Two months after cancellation, ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ wins Best Talk Series Emmy for the first time

Stephen Colbert and The Late Show are going out in style, with the show winning its first Emmy for Best Talk Series on Sunday, just two months after being canceled by CBS.

The comedian’s victory would have been unthinkable earlier this summer, as The Daily Show was the runaway frontrunner to win its 12th trophy and extend its all-time record. (The third and final nominee was Jimmy Kimmel Live). But when CBS canceled Colbert’s venerable late-night program on July 17 due to a “financial decision,” the Emmy odds — not to mention the industry’s support — began steadily shifting in The Late Show‘s favor.

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After racking up 31 total losses prior to this year, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert finally won its first Emmy last weekend at the Creative Arts, for director Jim Hoskinson. That victory no doubt silenced any of the remaining doubters heading into Sunday’s Primetime ceremony.

“Stephen! Stephen! Stephen!” shouted the audience of A-listers, in what was perhaps the biggest reaction of the night.

Colbert thanked CBS for letting them be “a part of the Late Night tradition,” which he hopes continues even though the network put an end to the franchise. “I have never loved my country more desperately,” he said at the podium. “Be brave, and if the elevator tries to bring you down, punch a higher floor.”

In Gold Derby’s final predictions data, The Late Show had an overwhelming 95 percent chance to prevail, compared to a 4 percent chance for The Daily Show and a 1 percent chance for Jimmy Kimmel Live. There were only three nominees this year because of the low number of submissions in the category.

Variety Talk Series

Contender

Odds

Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Winner

95.0%

The Daily Show SQ

The Daily Show

4.2%

Jimmy Kimmel Live

0.8%

“Next year will be our last season,” Colbert told his live audience two months ago while breaking the news of his cancellation. He went on to thank CBS for the opportunity, saying he was grateful for them “giving me this chair and giving me this theater to call home.” He concluded, “It is a fantastic job. I wish someone else was getting it, and I am looking forward to doing it for the next 10 months.” CBS will retire The Late Show franchise entirely, concluding a 30-plus-year run that began in 1993 with David Letterman and continued under Colbert’s stewardship since 2015.

Kimmel immediately threw his support behind Colbert. Shortly after news of the cancellation broke, the host proclaimed on social media, “Love you, Stephen. F–k you and all your Sheldons, CBS.” And in August, Kimmel erected his now infamous “I’m voting for Stephen” billboard in West Hollywood. Kimmel’s wife and producer Molly McNearney later confirmed to Gold Derby that he was “100 percent voting for Stephen Colbert” at the Emmys.

Prior to Sunday night, Colbert had won 10 career Emmys:

2021: Best Variety Special (Live) for Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand
2008, 2010, 2013, 2014: Best Variety Writing for The Colbert Report
2013, 2014: Best Variety Series for The Colbert Report
2004, 2005, 2006: Best Variety Writing for The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

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