John Oliver Hosts Comic Relief’s 40th Anniversary Night at Carnegie Hall

Comic Relief marked 40 years since its debut with a comedy night at Carnegie Hall in New York, hosted by John Oliver. The event revived the charity’s blend of comedy and fundraising, with a lineup that included several Daily Show alumni and stand-ups from varied backgrounds.

Oliver opened the show with self-deprecating jokes about stand-up comedy in the prestigious venue. Joanne McNally, Josh Johnson, Zarna Garg, George Wallace, Roy Wood Jr. and Mary Beth Barone also performed; Johnson focused on a recent change in the Trump administration, while Garg and Wallace drew strong laughs. The original 1986 event, hosted by Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal, raised $50 million for healthcare services for unhoused people. This year’s Visionary Award went to ServiceNow for investing in youth-led projects and supporting young people.