Bearded Colbert Makes First Major Appearance Since CBS Exit

YouTube/screengrab Stephen Colbert is back and looking more relaxed than ever.

The former late-night host made a rare appearance, complete with a new gray goatee, to accept the Television Critics Association ’s award for Outstanding Achievement in Variety, Talk or Sketch on behalf of The Late Show , as well as his own TCA Career Achievement Award.

“On behalf of everybody at The Late Show , we are honored to be the Outstanding Achievement in Variety, Talk or Sketch,” Colbert said, looking cheery, in a video message.

“I think we did and/or many of these this past year.

I couldn’t have been prouder of our folks.” Colbert went on to praise his team for “how focused they were and how hard they worked and how much joy we had, given the fact that we knew that we were running straight into a brick wall at the end.” Paramount announced last July that the show would end in May 2026, giving the team just 10 months to wrap up its nearly 11-year run.

“Thanks again, and hey, give my best to TV,” he added.

“I miss it.

A lot of fond memories.” To win the TCA Variety category, The Late Show had to beat several heavyweights, including d The Daily Show , Jimmy Kimmel Live! , and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver .

Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Muppet Show revival, and Saturday Night Live were also among the nominees.

Colbert’s Career Achievement Award places him among late-night legends Johnny Carson and David Letterman, making him only the third late-night host to have received the award.

Other recipients include Walter Cronkite, Lucille Ball, Jim Henson, Norman Lear, and SNL creator Lorne Michaels.

The wins come as Emmy voters cast their ballots for his show’s nine category nominations this year, including for Outstanding Variety Series, Writing, Directing, Production Design, Lighting, and Editing.

The late-night series, which ended following its host’s feud with the president and its network’s parent company’s merger with Trump-friendly conglomerate Skydance, will face off with Kimmel, Oliver, and Stewart in this year’s awards.

Making the race more unpredictable this year is the Television Academy’s combining the Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Scripted Series categories into just one, now called Outstanding Variety Series.