Late Show Emmy Wins
Canceled Late Show Wins Multiple Creative Arts Emmys Ahead of Final Season
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Key Points
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The Late Show won Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series over Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, which had won the category for the previous 10 years.
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Executive producer Tom Purcell accepted the writing award on the program’s behalf and thanked John Oliver and Jimmy Kimmel, saying late-night television is a “super important institution in this country” and urging them to “Keep the flame burning.”
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Colbert Before Air had produced only about 10 episodes over the preceding year, with installments lasting roughly two to four minutes, making its short-form victory particularly notable against more established contenders.
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The Late Show received nine Emmy nominations for its final season, while the broader program had accumulated 33 nominations over its run.
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CBS announced the cancellation shortly after Colbert criticized Paramount’s $16 million settlement with President Trump; the network said it considered Colbert “irreplaceable” and would retire the Late Show franchise after the May 2026 finale.
Stephen Colbert's canceled Late Show won two major Emmy awards at the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on the first night of the ceremony. The program took home Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, ending Last Week Tonight With John Oliver's 10-year streak in that category. The Daily Beast reports that Colbert Before Air, the show's digital companion series, also scored an upset win for Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series.
The Late Show aired its farewell episode in May 2026, four months before these Emmy victories. CBS canceled the 11-year program shortly after Colbert criticized the network's parent company Paramount over a $16 million settlement with President Trump. The network said it would retire the Late Show franchise but called Colbert "irreplaceable." NY Breaking notes the show also won Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming and other production honors.
Writing Award Breaks Oliver's Decade-Long Streak
The Late Show defeated both Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Last Week Tonight With John Oliver for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series. Oliver's show had won this award for the past 10 consecutive years. The Daily Beast reports that executive producer Tom Purcell accepted the award and thanked both Kimmel and Oliver. Purcell said late-night television remains "a super important institution in this country" and urged them to "Keep the flame burning."
Colbert Before Air's Surprising Short-Form Victory
Colbert Before Air defeated more established competitors to win Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series. The digital series produced only about 10 episodes over the preceding year, with each installment running just two to four minutes long. Yahoo highlighted this as a major upset given the show's limited output and relatively recent creation. The victory underscored the Late Show's cultural impact even in its final chapter.
Canceled Show Dominates Final Season Nominations
The Late Show received nine Emmy nominations for its final season alone. Over its full 11-year run, the program accumulated 33 total Emmy nominations. Screen Realm reports the show's Creative Arts Emmy victories came in the early stages of awards season. The Late Show remains in contention for Outstanding Talk Series at the Primetime Emmys, scheduled for September 14, 2026.
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