Stephen Colbert Wins emmy Following “Late Show” Cancellation – Accepts Award with a Stark Message
Stephen Colbert secured his seventh Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a variety Series just days after the declaration that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would conclude in May 2026. The win, announced on January 15, 2024, was met with both party and a pointed commentary on the circumstances surrounding the show’s ending.
Accepting the award, Colbert delivered a speech laced with frustration and a veiled critique of Paramount Global, CBS‘s parent company. “I think it’s very significant to remember that our show is a workplace, and the people who work here are a family,” he said, pausing as the audience applauded. “And to all the people who work here, and to all the people who watch our show, it’s been a privilege. And I’m very grateful for it.”
The cancellation announcement sparked widespread speculation, particularly considering a recent $16 million settlement Paramount reached with Donald trump. Several prominent figures voiced concerns about potential political motivations behind the decision.
President Donald Trump reacted on his Truth Social platform in July, stating, “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert! Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show.”
Senator adam Schiff, a California Democrat who appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert the day of the cancellation announcement, posted on X (formerly Twitter): ”Just finished taping with Stephen Colbert who announced his show was canceled. If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, also shared on X: “CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump-a deal that looks like bribery. America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons. Watch and share his message.”
Jon Stewart, whose The Daily Show is also owned by Paramount, questioned the financial rationale behind the cancellation, stating, “I acknowledge late night TV is a struggling financial model… but when your industry is faced with changes,you don’t just call it a day. My God! When CDs stopped selling, they didn’t just go, ‘Oh well, music, it’s been a good run.’ The fact that CBS didn’t try to save their number one rated network late night franchise, that’s been on the air for over three decades, is part of what’s making everybody wonder, ‘Was this purely financial or maybe the path of least resistance for your $8 billion merger?'”
Andy Cohen, host of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, offered his analysis on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live, suggesting CBS could have reduced costs instead of outright cancellation. ”Typically what would happen if a show is losing money that is also super important to the network… what they would probably do is… cut the budget in half, maybe move out of the Ed Sullivan Theatre… cut down on staff… do your show four days a week, and you’re gonna pre-tape your Thursday show.” He concluded, “That’s a way right there to cut the budget at least in half … Rather they’re turning the lights out completely at 11:30, wich says to me, it’s like CBS is just cooked.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the show’s future, Colbert’s Emmy win serves as a testament to the quality of writing that has defined The Late Show throughout its run, which will conclude in May 2026.
