After I look again on the 2025 TV schedule, I believe I’ll all the time bear in mind the day I discovered The Late Present with Stephen Colbert was canceled. It was actually surprising information, and within the weeks since, many, together with his fellow late-night hosts, have shared how upset they’re about this alternative. Now, as the most important award present in tv creeps up, Colbert’s competitor in each late-night programming and this yr’s Emmys, Jimmy Kimmel, is utilizing his platform to assist The Late Present as an alternative of his personal program.
When the 2025 Emmy nominations got here out, it was revealed that Kimmel and Colbert’s reveals had been each acknowledged alongside The Day by day Present. Now, proper after The Late Present’s cancellation, Kimmel referred to as out the selection, and Jon Stewart went on a rant about late-night within the wake of Colbert’s cancellation. So, they’ve been advocates and supporters of their fellow host; nevertheless, now Jimmy Kimmel has taken it one step additional, and it includes a billboard that claims (by way of Selection):
I’m voting for Stephen.
Notably, that messaging is positioned proper beneath a line of textual content that reads “Emmy Award Nominee Excellent Speak Sequence,” and there’s an image of Jimmy Kimmel along with his present’s identify on the billboard as properly. So, it’s a traditional marketing campaign billboard used to immediate Emmy voters of their decision-making. Nevertheless, somewhat than advocate for Jimmy Kimmel Dwell! he’s supporting Stephen Colbert as an alternative.
In response to the report, this billboard is positioned at a high traffic intersection in West Hollywood, and it’s close to many main leisure workplaces and the Tv Academy headquarters. So, voters will see it. It additionally defined that this “strategically positioned commercial” does two issues: it tells Emmy voters to vote for The Late Present with Stephen Colbert, and it as soon as once more seemingly reveals Kimmel’s emotions about CBS’s option to cancel the long-standing program.
Within the weeks since Colbert introduced that his present would finish in Could of 2026, the selection to cancel has been a really controversial and extremely mentioned one. CBS cited that they did it for monetary causes. Nevertheless, there’s been loads of commentary and criticism about how politics might have performed into the selection as properly – nothing has been confirmed on that entrance.
Many have spoken out concerning the resolution to cancel The Late Present, and shared their two cents on what Colbert’s profession might appear to be subsequent. This has included the main late-night hosts working proper now: Kimmel, Stewart, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. Different large names within the speak present and comedy house have additionally shared their ideas, together with Andy Cohen, who thinks “CBS is simply cooked,” and Bob Odenkirk thinks Colbert will discover a new profitable gig simply after his present ends.
Now, as extra statements and hypothesis come out about what this cancellation means, will probably be attention-grabbing to see how Colbert’s present performs on the Emmys. Since 2015, when he took over internet hosting the present, it’s acquired 33 nominations, and it’s by no means received. That makes it the second most-nominated present to by no means win (Higher Name Saul is the primary).
During the last decade, Final Week Tonight with John Oliver (which now not competes on this class) and The Day by day Present have been the one two speak reveals to take house the award for Excellent Speak Sequence. Nevertheless, with Kimmel actually telling individuals to vote for Colbert, will probably be attention-grabbing to see if Jon Stewart says something about it, and if The Late Present can lastly take house its first trophy.
To see if that occurs, you possibly can tune into the 77th Emmy Awards, which will likely be hosted by Nate Bargatze, on Sunday, September 14 at 8 p.m. ET. It’ll air on CBS, and you’ll stream it reside with a Paramount+ subscription if in case you have the Showtime add-on. In the meantime, episodes of each The Late Present and Jimmy Kimmel Dwell! will proceed airing on weekdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on CBS and ABC, respectively.