For all the talk that late-night television is dead (or dying), it’s poised to take center stage at the 77th Annual Emmy Awards, with at least three major storylines set to unfold during the show’s three-hour telecast.
Here’s what we’ll be tracking as we watch Sunday night’s ceremony:
Can Colbert Break The Daily Show’s Stranglehold on Outstanding Talk Series?
Heading into this year’s Emmy For Your Consideration season, the big question wasn’t who would win Outstanding Talk Series, but who would be nominated. That’s because perennial Emmy favorite The Daily Show seemed all but assured to take home the top prize.
Then came a high-profile (and highly politicized) cancellation. Suddenly, there was a lane for Stephen Colbert and his Late Show team to ride to Emmy victory—one fortified when the third nominee in the category, Jimmy Kimmel, publicly threw his support behind Colbert.
Colbert himself is no stranger to Emmy gold, with ten wins for his work on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. But despite critical acclaim and ratings success, heading into this year, The Late Show had yet to win a single Emmy out of 30+ nominations.
In what could be a harbinger of things to come, that streak has already been broken. At last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, Late Show director Jim Hoskinson won the show’s first-ever Emmy, for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series. His competition? Last Week Tonight and the two programs The Late Show faces off against this weekend for Outstanding Talk Series: The Daily Show, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!
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. (No pressure, Stephen!)
Can SNL Break Last Week Tonight’s Stranglehold on Outstanding Scripted Variety Series?
Yes, The Daily Show is Emmy’s favorite talk show, but that’s only because a consortium of late-night talk shows successfully petitioned the TV Academy in 2023 to move Last Week Tonight out of the Outstanding Talk Series category, where it had dominated for years.
Since then, John Oliver’s HBO series has competed in the Outstanding Scripted Variety Series category—where it has continued to shut out the competition, including modern TV’s best-known, most-watched, and most-celebrated actual variety show: Saturday Night Live.
Coming off its landmark 50th season, SNL may never be in a better position to finally topple Last Week Tonight. If last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys are any indication, Emmy voters are certainly feeling the love: SNL netted a record 11 wins, bringing its all-time total to 112—by far the most in Emmy history. (Game of Thrones is No. 2 with 59.)
A strong leading indicator will come earlier in the night when the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series is handed out. Last Week Tonight has won this category nine years in a row, while SNL hasn’t won it since 2002.
Can SNL50 Topple Beyoncé, the Super Bowl, and the Oscars?
This year’s Emmy producers are no dummies. While the award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) has in recent years been relegated to the Creative Arts Emmys, it was moved back to the main show after this year’s nominees were announced.
That’s because, in what can only be described as a star-power battle for the ages, SNL’s 50th Anniversary Special will go head-to-head with Conan O’Brien’s rapturously received Oscars hosting debut, the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar, and Netflix’s much-hyped Beyoncé Bowl.
This one is truly anyone’s to win. The Oscars and the Super Bowl halftime have traded off wins in recent years, while SNL’s 50th anniversary special cleaned up at this year’s Creative Arts Emmys. Meanwhile: Beyoncé. Need we say more?
SNL’s disadvantage in this category is that it’s effectively competing against itself, with both its 50th anniversary special and its Peacock-streamed Homecoming Concert in the running—raising the risk of a vote split among SNL-inclined voters.
Three Bonus Mini-Storylines
Will host Nate Bargatze bring a little SNL magic to the Emmy stage?
Bargatze, arguably SNL’s best-received new host of the past five years, has shown a fondness for reprising his hits from the show in recent TV work—his Lorne Michaels-produced holiday special memorably featured its own spin on his “Washington’s Dream” sketch. Michaels isn’t producing the Emmys this year, making an SNL crossover less likely, but we wouldn’t be surprised if Bargatze’s favorite SNL writers Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell ended up lending a hand on a bit or two.
How Will Colbert Present?
Given his (reportedly) frosty relations with CBS, this year’s Emmys’ broadcaster, it was surprising to learn that Stephen Colbert will be presenting Sunday night. It’s hard to imagine him doing so without somehow addressing the elephant in the room.
Will Bowen Yang make Emmy history?
Bowen Yang is already the most-nominated Asian male performer in Emmy history, with four nominations. If he wins Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, he would become the first Asian performer ever to win the category. Increasing his chances, he is the only SNL performer nominated in the category this year. Hurting his chances? He’s up against The Bear’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who has won the past two years.
All will be revealed this Sunday, September 14, when the 77th Annual Emmy Awards air live on CBS.
