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Every Emmys Outstanding Talk Series winner

11 ceremonies, 2015–2025. 5 different winners. The longest run was Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, 7 years straight (2016–2022).

Outstanding Talk Series was first awarded in 2015, so it does not run the full 2000–2025 window.

It was previously known as Outstanding Variety Talk Series.

It took the talk half of Outstanding Variety Series when that award was split, and was renamed in 2023.

It took over from Outstanding Variety Series.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver ×7
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by network; hover for details.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart'15
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver'16–'22×7
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah'23
The Daily Show'24
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'25
Wins by network
  1. HBO764%
  2. Comedy Central327%
  3. CBS19%

Who kept losing

Counting nominations in this category only, 2015–2025.

Most nominated, never won

  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!11 noms
  • Full Frontal with Samantha Bee4 noms
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden4 noms
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers3 noms
  • Real Time with Bill Maher2 noms
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2 noms

Most losses

  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!11L · 0W
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert8L · 1W
  • The Daily Show with Trevor Noah5L · 1W
  • Full Frontal with Samantha Bee4L · 0W
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden4L · 0W
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers3L · 0W

The full list

YearWinnerNetwork
2025The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
beat 2 others
  • The Daily Show
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
CBS
2024The Daily Show
beat 3 others
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Comedy Central
2023The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
beat 4 others
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
  • The Problem with Jon Stewart
Comedy Central
2022Last Week Tonight with John Oliverrepeat
beat 4 others
  • The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
HBO
2021Last Week Tonight with John Oliverrepeat
beat 4 others
  • Conan
  • The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
HBO
2020Last Week Tonight with John Oliverrepeat
beat 4 others
  • The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
  • Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
HBO
2019Last Week Tonight with John Oliverrepeat
beat 5 others
  • The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
  • Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
HBO
2018Last Week Tonight with John Oliverrepeat
beat 5 others
  • The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
  • Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
HBO
2017Last Week Tonight with John Oliverrepeat
beat 5 others
  • Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
  • Real Time with Bill Maher
HBO
2016Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
beat 5 others
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden
  • Real Time with Bill Maher
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
HBO
2015The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
beat 5 others
  • The Colbert Report
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
  • Late Show with David Letterman
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Comedy Central

More Emmys categories

Directing (Drama)Directing (Comedy)Writing (Drama)Writing (Comedy)Lead Actress (Limited)Competition ProgramVariety SeriesSketch SeriesLead Actor (Drama)Lead Actress (Drama)Lead Actor (Comedy)Lead Actress (Comedy)Made for TV MovieTV MovieLead Actor (Limited)Supp. Actor (Limited)All 34 categories

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