Stephen Colbert and CBS parted ways back in may when The Late Show signed off for the final time. But since then, the two sides have had contrasting press as the controversial end to their partnership just won't go away. Now, Colbert has received an award that serves as another reminder of CBS's mistake.
Colbert has been named the recipient of the Anti-Censorship Award at the 47th annual American Book Awards, presented by the nonprofit organization Before Columbus Foundation. It's clear that Colbert earned the honor for standing up against excessive censorship, even if it may have cost him his job.
CBS insisted that canceling The Late Show was purely a financial decision, citing the economics of producing a nightly broadcast program and suggesting Colbert's late-night series cost the network tens of millions of dollars. But that explanation has failed to convince many observers, including fans and those inside the industry.
Instead, critics pointed to the timing of the announcement, which came amid growing scrutiny of Paramount's business interests and its efforts to complete its merger with Skydance. Colbert had been one of President Donald Trump's most outspoken television critics, fueling speculation that taking Colbert off the air was a requirement to see the deal completed. There was also Colbert's loud opposition to CBS settling a lawsuit with President Trump stemming from a 60 Minutes segment.
Now, Colbert receiving an Anti-Censorship Award only reinforces that narrative. That's another difficult public relations moment for both CBS and Paramount, which have spent months attempting to convince audiences, lawmakers, and industry insiders that The Late Show's cancellation was simply about finances.
It's also the latest in a string of victories for Colbert since signing off from late-night television. His final week attracted massive ratings, and colleagues across the entertainment industry publicly supported him.
And the awards may not be over, either. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert picked up a number of Primetime Emmy nominations this year. So while CBS may be happy to add trophies to its collection, any Colbert victory will resurface the controversy and remind everyone what a giant mistake the network made in ditching the late-night favorite.
Colbert shares the Anti-Censorship Award with Mitch Kaplan of the Miami-based bookstore, Books & Books. Past recipients include television host and political commentator Joy Reid, economist Jeffrey D. Sachs, political scientist Neta Crawford, and editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers.
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