Stephen Colbert got some serious love at the 2025 Emmy Awards following news of the Late Show’s cancellation.
Colbert, 61, was first to present at the Sunday, September 14, event at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, stepping on stage to announce The Studio’s Seth Rogen as the winner of the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category.
Before he joked about his future unemployment — even pulling out a headshot and his resume — Colbert received a warm welcome from his peers, complete with a standing ovation.
He spoke to E! News on the red carpet ahead of the ceremony, reflecting on the significance of his show’s nomination for Outstanding Talk Series.
“The people who do the show everyday teach me what it’s like to be a professional and I would be very grateful if we could win it for them, because they deserve all the recognition they can get,” he said, praising the “200 people” who make up the Late Show team.
He continued: “I get all the applause and I get all the fame — and I’m fine with that — but I also want them to feel the recognition. All I want is my name 10 stories tall on Broadway, they can have everything else.”
Another standing ovation came after The Late Show With Stephen Colbert won the Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series, and the crowd erupted into chants for Colbert, who delivered an emotional speech.
“Sometimes you only truly know how much you love something when you get a sense that you might be losing it,” he said. “Ten years later, in September of 2025, my friends, 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!”
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert was canceled in July in a surprising move by CBS that left late night fans, and celebrities alike, shocked.
“Before we start the show I want to let you know something that I found out just last night,” Colbert told his viewers at the time. “Next year will be our last season, the network will be ending The Late Show in May.”
When the studio audience reacted with loud boos, Colbert added, “I share your feelings,” before elaborating on the network’s decision.
“It’s not just the end of our show but it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS,” he explained. “I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”
Colbert then expressed his gratitude for his job as the host of The Late Show, which he has held since 2015.
“I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners. … And I’m grateful to the audience, you, who have joined us every night, in here, out there and all around the world,” he said, noting that he and the crew “get to do this show for each other every day all day” and he wished “somebody else” could step into the role after him.
Meanwhile, CBS insisted in a statement at the time that the decision to cancel The Late Show was purely “financial” and not “related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
Colbert’s fellow comedians rallied around him after the controversial cancellation news.
“Obviously, I love Stephen. I love his staff. I love that show. It’s incredibly sad,” John Oliver told reporters in July. “It’s terrible, terrible news for the world of comedy. … I look forward to seeing what [Colbert is] gonna do next because that man will not stop.”
Jimmy Kimmel, for his part, showed his support by reposting a clip of Colbert’s cancellation announcement via his Instagram Story in July with the caption, “Love you Stephen. F*** you and all your Sheldons CBS.”
