The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has nabbed its first-ever Emmy win for Outstanding Talk Series following its shocking cancellation.
Just days after the Emmy nominations were announced last July, CBS made the shocking decision to cancel the hit late-night talk show. While financial situation was cited as the reason why it was canned, fans were convinced that it might be connected to the current political climate.
Did The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Win the Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series?
During last night's 77th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert won the Outstanding Talk Series. It marked its first win in the category.
The team from the hit late-night talk show received a standing ovation from the audience, with some even already cheering for Colbert before presenter Bryan Cranston opened the envelope.
After the show's cancellation, some awards pundits have predicted that it might win the category due to sympathy and protest votes from the Television Academy. Jimmy Kimmel was also campaigning for Colbert during the voting period.
In his speech, Colbert thanked CBS, despite the decision to cancel the show. "I want to thank CBS for giving us the privilege to be part of the late-night tradition, which I hope continues long after we’re no longer doing this show," he said.
After recalling his conversation with Spike Jonze in 2015, Colbert concluded his speech with a passionate message about the current political climate and how he won't back down in the remaining months.
"Ten years later, in September of 2025, I have never loved my country more desperately. God bless America. Stay strong. Be brave, and if the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy and punch a higher floor," he said.
Why Did CBS Cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert?
In their announcement, CBS revealed that the decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night."
With the speculations that the cancellation is politically motivated, the network clarified that it was "not related in any way to the show's performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount."
There are no plans to hire a new host to take over, effectively ending The Late Show franchise when Colbert airs his final episode in May next year.
The news of the cancellation has sparked various reactions among fans, entertainment figures, and politicians. Most of them condemn CBS's decision and speculate that it may be related to the then-incoming Skydance-Paramount merger, which required government approval.
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