Jason Zinoman

An inspired new book from veteran comedians cautions novices to err on the side of caution. But our comedy critic makes the case for taking a big swing.

Lots of political comedy on the left has been surprisingly subdued. Nish Kumar stands out for his combative nature and jokes that bristle with anger.

The acerbic comic sounds like a Mamet character, and thanks to Nathan Lane, he’s making his Broadway debut as one in “Glengarry Glen Ross.”

Stand-up shows from Josh Johnson, Rosebud Baker, Craig Ferguson and others investigate Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show, motherhood and the politics of dumplings.

Our comedy columnist reflects on 50 years of “Saturday Night Live.”

Ronny Chieng, Gary Gulman and other comics are experimenting with long buildups that can be audacious … when they work.

Lorne Michaels reportedly dislikes when “Saturday Night Live” cast members break character. But over 50 seasons, it’s become one of the show’s signature moves — one that usually delights the audience.

The funny but bleak “Lonely Flowers,” isn’t directly about the new president, but it builds small observations into larger points about our lives.

To refine her monologue for Sunday’s show, she relied on two writers’ rooms and 91 test runs. Then came the fickle audiences and a crisis of confidence.

The host had been working on the jokes as well as the flow in multiple test runs in clubs. On the telecast, she introduced some new bits.