Stephen Colbert Reflects on Late Night TV After Emmy Win

WHO:

Variety - Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel

Mashable - Staff of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert"

WHAT:

USA Today - Colbert's late-night series won seven Emmy awards during the 2026 Emmys, including Outstanding Variety Series.

USA Today - Colbert's Emmy acceptance speech included a call to action for the industry, stating, "Hire them. They will make your show better, and they will make your day easier."

USA Today - Colbert's Emmy win was his second consecutive win for "The Late Show," following a previous win in 2025.

USA Today - The cancellation of Colbert's show was described as a financial reality in the changing late-night landscape, coinciding with scrutiny over parent company Paramount's relationship with Trump.

USA Today - Colbert's show ended its 11-season run at New York City's famed Ed Sullivan Theater in May after CBS announced it was pulling the plug on the late-night institution in July 2025.

Variety - Colbert stated during his appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" that he does not miss late night television, saying, "Nope!"

Fox News - Colbert compared hosting late night television to "drinking a cup of poison," indicating he feels healthier away from that environment.

USA Today - Trump publicly celebrated news of Colbert's cancellation, stating, "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings," in a July 18 Truth Social post.

USA Today - Trump also criticized Jimmy Kimmel, saying, "I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert."

USA Today - After the finale of Colbert's late-night series on May 21, Trump commented on Truth Social, "Colbert is finally finished at CBS. Amazing that he lasted so long! No talent, no ratings, no life."

USA Today - Colbert stated during his Emmy acceptance speech, "if you like the comedy tonight, my old writers wrote it," emphasizing the importance of late-night shows as a "fantastic incubator for young people to come in."

USA Today - Colbert thanked his wife, Evelyn McGee Colbert, during his speech, calling her his "favorite guest" and the "only audience I really care about," adding, "Yours is the laugh that I want for the rest of my life."

USA Today - Colbert concluded his Emmy speech by thanking viewers, saying, "Thank you so much for watching. We hope you enjoyed the show. We had a great time doing it for you. That's it. Thank you. We'll catch you all on the flip."

USA Today - Colbert's Emmy win was for "Outstanding Variety Series" at the 78th Emmy Awards.

USA Today - Colbert's late-night CBS show ended its 11-season run in May after CBS announced its cancellation in July 2025.

USA Today - Colbert's show won five Creative Arts Emmys the weekend before the Sept. 14 ceremony, including awards for writing and directing.

USA Today - Colbert's Emmy win was his second consecutive win for "The Late Show."

Variety - "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Series.

Mashable - Colbert mentioned trying to get jobs for his staff during his Emmy acceptance speech.

WHERE:

Variety - The event took place on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

WHEN:

Variety - Colbert's appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" occurred after his Emmy win.

WHY:

USA Today - Colbert emphasized the importance of late-night shows as a "fantastic incubator for young people to come in" and learn how to work on a deadline, stating, "That is the future of our business that we have to look after."

USA Today - The cancellation of Colbert's show coincided with scrutiny over parent company Paramount's relationship with Trump, which included a $16 million settlement of Trump's lawsuit over a CBS “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris.

USA Today - CBS's decision to cancel Colbert's show was described as a financial reality in the changing late-night landscape, coinciding with scrutiny over parent company Paramount's relationship with Trump.

USA Today - CBS stated the cancellation of Colbert's show was a financial reality in the changing late-night landscape.

Variety - Colbert expressed fond memories of late night TV during his conversation with Kimmel.

HOW:

USA Today - Colbert endorsed "Jimmy Kimmel Live" competitor Jimmy Kimmel to win the Emmy category in a sincere Instagram post on the last day of Emmy voting.

USA Today - Colbert endorsed Jimmy Kimmel to win the Emmy category in a sincere Instagram post on the last day of Emmy voting.

USA Today - Colbert's Emmy win was his second consecutive win for "The Late Show," following a previous win in 2025 where he thanked CBS for the opportunity to be part of the late-night tradition.

USA Today - Colbert advocated for his writing staff during his Emmy acceptance speech, stating, "Hire them. They will make your show better, and they will make your day easier."

Variety - Colbert discussed his experiences and memories related to late night television during his appearance.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 02:10 UTC)

Stephen Colbert's late-night series, "The Late Show," celebrated a remarkable night at the 2026 Emmys, winning seven awards, including Outstanding Variety Series, marking his second consecutive win in this category. During his acceptance speech, Colbert urged the industry to embrace diverse talent, stating, "Hire them. They will make your show better, and they will make your day easier." Despite this success, Colbert's show concluded its 11-season run at New York City's Ed Sullivan Theater in May, as CBS announced plans to cancel the program amid financial challenges and scrutiny over parent company Paramount's ties to Trump.

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 20:03 UTC)

During an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", Colbert declared that he does not miss late night television, emphatically stating, "Nope!" He compared hosting those shows to "drinking a cup of poison," suggesting he feels healthier now that he's stepped away from that environment. Colbert also highlighted the role of late-night shows as a vital training ground for young talent, saying, "That is the future of our business that we have to look after."

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 17:01 UTC)

Trump recently celebrated the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's late-night show, declaring on Truth Social that he loved the news and criticized Colbert's talent and ratings. He also took aim at Jimmy Kimmel, suggesting that Kimmel has even less talent than Colbert and hinting that Kimmel might be next in line for cancellation. This comes in the wake of Colbert's show ending on May 21, which coincides with ongoing scrutiny over Paramount's relationship with Trump, including a significant settlement related to a CBS interview.

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 14:00 UTC)

Stephen Colbert delivered a heartfelt Emmy acceptance speech, highlighting the role of late-night shows as a vital platform for emerging talent and thanking his wife, Evelyn McGee Colbert, as his "favorite guest." He expressed gratitude to viewers, saying, "Thank you so much for watching," and concluded with a promise to catch them "on the flip." This win marks Colbert's second consecutive Emmy for "The Late Show," following his previous victory in 2025, amidst CBS's financial challenges and scrutiny over its ties to Trump.

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 11:01 UTC)

Stephen Colbert won the Emmy for "Outstanding Variety Series" at the 78th Emmy Awards, marking his second consecutive win for "The Late Show," which ended its 11-season run after CBS announced its cancellation due to financial realities in the changing late-night landscape. Just days before the ceremony, Colbert's show secured five Creative Arts Emmys, including honors for writing and directing. During his acceptance speech, Colbert passionately advocated for his writing staff, urging others to "Hire them. They will make your show better, and they will make your day easier."

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 10:42 UTC)

"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Series, a significant achievement celebrated during the event on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Following his win, Colbert took a moment in his acceptance speech to express his desire to help his staff find jobs. During his appearance with Kimmel, he fondly reminisced about his experiences in late night television, sharing heartfelt memories from his career.