SocietySean Spicer and the soullessness of Hollywood liberalismAt the Emmys Spicer mocked all the ideals Hollywood claims to hold in such high regard. Exactly who was the butt of the joke?
WashingtonHow political satire let Americans down in the U.S. electionSatire made in The Daily Show’s image made politics seem like entertainment, lulling viewers and voters into complacency
CultureJokes, shmokes, let’s talk about refugeesA new breed of celebrity comedians has had it with celebrities. Also comedy.
TelevisionStephen Colbert tries to reach Middle AmericaThe late-night innovator steps into the most innovation-resistant format in TV. Jaime Weinman on Stephen Colbert’s first Late Show
TelevisionQ&A: Craig Ferguson on late-night TV and its latest shiftsAs Stephen Colbert and Trevor Noah prepare for their spin on the late-night carousel, an ex-host discusses the tricks of the trade
TelevisionLarry Wilmore can keep calm. But can he carry the show?Jon Stewart’s mild-mannered ‘black correspondent’ is more than the new Stephen Colbert—and he’ll have to be, as he’s set to take his time slot
BooksAfter the apocalypseEdan Lepucki’s California, though it got a boost from Stephen Colbert, doesn’t leave enough to the imagination
TelevisionStephen Colbert to replace David LettermanThe Colbert Report star moves to the Late Show in 2015
ArtsA requiem for an unlikeable couplingSix Ways to Sunday: We don’t have to like Gwyneth Paltrow or Chris Martin. But we owe it to ourselves to not be cruel