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Every Emmys Outstanding Variety Series winner

15 ceremonies, 2000–2014. 3 different winners. The longest run was The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, 10 years straight (2003–2012).

It was awarded for the last time in 2014.

It was previously known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series.

In 2015 it was split into Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Scripted Variety Series, and talk shows and sketch shows stopped competing against each other.

From 2015 the Emmys awarded Outstanding Talk Series instead.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart ×10Late Show with David Letterman ×3The Colbert Report ×2
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by network; hover for details.
Late Show with David Letterman'00–'02×3
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart'03–'12×10
The Colbert Report'13–'14×2
Wins by network
  1. Comedy Central1280%
  2. CBS320%

Who kept losing

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2014.

Most nominated, never won

  • Saturday Night Live11 noms
  • Real Time with Bill Maher10 noms
  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien5 noms
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!3 noms
  • Late Night with Jimmy Fallon3 noms
  • Politically Incorrect3 noms

Most losses

  • Saturday Night Live11L · 0W
  • Real Time with Bill Maher10L · 0W
  • Late Show with David Letterman7L · 3W
  • The Colbert Report7L · 2W
  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien5L · 0W
  • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart4L · 10W

The full list

YearWinnerNetwork
2014The Colbert Reportrepeat
beat 5 others
  • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • Real Time with Bill Maher
  • Saturday Night Live
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Comedy Central
2013The Colbert Report
beat 5 others
  • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
  • Real Time with Bill Maher
  • Saturday Night Live
Comedy Central
2012The Daily Show with Jon Stewartrepeat
beat 5 others
  • The Colbert Report
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
  • Real Time with Bill Maher
  • Saturday Night Live
Comedy Central
2011The Daily Show with Jon Stewartrepeat
beat 5 others
  • The Colbert Report
  • Conan
  • Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
  • Real Time with Bill Maher
  • Saturday Night Live
Comedy Central
2010The Daily Show with Jon Stewartrepeat
beat 4 others
  • The Colbert Report
  • Real Time with Bill Maher
  • Saturday Night Live
  • The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
Comedy Central
2009The Daily Show with Jon Stewartrepeat
beat 4 others
  • The Colbert Report
  • Late Show with David Letterman
  • Real Time with Bill Maher
  • Saturday Night Live
Comedy Central
2008The Daily Show with Jon Stewartrepeat
beat 4 others
  • The Colbert Report
  • Late Show with David Letterman
  • Real Time with Bill Maher
  • Saturday Night Live
Comedy Central
2007The Daily Show with Jon Stewartrepeat
beat 4 others
  • The Colbert Report
  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien
  • Late Show with David Letterman
  • Real Time with Bill Maher
Comedy Central
2006The Daily Show with Jon Stewartrepeat
beat 4 others
  • The Colbert Report
  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien
  • Late Show with David Letterman
  • Real Time with Bill Maher
Comedy Central
2005The Daily Show with Jon Stewartrepeat
beat 4 others
  • Da Ali G Show
  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien
  • Late Show with David Letterman
  • Real Time with Bill Maher
Comedy Central
2004The Daily Show with Jon Stewartrepeat
beat 4 others
  • Chappelle's Show
  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien
  • Late Show with David Letterman
  • Saturday Night Live
Comedy Central
2003The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
beat 4 others
  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien
  • Late Show with David Letterman
  • Saturday Night Live
  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Comedy Central
2002Late Show with David Lettermanrepeat
beat 4 others
  • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
  • Politically Incorrect
  • Saturday Night Live
  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
CBS
2001Late Show with David Lettermanrepeat
beat 4 others
  • The Chris Rock Show
  • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
  • Politically Incorrect
  • Saturday Night Live
CBS
2000Late Show with David Letterman
beat 4 others
  • The Chris Rock Show
  • Dennis Miller Live
  • Politically Incorrect
  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
CBS

More Emmys categories

Supp. Actress (Limited)Directing (Limited)Writing (Limited)Variety SpecialLead Actress (Drama)Lead Actor (Comedy)Lead Actress (Comedy)Made for TV MovieTV MovieLead Actor (Limited)Lead Actress (Limited)Competition ProgramTalk SeriesSketch SeriesLead Actor (Drama)Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)All 34 categories

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