Thank you. (to audience) Thank y...

Thank you.

(to audience)

Thank you all very much. What can I say, except I’d like once again to express my appreciation to the truly deserving winners of tonight’s awards, our entire news team, here and around the world, for their exemplary work and unflagging dedication.

(holds it up)

This belongs to all of you! Let me just add that I am humbled, humbled for the third time, by your generous recognition of our efforts. But then, given the vituperative state of politics in today’s America, let me also say that I have grown accustomed to being humbled. And I know that many of you, my distinguished colleagues, have experienced similar unmerited affronts to the dedication and talent you bring to your work. I encourage you to persevere. But now I must apologize for disappointing you. I’ve decided I’ve had enough. Not only with the nettlesome antics emanating from Washington, which would be laughable if they weren’t so fearsomely consequential for the nation, but also with the proudly misguided intolerance of much of our citizenry and the tragedies ignorance and indifference are inflicting globally. In short, these are simply no longer the times I always dreamed of covering. On a positive note, I’ve decided it’s time to rebuild what remains of my foolishly neglected personal life, and I do hope my dear wife, Cheryl, is listening.

(holds up Emmy)

Thanks again. And good night.

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