Stephen Colbert and The Late Show ended their run on a high note, taking home the show’s first Emmy for Best Talk Series on Sunday: just two months after CBS canceled it.
(Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)The win seemed unlikely earlier this summer, when “The Daily Show” was the clear favorite to secure its 12th trophy and extend its record. (Jimmy Kimmel Live was the only other nominee.)
But after CBS pulled the plug on “The Late Show” on July 17, citing “financial” reasons, Emmy momentum — and industry support — began to swing in Colbert’s favor.
Breaking a Long Losing Streak
Before this year, “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” had racked up 31 losses. That streak ended at the Creative Arts Emmys when director Jim Hoskinson scored the show’s first trophy. The win gave momentum heading into Sunday’s Primetime Emmys and silenced doubters who thought Colbert’s team might leave empty-handed once again.
Loudest Cheers of the Night
(Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)When Colbert’s name was called, the audience erupted. “Stephen! Stephen! Stephen!” shouted A-listers, giving one of the night’s biggest ovations. At the podium, Colbert thanked CBS for allowing them to be “a part of the Late Night tradition,” even as he acknowledged the show’s cancellation.
“I have never loved my country more desperately,” Colbert said. “Be brave, and if the elevator tries to bring you down, punch a higher floor.”
Predictions Proved Right
(Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)Industry buzz had shifted heavily in Colbert’s favor by the end of the voting period. Gold Derby’s final predictions gave “The Late Show” a 95 percent chance of winning, compared to just 4 percent for “The Daily Show” and 1 percent for “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Only three nominees competed this year due to fewer overall submissions in the category.
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