Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show has won the Outstanding Talk Series award at the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards, two months after CBS announced that the programme would end.
The award was presented Sunday, September 14, at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with Colbert and members of his former production team accepting the honour.
The win marks the programme’s first victory in the category after eight consecutive losses. It also comes after its final episode aired in May, ending Colbert’s nearly 11-year run as host.
Colbert received a standing ovation earlier in the ceremony when he appeared on stage to present the first award of the night.
“While I have your attention, is anyone hiring?” Colbert joked. “’Cause I’ve got 200 very well-qualified candidates with me here tonight who’ll be available in June. I also brought my own resume with me tonight.”
When The Late Show was announced as the winner later in the ceremony, Colbert thanked CBS for allowing the programme to be part of the network’s late-night tradition.
“I want to thank CBS for giving us the privilege of being part of the late-night tradition, which I hope continues long after we’re no longer doing this show,” he said.
He ended his acceptance speech with a reference to Prince’s song Let’s Go Crazy, saying, “If the elevator tries to bring you down, go cray and punch a higher floor.”
Colbert was joined on stage by members of his former staff, whom he also praised for their work on the programme.
The host said late-night shows provide opportunities for young professionals to develop their skills while working under tight deadlines, describing them as an important training ground within television production.
He also encouraged other television productions to consider hiring members of his former team, saying they would “make your show better and your day easier.”
The Emmy marks Colbert’s 11th career Emmy, while executive producer Jon Stewart, who was also associated with the programme, collected his 25th Primetime Emmy.
The Late Show competed against Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Daily Show in the category.
CBS announced in July that The Late Show With Stephen Colbert would end after the 2025-26 season. The network and Paramount said the decision was a financial one, citing the challenges facing late-night television.
The cancellation followed years of Colbert hosting the programme, which he took over from David Letterman in 2015.
Despite the programme’s impending end, The Late Show also won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, while its online companion Colbert Before Air won Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series.
Ademide Adebayo
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