Late-night icon Stephen Colbert clinched the Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series on a star-studded Sunday night at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards—mere months after CBS stunned audiences by announcing the cancellation of his beloved show. Addressing the crowd with a mix of emotion and resolve, Colbert declared, "I've never loved my country more passionately."
"Sometimes, you only truly grasp how much you cherish something when there's a hint that you might lose it," Colbert mused during his poignant acceptance speech. "I've never felt such a desperate love for my country. God bless America."
Colbert, a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, had revealed in July that CBS would be pulling the plug on his show the following year. "The Late Show," which Colbert took the helm of from David Letterman in 2015, is set to bid farewell to the airwaves in May.
"Stay strong, be brave, and if the elevator tries to drag you down, go wild and punch for a higher floor," the late-night luminary quipped in his speech, alluding to a lyric from a Prince song.
Colbert edged out competitors Jimmy Kimmel of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" to claim the coveted award. He also took a moment to express his gratitude to CBS during his acceptance remarks. "I want to thank CBS for the incredible honor of being part of the late-night legacy. I hope this tradition continues long after we've hung up our microphones," he said.
Earlier in the evening, Colbert received a standing ovation while presenting another award. Seizing the moment, he joked about his show's impending end, playfully inquiring if anyone was "hiring" and even handing his résumé to Harrison Ford.
CBS clarified in a July statement that the decision to cancel was "purely financial, set against a challenging backdrop in the late-night landscape." The announcement sparked speculation that the network was succumbing to Republican political pressure ahead of Paramount's merger with Skydance Media.
"'THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT' will conclude its historic run in May 2026, marking the end of the broadcast season," CBS stated. "We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire the 'THE LATE SHOW' franchise at that time. We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be enshrined in the pantheon of late-night greats."
Colbert garnered support from Democrats and media figures alike, who lauded him for "speaking truth to power."
Following the tragic assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, Colbert opened his show with a heartfelt statement condemning political violence. "Our deepest condolences go out to his family and all who loved him. I'm old enough to remember the political violence of the 1960s firsthand, and I hope it's abundantly clear to everyone in America that political violence doesn't resolve our differences," Colbert said.
He continued, "Political violence only breeds more of the same. And I pray with all my heart that this was the isolated act of a madman, not a harbinger of what's to come."
