First on LateNighter: Stephen Colbert is headed back to late night—this time on the other side of the desk.
Colbert will appear as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tuesday, Sept. 15, marking his first late-night guest appearance since The Late Show with Stephen Colbert signed off in May.
The appearance comes just one night after Colbert and Kimmel will both be in the running for Outstanding Variety Series at Monday night’s 78th Emmy Awards. Their respective shows are among the nominees in the newly revamped category, alongside The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and Saturday Night Live.
Calling it a showdown between Colbert and Kimmel isn’t quite accurate, however. Unlike most Emmy races, Outstanding Variety Series is now an “area award,” meaning voters don’t choose a single winner. Each nominee is judged individually, and any show receiving “yes” votes from at least 90% of voters wins an Emmy. In other words, there’s a fair chance that Colbert, Kimmel, and perhaps all of the late-night contenders could win.
The Emmys air Monday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.
Colbert’s appearance on Kimmel will come nearly four months after he ended his 11-year run at CBS. The Late Show aired its series finale on May 21, bringing both Colbert’s tenure and the 33-year Late Show franchise to a close.
Kimmel was among the fellow late-night hosts who helped Colbert mark his final weeks on CBS, appearing alongside Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver on the May 11 Strike Force Five episode of The Late Show.
Tuesday night will mark Colbert’s sixth time visiting Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a guest, following appearances in 2004, 2010, 2012, 2017, and 2025.
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Great news!
Very dull summer without him.