The 77th Primetime Emmys were a huge night of television for shows like The Studio, The Pitt, and Adolescence, as well as some dark horse wins like Andor taking the trophy for Outstanding Writing. One of the most emotional wins of the evening was saved for almost last, however, with Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show winning Outstanding Talk Series. Winning the top category in his genre for the very first time might have been emotional under any circumstances, but the victory coming months after The Late Show was controversially cancelled makes this a standout moment from the 2025 Emmy Awards live.
Colbert was already getting a lot of hype at the Emmys before Bryan Cranston walked out on stage to announce the winner for Outstanding Talk Series, as he had presented an award earlier in the broadcast, with the audience of celebrities and creatives chanting “Stephen! Stephen! Stephen!” I wasn’t surprised to hear him cracking a joke about The Late Show’s cancellation when he presented, but I wasn’t prepared for how he and the room would react when the Late Show’s win was announced.
