Turns out Stephen Colbert’s pitch at last year’s Emmys worked.
Mariska Hargitay, who will host this year’s Emmy Awards, revealed Tuesday that she’s working with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s writers as she prepares for the telecast.
“We’re at the beginning stages, and so we’re throwing out a lot of different ideas,” Hargitay told Deadline. “I’m working with an incredible team of writers—the writers from Colbert… We’ve been meeting a lot and discussing a lot and pitching a lot of ideas. We’re pitching so many ideas.”
It’s a fitting landing spot for The Late Show’s now-former writers, considering Colbert spent much of the show’s final year publicly campaigning to find his staff their next jobs.
That campaign included a particularly big stage: last year’s Emmys.
Taking the stage to present the night’s first award, Colbert received a standing ovation, then used the opportunity to make a pitch on behalf of the roughly 200 people who would lose their jobs when The Late Show ended its run.
“While I have your attention, is anyone hiring?” he asked. “Because I’ve got 200 very well-qualified candidates with me here tonight who will be available in June.”
Apparently, Emmy producers were listening.
Colbert continued advocating for his staff right up through The Late Show’s final months. While accepting the Writers Guild of America East’s Walter Bernstein Award in March, he devoted part of his speech to his writing staff, calling out each writer individually and offering prospective employers some decidedly unconventional selling points.
“If you liked any of these ideas, please employ these lovely folks,” Colbert told the room.
Now The Late Show’s writers are helping write this year’s Emmys—and they may have more to do that night than help Hargitay get laughs.
The Late Show is one of three nominees for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series at this year’s Emmys, where its former writing staff will compete against the teams from Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards air live Monday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.
