Stephen Colbert has publicly endorsed Jimmy Kimmel for an Emmy Award in the Outstanding Variety Series category, marking a rare public statement since his late-night show concluded in May. Colbert, appearing in an Instagram video, urged Emmy voters to support Kimmel, describing him as someone "we can all agree" deserves the award.
Colbert, who was seated outdoors and sported a beard, joked that he was at the "end of the world." He told viewers, "I think we can all agree that Jimmy Kimmel deserves an Emmy. I don’t care if you’ve never even seen his show, you know he deserves an Emmy." He then showed a picture of Kimmel on his tablet, adding, "Besides, look how cute he is!"
This endorsement follows a similar gesture from Kimmel, who used a billboard campaign over a year ago to declare he was "voting for Stephen." Colbert's "The Late Show" went on to win its first Emmy Award the following month.
"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" is vying for its first Emmy this year. Kimmel's campaign has reportedly leveraged President Donald Trump's past criticisms of him and his show to gain voter support. Colbert's show also faced scrutiny, with critics linking the cancellation of his program to the parent company's leadership change.
The Outstanding Variety Series category, which was retired in 2014 and later split, has been re-merged for this year's ceremony. Other nominees include "The Daily Show," "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," and "Saturday Night Live." The voting process for this category is unique, as nominees can individually win if they secure 90% "yes" votes, potentially allowing multiple shows to receive an Emmy, or the highest-voted show to win if no nominee reaches the threshold.