Stephen Colbert gets sweet revenge with Emmy win

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was already off the air when it won one of television’s biggest comedy awards. Nearly 4 months after its final episode, the CBS series returned to the spotlight at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, where it took home the Outstanding Variety Series award.

The win gave Colbert one final major moment with the show he had hosted for 11 years. Standing onstage with members of his team, he thanked the more than 200 people who helped make the program and used his speech to urge other shows to hire his former staff.

The victory also came after a turbulent final chapter. CBS had announced the show’s cancellation in 2025, while Colbert’s long-running clashes with President Donald Trump remained part of the surrounding conversation. But at the Emmys, Colbert kept the focus on his staff, the work behind late-night television and what comes next for his team.

A ratings underdog’s unlikely final victory

The Late Show entered Emmy night having already ended its television run. CBS announced in July 2025 that the program would end in May 2026, and its final episode aired on May 21, 2026.

The category used a new area-award system this year. Each nominee was evaluated separately, and any nominee receiving at least 90% “yes” votes could win an Emmy. Only The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ultimately crossed the threshold.

The Late Show was nominated alongside The Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Saturday Night Live. Its Emmy victory came nearly 4 months after its final broadcast.

6 Emmy wins cap The Late Show’s 11-year run

Beyond the Outstanding Variety Series trophy, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert won 5 Creative Arts Emmys for writing, directing, picture editing, lighting, technical direction and camerawork. Together, those victories gave the program 6 Emmys during its final season.

The digital series Colbert Before Air also won an Emmy for Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series, but that award was separate from The Late Show’s 6 wins. The show’s Emmy haul recognized work across writing and multiple production categories.

Category shakeup created new area award rules

This year marked a major change in how the Television Academy handled variety programming. The former Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Scripted Variety Series categories were combined into a single Outstanding Variety Series category.

Under the new area-award system, voters evaluated each nominee separately rather than choosing only one winner. Any nominee receiving at least 90% “yes” votes could receive an Emmy, meaning multiple winners were possible.

The nominees were The Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Saturday Night Live. Only The Late Show reached the required threshold.

Colbert chose gratitude over political fireworks

Colbert’s acceptance speech focused heavily on his staff and the show’s work. He thanked the more than 200 people who worked on The Late Show during its 11-year run and highlighted the demands of late-night television.

He urged other shows and networks to hire his former writers and staff. Colbert said the experience of working in late night teaches young people to work professionally on deadlines and in collaboration.

He also joked with people in the audience whom he had interviewed over the years. He said he had interviewed at least 1,000 of them and thanked them for appearing on the show.

Trump’s public feud shadowed the show’s ending

The tension between Colbert and Trump had built for years before the cancellation. Trump frequently criticized Colbert on social media and during public remarks. That criticism grew louder after CBS confirmed the show would end.

Trump mocked Colbert’s ratings and questioned his talent in a post about the cancellation. He also suggested that fellow host Jimmy Kimmel could be next.

Colbert did not directly discuss Trump during his acceptance speech. His speech instead focused on his staff and the future of late-night television.

Fun fact: Stephen Colbert made his debut as the host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on September 8, 2015, succeeding David Letterman.

Colbert sidesteps questions about Trump

Reporters were not willing to let the Trump question go so easily. Backstage, a reporter asked Colbert directly if Trump caused the cancellation. Colbert responded with a puzzled look and a quick pivot.

He turned to a nearby reporter and complimented her dress instead. When pressed again, Colbert joked about being deaf in one ear. Colbert did not directly answer the question.

Colbert then moved the conversation away from the question. It also fit the tone Colbert kept throughout the entire night. He chose comedy over confrontation at almost every turn.

Writers took center stage in his speech

Much of Colbert’s speech focused on the staff behind the show. He praised the writers who built each night’s monologue from scratch. Their jokes, he said, made the show what it was.

Colbert framed late-night television as a valuable training ground for young talent. He called it a place where people learn to work under pressure daily. He described late-night shows as a place where young workers can gain professional experience.

By centering his staff, Colbert shifted attention away from himself and Trump. The speech became less about a feud and more about a craft. His comments kept the focus on the show’s staff and production team.

Late-night landscape shifts as the show ends

The Late Show ended during a period of change for late-night television. Jimmy Kimmel faced a brief suspension in 2025 and has since returned to ABC. In September 2026, reports said Kimmel and Disney were discussing plans for his show beyond the 2026-27 season.

Late-night programs continue to face changing viewing habits and audience pressures. Against that backdrop, The Late Show’s Emmy win recognized the show’s work during its final season. The award came after the program ended its CBS run in May 2026.

For Colbert, the Emmy marked the end of The Late Show’s run. He has also discussed future projects, including work connected to The Lord of the Rings, while appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The Emmy, therefore, marked the show’s final season rather than the end of Colbert’s television career.

TL;DR

• Colbert’s Late Show won Outstanding Variety Series at the 78th Emmys in September 2026.
• The show collected 6 Emmys total for its final season, a new personal best.
• A new award format let any nominee win if it cleared 90% approval.
• Colbert skipped mentioning Trump in his speech and focused on thanking his writing staff.
• Backstage, he deflected questions about the cancellation with a joke instead of a direct answer.

If you liked this story, don’t forget to follow us for more exclusive content.

This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.

If you liked this, you might also like:

• Emmy-Nom. Producer Allyce Ozarski Dies at 41
• Loretta Lynn’s Granddaughter Emmy Russell’s First Child
• New Irish revenge drama ‘Bad Bridgets’ casts Daisy Edgar-Jones and Emilia Jones as leads