American comedians are relishing a sudden golden age in which presidential  campaign sketches have become headline news, driving record audiences to television comedy shows, stand-up clubs and once obscure websites. 

The two news satire shows on Viacom’s Comedy Central channel – The Daily Show and The Colbert Report – each recorded their highest audiences on Wednesday, the night after the second presidential debate. South Park, the cartoon series, hit a nine-year audience high.