'Late Show' final season earns record nine Emmy nominations after CBS cancellation
NEW YORK, July 9. Nine Emmy nominations went to the final season of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on Wednesday, the most the program has earned in Colbert's 11-year tenure. The total doubles the show's previous record of five and arrives months after CBS ended the series, citing losses the network reported at $40 million per year.
NEW YORK, July 9. Nine Emmy nominations went to the final season of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on Wednesday, the most the program has earned in Colbert's 11-year tenure. The total doubles the show's previous record of five and arrives months after CBS ended the series, citing losses the network reported at $40 million per year.
A record set in the final season
The show's five-nomination mark had been reached three times before: in 2021, 2022, and 2024. The nine nominations cover both creative and technical categories. They include Outstanding Variety Series, Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series, Outstanding Production Design for a Variety or Reality Series, Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Series, Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Series, Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special, Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming, and Outstanding Music Direction. Five of the nine came from the May 21 finale.
Over Colbert's run, "The Late Show" collected more than 40 nominations and converted two into wins, both in 2025: Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series. The Television Academy awarded both after CBS had already announced the cancellation.
The cancellation dispute
CBS ended "The Late Show" last year for what it called financial reasons. Colbert and several commentators have argued the decision reflected pressure from the Trump administration ahead of a large Paramount merger requiring FCC approval. CBS has not publicly addressed those claims. Asked by Fox News Digital for comment, the network pointed to an Instagram post congratulating the series on its nominations.
Colbert addressed the cancellation at the Writers Guild Awards in March. "This is not the 1950s," he said. "This is not the Red Scare. And, as far as I can tell, no one in late night is fomenting a revolution. As we know, the revolution will not be televised. It was going to be televised, but then Paramount bought it."
At his Emmy acceptance speech for one of the two wins, Colbert spoke in broader terms. "Sometimes, you only know how much you love something when you get a sense you might be losing it," he said. "I have never loved my country more desperately. God bless America."
Emmy calendar
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will air Sept. 14. "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" aired its last episode May 21.