“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” may have been cancelled, but it might also have just become a rallying cry for Emmy voters to finally give the long-running talk show its overdue recognition.
Including two additional nominations from this year’s Emmy lineup, the CBS staple has now amassed 33 Emmy nominations since its debut in 2015. Despite the impressive tally, it currently ranks as the second most-nominated show without a win in Primetime Emmy history, trailing only AMC’s “Better Call Saul,” which infamously lost all 53 of its nominations across its six-season run.
But with frustration mounting over CBS’ controversial decision to cancel “The Late Show” for what the network cited as “financial reasons,” this may be the kind of underdog narrative that inspires Emmy voters to check off the show hosted by the 61-year-old comedian. It doesn’t hurt that the category it’s nominated in — outstanding talk series — is one of just 15 voted on by the entire Television Academy membership.
That broader reach could make a difference. With only two other nominees in the category — last year’s winner “The Daily Show” and ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” — the path to victory is clearer than usual. Colbert’s exit from the late-night stage, paired with lingering outrage over his show’s cancellation, might finally motivate voters to check his name and give “The Late Show” its long-awaited moment of glory.
Colbert, who already has 10 Emmys to his name, was previously honored for “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central and his most recent win for his special, audaciously titled “Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand: Building Back America Great Again Better 2020.”
From 2017 through 2022, “The Late Show,” along with every other late night fixture, lost repeatedly to “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver.” When the HBO series was moved to the newly created scripted variety category, “The Daily Show” reclaimed its former glory as the king of the category, winning in the last two years.
When emceed by David Letterman, who hosted “The Late Show” from 1993 to 2015, the program enjoyed a rainfall of Emmy accolades. It won nine Emmys during his tenure, including seven for outstanding variety series. That streak ended in 2003 when, then called “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” ushered in a new era of late-night dominance.
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Now, with Colbert’s version of “The Late Show” at the end of its journey, Emmy voters have one of two last chances (it will be eligible next year as well) to honor a host — and a show — that helped redefine the political comedy landscape of the past decade.
From Variety US