Massive At The Emmys
On Sunday, Colbert took residence the award for Greatest Discuss Collection, beating “The Each day Present” and “Jimmy Kimmel Dwell!”
The win was bittersweet, because it got here so quickly after CBS revealed plans to finish his late evening present in Might 2026.
In his acceptance speech, the host thanked the community regardless of the looming cancellation.
He advised the group, “I wish to thank CBS for giving us the privilege to be a part of the late-night custom, which I hope continues lengthy after we’re not doing this present.”
Colbert additionally gave credit score to his crew and his household earlier than closing with a heartfelt message.
He stated, “I’ve by no means beloved my nation extra desperately. God bless America. Keep sturdy, be courageous, and if the elevator tries to deliver you down, go loopy and punch a better flooring! Woo!”
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The phrases introduced the viewers to its toes, cheering and clapping in one of many evening’s most emotional moments.
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Colbert Jokes About His Present’s Cancellation On Stage
Earlier within the evening, the comic had already received over the viewers when he appeared on stage to current the award for Greatest Actor in a Comedy Collection.
The complete theater rose to offer him a standing ovation, even chanting, “Stephen! Stephen!”
Stephen Colbert shortly broke the strain with humor, referencing the tip of his CBS present.
“Is anybody hiring? As a result of I’ve received 200 very certified candidates right here tonight who can be obtainable in June,” he quipped, pointing to his forged and crew.
He then pulled out an outdated headshot from his youthful days and joked, “I haven’t had an opportunity to replace my headshot in a bit, however I believe it nonetheless works. I believe I’m in there someplace.”
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He even requested Harrison Ford to ship it to Steven Spielberg earlier than operating into the viewers at hand it to the Hollywood legend himself.
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Why CBS Cancelled Stephen Colbert’s Present
CBS introduced in July 2025 that “The Late Present with Stephen Colbert” could be canceled after 9 seasons.
The choice got here simply days after Colbert blasted the community for settling a $16 million lawsuit with President Donald Trump.
Trump had accused CBS of enhancing an interview with Kamala Harris, however whereas the community denied wrongdoing, Paramount, CBS’s guardian firm, agreed to pay the settlement and launch unedited transcripts of political interviews.
On his present, Colbert didn’t maintain again, saying he was “offended” by his employer’s actions. He joked that Paramount’s settlement was a “massive fats bribe” and in contrast it to the studio’s flop movie, “Transformers: Rise of the Beast.”
He took the joke additional, saying they may take the cash however not the dignity, earlier than sarcastically including that dignity might, in actual fact, be purchased for simply $16 million for the reason that money was badly wanted.
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CBS Faces Questions Over Cancellation
The timing of CBS’s cancellation led many to imagine it was greater than only a monetary determination.
Stephen Colbert pointed to a Puck report claiming Paramount’s $8.4 billion merger with Skydance would possibly put stress on him to tone down political jokes, particularly about Trump.
David Ellison, who runs Skydance, reportedly needed a much less political route.
His father, Larry Ellison, is a well known Trump supporter and had even joined the president on the White Home up to now.
Based on the New York Occasions, Larry is believed to be the monetary muscle behind the large CBS deal.
Nonetheless, CBS executives insisted that the choice was solely about cash and had nothing to do with rankings, the present’s content material, or issues at Paramount.
In addition they stated they’d retire “The Late Present” and referred to as Colbert “irreplaceable,” praising him as probably the greatest in late-night TV.
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Stephen Colbert Needs His Workforce To Succeed
Whereas CBS executives gave their company clarification, Colbert made it clear on the Emmys stage and in interviews that his fundamental focus is his crew.
Previous to the occasion, he stated per the Each day Mail, “The individuals who do the present daily educate me what it’s wish to be an expert, and I’d be very grateful if we might win it for them as a result of they deserve all the popularity they’ll get.”
Colbert admitted that he normally received many of the consideration and reward, joking that he was wonderful with it however wished his staff obtained some credit score too.
He additionally reminded viewers that 9 months of reveals remained earlier than his closing episode and promised that “we’re going to have a extremely good time doing it.”
