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Stephen Colbert is championing rival late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for an Emmy Award despite his own canceled program competing in the same category. Colbert, whose final “Late Show” episode aired in May, released a video message urging Emmy voters to select Kimmel’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for Outstanding Variety Series at the 2026 Emmy Awards, setting aside his own nomination in the process.
The video features a bearded Colbert perched on a cliff overlooking water as he appeals directly to voters. “I think we can all agree that Jimmy Kimmel deserves an Emmy. I don’t care if you’ve never even seen his show, you know he deserves an Emmy,” Colbert stated while displaying an image of Kimmel on a tablet. The gesture underscores the well-documented friendship between the two comedians.
“The Late Show” faces competition from “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” “The Daily Show,” and “Saturday Night Live” in the variety series category. The five nominees represent the landscape of late-night and sketch comedy programming across major broadcast networks.
CBS announced Colbert’s cancellation in 2025, citing financial difficulties despite network denials of political motivations. Reports indicated the program was losing the network approximately $40 million annually. Colbert publicly rejected the financial explanation on air, contradicting his corporate employer’s official stance on the decision.
Kimmel has demonstrated strong support for his colleague, publicly criticizing CBS for the cancellation. The ABC host requested viewers tune in for Colbert’s farewell episode, saying “Don’t ever watch it again” in reference to the network going forward. The two comedians have frequently appeared on each other’s programs and publicly praised one another.
Criticism of Colbert’s Emmy endorsement came from NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck, who characterized the plea as “beyond pathetic and embarrassing.” Houck told Fox News Digital that the gesture exemplifies what he views as an insular entertainment community prioritizing partisan messaging over comedic quality.
Kimmel has faced multiple controversies in recent months, including a suspension from Disney after making remarks about an assassination attempt. An earlier joke about first lady Melania Trump also drew condemnation from the president and first lady, prompting calls for ABC to take action against the host.
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