Cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s Show and Emmy Recognition

After ten seasons, the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show seems to pave the way for a long-awaited Emmy recognition. It’s curious how this isn’t attributed to any positive responses from the left, who have often backed talentless entertainers over the years.

Late Show with Stephen Colbert might be canceled, but it has certainly made its mark within Hollywood. According to a report from Variety, the CBS staple garnered 33 Emmy nominations since its debut in 2015, including two new nominations this year.

However, it’s worth noting it has lost all but one Emmy, which leads to some ironic admissions from Colbert himself—suggesting that the show’s cancellation wasn’t entirely about merit.

Many view the backlash against CBS’s decision to cancel the show as a response to what the network claims were “financial reasons.” Reports indicate CBS faced annual losses between $40 and $50 million, as the show’s ratings have plummeted, much like those of various left-leaning networks.

For years, Colbert has not only benefited from CBS’s financial struggles but has somehow managed to avoid the harsh realities of his Emmy failures while still being recognized for his efforts.

For context, Colbert took over the Late Show from David Letterman, who hosted for 22 years and won nine Emmys during that time. Colbert’s previous endeavor, Colbert Report, won two Emmys in 2013 and 2014, which were, perhaps, more reflective of his comedic talent rather than any pandering.

The announcement of the cancellation this summer was met with predictable outrage from the usual corners of the media and entertainment industries. For many, this situation doesn’t seem to relate to Colbert’s merit but rather to his compliance with expected narratives.

During the second quarter of 2025, Colbert attracted an average of 24.17 million viewers. In comparison, Greg Gutfeld’s late-night show reached nearly 1 million more viewers, despite being available via broadcast rather than cable. Also, among the crucial 18 to 49 age demographic, Gutfeld garnered higher ad rates than Colbert.

It’s worth considering the production costs associated with Colbert’s show against Gutfeld’s seemingly leaner operation, especially in an era where audiences are looking for less divisiveness and more authenticity.

To those who may call this perspective biased, I find it particularly galling that, even after 23 seasons, Real Time with Bill Maher has not received an Emmy. Regardless of personal views, Maher’s program is known for its sharp writing and significant contributions to public discourse, yet he remains underrecognized because he does not conform to the expected behaviors of being a “trained seal.”