From the immediate aftermath of 9/11 to today stand-up comedians, talk-show hosts, sketch performers, television animators and other entertainers have used often-controversial jokes to unite and heal in the face of tragedy.

For more than a decade, Stephen Colbert has sat at the center of late night, where comedy, politics and culture collide. As he prepares to take the desk for the final time, The Last Laugh turns its lens on both the show and the man, exploring what audiences stand to lose when one of satire’s sharpest and most thoughtful voices signs off. The hour also examines the broader cultural and political forces surrounding the end of Colbert’s late-night run and the future of outspoken comedy in an evolving landscape. Anchoring the hour is a dynamic lineup of interviewees spanning comedy, journalism and cultural criticism. The special features appearances from CNN Anchor and Chief Washington Correspondent Jake Tapper and comedians Jordan Carlos and Gianmarco Soresi, alongside key creative voices from The Colbert Report including Allison Silverman and Richard Dahm, each offering insight into the scope and lasting influence of Colbert’s work.