Late-night television, long rumored to be on the decline, is suddenly at the heart of the national conversation—and not just because of the annual Emmy Awards. On September 11, 2025, the entertainment world was rocked by the tragic murder of political commentator Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed during a speaking engagement at a Utah college. The shockwaves rippled far beyond the world of politics, reaching the set of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where host Stephen Colbert opened Wednesday night’s episode with a somber, heartfelt message to viewers.
“Our condolences go out to his family and all of his loved ones,” Colbert said, his tone unusually subdued for a man known for his biting wit. He continued, “and I pray with all my heart that this is the aberrant action of a madman, and not a sign of things to come.” According to reporting from The Late Show, Colbert had completed the night’s script before news of Kirk’s death broke, but he made sure to address the tragedy directly, setting aside the show’s usual comedic fare for a moment of reflection.
Colbert, who is 61, drew on his own memories of the turbulent 1960s to provide context for the audience. “I’m old enough to personally remember the political violence of the 1960s, and I hope it is obvious to everyone in America that political violence does not solve any of our political differences,” he lamented. “Political violence only leads to more political violence.” In that moment, Colbert’s words echoed the anxieties of a nation increasingly on edge about the tenor of its political discourse.
The relationship between Colbert and Kirk had always been marked by sharp ideological divides. While Colbert had made passing references to the right-wing activist during his monologues, the two men’s public interactions were few and far between. Kirk, for his part, had previously weighed in on CBS’s controversial decision to cancel The Late Show in 2026, but there was little personal animosity on display Wednesday night—just a shared sense of loss and a hope that the violence would not become a trend.
Colbert was the only late-night host to address Kirk’s murder on air that evening, a fact noted by multiple outlets. Jimmy Kimmel referenced the shooting on social media, promising to say more on his Thursday night broadcast. Seth Meyers and Michael Kosta, the latter hosting The Daily Show that night, were also expected to weigh in soon. The moment underscored just how intertwined late-night television has become with America’s broader political and cultural anxieties.
Yet even as Colbert mourned a political adversary, he and his colleagues were preparing for one of the most consequential Emmy Awards in recent memory. The 77th Annual Emmy Awards, airing live on CBS on September 14, 2025, are set to be a defining moment for late-night TV—one that could see Colbert and his team finally break through after years of near-misses.
For all the talk of late-night’s demise, the Emmy buzz this year is electric. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is nominated for Outstanding Talk Series, a category long dominated by The Daily Show. Despite more than 30 nominations, Colbert’s current show had never taken home an Emmy—until now. At the Creative Arts Emmys the weekend before the main event, Late Show director Jim Hoskinson snagged the show’s first-ever win, taking home the trophy for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series. His competition? Last Week Tonight and, of course, the two other big talk show nominees: The Daily Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The stakes for Colbert are sky-high. According to LateNighter.com, “If The Late Show wins the big prize on Sunday, all eyes will be on Colbert to see how (or if) he addresses his show’s cancellation on the primetime stage in front of his industry peers.” The tension is heightened by the fact that Jimmy Kimmel, one of Colbert’s chief rivals, has publicly thrown his support behind Colbert’s Emmy bid. It’s a rare show of camaraderie in a field known for fierce competition.
Meanwhile, the Emmy Awards themselves are shaping up to be a battleground for late-night supremacy. Saturday Night Live (SNL) is gunning for Outstanding Scripted Variety Series, hoping to finally topple Last Week Tonight, which has dominated the category since being moved out of Outstanding Talk Series in 2023. SNL, fresh off its blockbuster 50th season, has already netted a record 11 wins at the Creative Arts Emmys, bringing its all-time total to a staggering 112—more than any other show in Emmy history. That’s nearly double the runner-up, Game of Thrones.
The variety special category is just as fiercely contested. SNL’s 50th Anniversary Special is up against the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show starring Kendrick Lamar, Netflix’s star-studded Beyoncé Bowl, and Conan O’Brien’s critically acclaimed Oscars hosting debut. As LateNighter.com notes, “This one is truly anyone’s to win.” SNL faces a unique challenge, as it’s effectively competing against itself—its Peacock-streamed Homecoming Concert is also nominated, raising the specter of a vote split among SNL fans.
There are other storylines to watch, too. Bowen Yang, already the most-nominated Asian male performer in Emmy history, is up for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. If he wins, he’ll become the first Asian performer ever to take home that award. His chances are bolstered by the fact that he’s the only SNL performer nominated in the category this year, but he faces stiff competition from The Bear’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who’s won the past two years.
Adding to the intrigue, Colbert is scheduled to present at the Emmy Awards, despite what have been described as “frosty relations” with CBS, the show’s broadcaster. Observers are eager to see whether he’ll use the moment to address his show’s looming cancellation or the broader challenges facing late-night television.
As the Emmy Awards approach, the stakes for late-night TV—and for Stephen Colbert in particular—have never been higher. With the shadow of political violence hanging over the industry and the promise of long-overdue recognition on the horizon, Sunday night’s ceremony is shaping up to be a watershed moment. Whether Colbert emerges victorious, and how he chooses to address the moment, could set the tone for the next chapter of late-night television.
In a week marked by tragedy and anticipation, America’s late-night hosts find themselves at the crossroads of entertainment and history, grappling with loss even as they chase the highest honors in their field. The world will be watching.
