Being the political compass for late-night hours is no easy task. To both make people laugh and make them think, to both entertain and capture the spirit of an era—Stephen Colbert has been striving to achieve this balance every night for exactly ten years. Broadcast from the legendary Ed Sullivan Theater in the heart of New York, this program has evolved over the years to transcend the ordinary late-night show. Colbert is not a role assigned to him here, but he brings his real identity to the stage; he combines his sharp intelligence with political comments that he blends with his deep cultural background. The program, which came to the screen during perhaps the most moving and controversial periods of American television, offers its audience both a humor that will make them breathe and a lens that serves to read the spirit of the time. Colbert's political satire is both disturbingly accurate and masterfully crafted to make you laugh. The interviews he conducts with politicians, intellectuals and artists often go beyond the expected patterns; they are colored with a real sense of curiosity and honesty. There is a genuine sincerity in these conversations, as if the speaker truly wants to learn something from the other person. Another element that complements the spirit of the program is the musical presence of Julliard graduate Jon Batiste. Batiste's energy serves as a silent yet powerful force that sets the tone for the show; it dissipates tension and amplifies the enthusiasm. This production, which remained on the air for eleven seasons with over 1,800 episodes, reshaped itself and updated itself with every change in the political climate. Some nights it moves along a sharp and ruthless path, other nights along a humble and emotional path. This diversity makes the program both consistent and full of surprises. For those who want to keep the pulse of American late-night television, or just try to make sense of the world by laughing a little more, this show promises much more than just an entertainment program.