Colbert’s Emotional Emmy Monologue
At the 2025 Emmy Awards, Stephen Colbert made a heartfelt appeal to Hollywood leaders to consider employing his staff during a surprise monologue. This moment was quite unexpected, especially as he reflected on the cancellation of his “Late Show.”
The audience welcomed him with a standing ovation as he took the stage for the first award of the evening, which was for best lead actor in a comedy series. Cheers and applause erupted as A-listers rose to their feet, chanting “Stephen!”—a sight that left Colbert visibly thrilled.
“Thank you so much! You’re so kind! Sit down. We have to go,” he said, attempting to lighten the mood.
Then, with a comedic flair, he asked if anyone was hiring, jokingly noting, “We have 200 highly qualified candidates here tonight, along with me, so it will be available in June.” It felt like a casual pitch, one that prompted laughter from the crowd.
Colbert, whose show wrapped up in May 2026, quipped about bringing his resume and some old headshots to the event. “I didn’t update my headshots, but I think it will work,” he joked, holding up a vintage black and white photo. “I’m somewhere.” It was a humorous twist amidst the emotional backdrop.
Next, he jokingly requested Hollywood icon Harrison Ford to pass his resume to filmmaker Steven Spielberg.
Afterward, Colbert returned to present the award for best lead actor in a comedy series, which went to Seth Rogen for his performance in the “studio.”
As the ceremony progressed, the crowd once again began to chant Colbert’s name when the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” won an Emmy for outstanding talk series.
In his acceptance speech, he expressed gratitude to CBS for allowing part of their ‘late night’ tradition to continue. “I hope this will last forever since I stopped playing this show,” he mentioned.
Colbert also shared a poignant message, saying, “Ten years after September 2025, my friends have never loved my country more desperately. God bless America. Stay strong. Be brave.”
This monologue came after CBS announced in July that his show would be canceled following a decade on air, citing financial reasons for the decision.
