NYC Stephen Colbert Lookalike Contest Becomes a Protest March

A Stephen Colbert lookalike contest transformed into a rally to save The Late Show Monday afternoon.

Dozens of (mostly) bespectacled New Yorkers gathered at Sacco Pizza—one of Colbert’s favorite spots—to channel the host’s signature spirit. Political action committee MoveOn organized the event, framing it both as an anniversary celebration and a protest of what they call the suspicious timing of the show’s cancellation.

“When Stephen Colbert called out the B.S. of CBS’s capitulation to Trump, our members around the country were excited, relieved, and inspired, because since the beginning of his administration, we have been looking for entities that won’t capitulate to Trump,” said Justin Krebs, who leads Special Projects at MoveOn. “And then days later, his show gets cancelled. Whatever CBS says, there’s too much of a connection there.”

A handful of would-be Colberts turned up for the promise of a free slice of pizza and a $250 gift card, cheered on by a crowd of spectators. The judging panel featured public defender and former Manhattan DA candidate Eliza Orlins (Survivor, The Amazing Race); actress, singer, and reality star Peppermint (RuPaul’s Drag Race); and comedian and actress Negin Farsad (Fake the Nation).

The judges stressed the contest was less about looks than “essence” and “vibe.” Each contestant had a moment at the mic to embody Colbert, with most using the opportunity to rally support for the late-night host. One contestant, Janet, delivered an original song skewering Trump’s White House, earning a special “Most Creative” nod.

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Photos: Nick Riccardo/LateNighter

After a tight Audience Choice vote, contestant Josh Burstein drew the loudest cheers. Performing under the name “Stephen” (pronounced “Stefan”), he channeled Colbert by whipping off his glasses and thanking journalists in the crowd. “Stephen is one of the last people speaking truth to power, and helping people get their news at the end of the night without freaking out,” Burstein told LateNighter. “That’s such a valuable service to America. We need more journalists. We need more satirists. We need more Colberts.”

The grand prize, however, went to Nancy Hamada, whose pitch that Colbert run for president in 2028—perhaps alongside Pete Buttigieg—won over the judges and secured her the trophy and gift card.

After the contest, the crowd marched two blocks to the Ed Sullivan Theater, backed by musicians from Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians playing The Late Show theme. Participants carried signs reading “10 More Years! Keep Colbert On-Air” and “Cancelled for ‘purely financial reasons,’” referencing Paramount’s official explanation for the show’s end. (MoveOn’s petition to keep Colbert on the air has surpassed 145,000 signatures, joining several others launched after the cancellation.)

“We’re calling BS on CBS” became the march’s most popular chant, while a giant banner declared “Capitulation Broadcast Station.” Still, the mood stayed upbeat, with fans treating the day as both protest and party. That balance was intentional, organizers said.

“150,000 MoveOn members around the country have signed a petition calling on CBS and Paramount to keep Colbert on the air. We wanted to meet that energy, but this is also a moment where there’s a lot of outrage fatigue and crisis fatigue,” said Krebs. “Sometimes it’s nice to do something a little celebratory—to have some joy along with our resistance.”

The day ended with cupcakes and a birthday cake in honor of Colbert’s tenth anniversary as host of The Late Show.

Fan-organized lookalike contests have become a recent trend following the viral success of a Timothée Chalamet contest where the actor himself showed up. New York has since hosted Adam Sandler and Pedro Pascal contests—the latter won by The Daily Show lighting designer George Gountas.