Colbert, accepting the award to rapturous applause and cheers from the audience inside Los Angeles' Peacock Theater, thanked the roughly 200 "incredible professionals" who work behind the scenes of the late-night show, which CBS is canceling.

Ratings for the Emmy Awards have continued their climb from all-time lows as the television industry looks to shake off the shake-ups of recent years.

Colbert won previously in Outstanding Variety Series (the category’s former name) in 2013 and 2014 for his Comedy Central series The Colbert Report.