Stephen Colbert turns cancellation into a rallying cry: hire his Late Show crew

On the Emmy stage, Stephen Colbert turned his acceptance into a hiring pitch. After thanking his staff by name, he pivoted to the dozens of people who made The Late Show With Stephen Colbert run night after night — and who are now looking for work. The moment aired live on NBC and streamed on Peacock.

“I want you to know I got some great news: They are all tech avail.”

“Hire them; they will make your show better, and they will make your day easier.”

Colbert’s win came in the reworked Outstanding Variety Series category, which now folds talk and sketch shows into one prize. Accepting on behalf of a show that’s already off the air, he singled out a crew he said stuck with him for nearly eleven years, with some members there from the first week to the last.

After The Late Show

CBS said in July 2025 that the Late Show franchise — launched by David Letterman in 1993 — would end in May 2026 , citing tens of millions in annual losses as linear TV ratings slipped. The call arrived shortly after Colbert publicly criticized Paramount over a multimillion‑dollar settlement involving Donald Trump, sparking outside speculation about the timing; the network pointed to finances.

The final Late Show aired on May 21, 2026, with Paul McCartney as the last guest. The time slot is now occupied by Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed.

Back on a late-night couch

Colbert is set to pop up on Jimmy Kimmel Live this week — his first major late-night sit‑down since his own show signed off. ABC’s Kimmel remains under contract through May 2027 .

Here’s who else Kimmel has on deck around Colbert’s visit:

• Sarah Paulson — with comedian Rory Scovel later in the week
• Bill Burr
• Mariska Hargitay
• Kaia Gerber
• H.E.R.
• The Milk Carton Kids

Colbert’s Emmy plea for his team landed just days before that Kimmel appearance, extending a farewell tour that now includes award stages and other people’s couches.