The blow was softened by its inclusion in an all-singing, all-dancing musical opening which won easy applause from the audience at LA's Microsoft Theatre.

"[Tonight is] us celebrating us, tonight we binge ourselves" Colbert said, complimenting the industry on its hubris, and noting there were more than 450 scripted series on television.

No one could possibly watch it all, Colbert noted, "other than the president who seems to have a lot of time for that sort of thing."

Colbert played his opening monologue straight, taking neat aim at the industry's titans, notably broadcast giant CBS (which was airing the telecast in the US) and HBO's recent hacking scandal.

Then Colbert turned his aim at Trump.

"He's the biggest star of the year, and Alec Baldwin obviously," he said.

"Every show was influenced by Donald Trump, House of Cards, American Horror Story and next year's Latin Grammys, hosted by Sheriff Joe Arpaio," Colbert said.

Arpaio, who Trump pardoned, was branded a racist for profiling Latino members of his community, and exposing them to heavy-handed law enforcement.

"I thought you people liked morally compromised anti-heroes? He's like Walter White, he's just Walter Whiter."

He then fired a broadside at Trump's thin-skinned reaction to never wining an Emmy.

"Unlike the presidency, Emmys go to the winner of the popular vote," Colbert said.

He wrapped with a cameo on stage from former White House spokesman Sean Spicer, who was introduced as Melissa McCarthy.

McCarthy notably played Spicer on Saturday Night Live.

Ahead of what promised to be a night of mixed fortunes, bruised egos and political satire, the simultaneously opposite and identical worlds of Hollywood and Washington were in host Stephen Colbert's cross-hairs.

And despite not being in the room, the night's inevitable star - US president Donald Trump - managed to cast a long shadow over proceedings.

Ahead of the ceremony, the host and comedian Stephen Colbert said Trump - an obvious target in both host commentary and acceptance speeches - was ironically the biggest TV star of the year.

"No one's close," Colbert said. "Like The Bible outsells every book of all time, Donald Trump is The Bible of the 2016-2017 television season. If you don't include Donald Trump as a TV star this year, you're lying."