Paramount Bought the Revolution, Colbert Claims

Upon receiving the Walter Bernstein Award from the Writers Guild of America East, Stephen Colbert used his acceptance speech to acknowledge his staff and offer a parting critique of CBS parent company Paramount. Colbert humorously suggested that Paramount bought and canceled "The Late Show" because the "revolution" it represented was losing money, quipping that it might migrate to a platform like Substack.

Colbert also shared several jokes that had been cut by Paramount during his show's run. These included material addressing the repeal of abortion rights, political figures, and even a joke about OpenAI. He emphasized the importance of his writing staff, whom he called the best he had ever known, urging the audience to hire them. The Bernstein Award recognizes individuals who confront social injustice with creativity and bravery. Colbert's speech highlighted the challenges of creative censorship and the collaborative effort behind late-night television, expressing his deep appreciation for his writers.