Stephen Colbert Turns Emmy Win Into Job Offer for His Crew

Avatar photoValentina Kraljik
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Late-night television has faced significant challenges in recent years, including shrinking budgets, changing viewer habits, and a wave of cancellations that have transformed the genre. Few moments captured this tension as vividly as witnessing a canceled show receive one of the industry’s highest honors.

This contradiction was on full display at this year’s Emmy Awards, where the categories had already been restructured prior to the ceremony. The Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Scripted Variety Series categories were combined into a single Outstanding Variety Series category, and nominees were judged individually, requiring support from at least ninety percent of Emmy voters to secure a win.

‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ emerged as the sole winner under this new format, claiming the Outstanding Variety Series award for its final season, months after CBS announced the show’s cancellation. This win marked Colbert’s thirteenth career Emmy, awarded for a season that concluded in May.

The category featured a competitive lineup, with ‘The Late Show’ triumphing over ‘The Daily Show,’ ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!,’ ‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,’ and ‘Saturday Night Live.’ The irony of the victory was heightened by the fact that all nine of ‘The Late Show’s’ Emmy wins have occurred after CBS decided to cancel it, including the show’s first two wins for outstanding talk series and directing just last year.

During his acceptance speech, Colbert expressed gratitude to his crew and then shifted focus to a more practical matter. “I want to thank so many people in this room. Over the last 21 years, I’ve interviewed at least a thousand of you,” he remarked, humorously referencing a guest clip he forgot to play before thanking his wife, Evie McGee, as his all-time favorite guest.

Colbert then changed the tone of his speech, advocating for the approximately two hundred individuals who worked on ‘The Late Show’ throughout its run. He emphasized that late-night shows serve as crucial incubators for young talent, teaching them to work under pressure and collaborate effectively, which he deemed essential for the industry’s future.

He delivered a memorable line that quickly circulated on social media: “I want you to know I got some great news: They are all tech avail. Hire them; they will make your show better, and they will make your day easier,” turning what could have been a purely sentimental moment into a direct appeal to the executives present.

This moment carried additional significance as Colbert’s writing staff, led by head writer Ariel Dumas, had already received the Emmy for variety series writing the previous weekend at the Creative Arts ceremony. This same team was responsible for crafting the jokes delivered during Monday night’s broadcast. Even without a currently airing show, Colbert’s crew remained an integral part of the ceremony’s fabric.

For a show that spent its final stretch defined by its cancellation as much as its content, concluding with an Emmy and a public call for the industry to care for its talent felt like a fitting farewell.

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