Stephen Colbert Says ‘Free Speech Is Alive and Well’ Despite ‘Late Show’ Cancellation

“I think that late night is just as funny and just as vital as it ever has been," the host said at the Emmys

Stephen Colbert doesn’t think the foundations of America have been shaken by the cancellation of The Late Show. After winning the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Series last night, Colbert told Variety that he believes “free speech is alive and well.”

“Because if you can’t say something because you go to jail, that is a violation of free speech,” Colbert said, pointing to the other late-night shows that have continued, including The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live. “I think that late night is just as funny and just as vital as it ever has been, and I love watching Jimmy and Jimmy and John and John and Seth and everybody else. And I think I hope it goes on for a long time because you get to work with people like this, and that’s the greatest gift.”

The outlet also asked Colbert if he thought Donald Trump was the reason The Late Show came to an end in May, however the late-night host feigned deafness in one ear. When asked for his thoughts on Bari Weiss, now head of CBS News, Colbert said he’s “never heard of her.” “Do you know her?” he added. “I hear great things.”

The Late Show concluded its final season in May. The show won several Emmys this year, including for writing, directing, technical direction, lighting, and editing. Those awards were presented last weekend during the Creative Arts Emmys.

“I’m so glad that the show got recognized, and especially last week, all the people who won the creative arts, the writers and our director, our technical director, camera, lighting, and the digital team, and then tonight, all these incredible people,” Colbert told Variety. “First of all, just to be together after not seeing these guys for four months, it’s incredible. And we couldn’t be more grateful to the academy and everybody who voted for the show.”

Following his show’s win last night, Colbert offered an update on his current career move: writing a new Lord of the Rings movie. He is penning the script with Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee.

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“Literally, I woke up in New Zealand yesterday. I flew here for the Emmys,” Colbert told reporters backstage. “Yesterday, [when I was in] New Zealand [it was] was tomorrow there. I went from yesterday to tomorrow, so I don’t know how many days today has been. What did I say in my speech? I was hallucinating up there.”

He added that the gig, which he announced in March, has kept him busy since The Late Show concluded. “That’s what I’m doing,” Colbert said. “That takes a lot of time, man. You ever written a Lord of the Rings movie? It’s a full-time job.