Record-Breaking Emmy Recognition
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert concluded its run with a remarkable nine Emmy Award nominations on Wednesday for its final season, representing the highest number of nods the program has ever received under Colbert's leadership.
The late-night talk series is recognized in several key categories, including Outstanding Variety Series, Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, and Outstanding Directing For A Variety Series. Additional nominations encompass Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Or Reality Series, Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork For A Series, Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Series, Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety Series Or Special, Outstanding Picture Editing For Variety Programming, and Outstanding Music Direction.
This year's nine nominations surpass the show's previous best of five, achieved in 2024. That year, the program was recognized for production design, directing, lighting, talk series, and technical direction. "The Late Show" also garnered five nominations in both 2021 and 2022.
Colbert's Tenure and Awards History
Throughout Stephen Colbert's 11-year tenure as host, "The Late Show" accumulated more than 40 Emmy nominations. Despite this extensive recognition, it secured only two victories: for Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series. Both of these awards were presented in 2025, several months after the network announced the show's cancellation the previous year.
Sometimes, you only know how much you love something when you get a sense you might be losing it. I have never loved my country more desperately. God bless America.
Reflecting on one of these wins, Colbert remarked during his acceptance speech, "Sometimes, you only know how much you love something when you get a sense you might be losing it. I have never loved my country more desperately. God bless America."
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled to broadcast on September 14.
Controversy Surrounding Cancellation
The network canceled "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" last year, citing financial considerations. Reports at the time suggested the series was incurring losses of approximately $40 million annually for the broadcaster.
However, some liberal commentators, alongside Colbert himself, contended that the network's decision to end the show was an attempt to placate former President Donald Trump. This alleged appeasement was reportedly in anticipation of a significant corporate merger that required approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Throughout its final season and in public appearances, Colbert frequently criticized the network and its parent company, Paramount, for their choice to cancel the program.
Speaking at the Writers Guild Awards in March, Colbert asserted, "This is not the 1950s. This is not the Red Scare. And, as far as I can tell, no one in late night is fomenting a revolution. As we know, the revolution will not be televised. It was going to be televised, but then Paramount bought it."
"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" aired its concluding episode on May 21. This finale played a role in securing five of the nine total Emmy nominations received by the show.
