Why John Oliver’s Anti-Catharsis Comedy Is Political Latenight’s Reigning Template

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver returned Sunday for its ninth season, still the best that political late-night comedy has to offer. Forget the 20-odd Emmys it’s won, including its lock on the talk-show category six years running; Last Week’s cachet and influence are most readily seen in how many of its competitors have emulated its chief innovations: length and depth.