The Daily Showhas been around various iterations since 1996. It has led the show to become a powerhouse in the news and entertainment industry. One of its most beloved correspondences,Roy Wood Jr., just announced that he will beleaving the showafter eight years.
Wood Jr. was a staple of the show, and many people are attempting to figure out what happened to keep him from a job for which he expressed overwhelming adoration. But he has at least one good reason, and it means a huge loss for the show.
The Career of Roy Wood Jr. (So Far)
Roy Wood Jr. found his interest in comedy in college. It was an instant love, and he found himself missing key pieces of school as he found the opportunity to open for comedian Tommy Davidson, which was something he couldn’t turn down. He then went on to host a radio morning show, continued to do his standup, and created a number of prank call CDs (something that used to be a lot easier before caller ID). In 2013, he realized he had enough standup material, so he released what would be his first full standup CD,Things I Think, I Think.
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This background made him incredibly valuable, and in 2015, he wasscooped up byThe Daily Show. It would be the start of an eight-year tenure at the show. In his time on the show, he was given the title of correspondent and often went out for on-location stories while also having ample time in-studio to interact with host Trevor Noah.
His work onThe Daily Showled to ample opportunities with Comedy Central. This included a number of standup specials and a gig hostingThis is Not Happening, a show where comedians told cringy, strange, and hilarious personal stories from a strip club stage to a live audience.
One of his most recent achievements came in 2023 when he spoke at theWhite House Correspondents dinner. It was here that he was able to flex everything he’d learned from his time as both a comedian and political humorist. This is an event that happens once a year and involves an entertainer, normally a comedian, speaking on the dais beside the sitting president and in front of a ballroom full of Washington journalists. It has been called one of the toughest rooms to work.
Previously, Stephen Colbert had spoken during the George W. Bush presidency, playing the TV character he had famously portrayed onThe Daily ShowandThe Colbert Report. Famously, he eviscerated the president, in character, to his face. Many people questioned why he had even been asked to the dinner, while others saw it as the ultimate roast of an unpopular president. The fact is that bringing back aDaily Showpersonality was a risk that the WHCA was willing to take, both because it brought eyes to their organization and because Wood Jr. was not going to pull punches.
Wood Jr. continued to work forThe Daily Showand even guest-hosted for a week to critical acclaim. Many saw him as a top contender for the hosting job. However,with Comedy Centralannouncing that they would be continuing their search, Wood Jr. has decided that he should be putting his efforts elsewhere.
The Search For a Host
The Daily Showhas been without a host since Trevor Noah vacated the seat in January after hosting the show in 2015. Before him, John Stewart had the show’s longest tenure, hosting since 1999.
Since Noah’s departure,The Daily Showhas taken its time looking for a new permanent host, choosing instead to cycle through a variety of temporary, one-week hosts. Thesehave included Wanda Sykes, Leslie Jones, Al Franken, and Hasan Minhaj. It also included a week of hosting duties for each of its correspondents.
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The apparent front-runner was Hasan Minhaj, who himself was a correspondent until 2018, when he left to host his own comedy/news program,Patriot Act,on Netflix. That show was canceled in 2020, leaving Minhaj to work on his own projects. One of these was a one-hour standup special titledKing’s Jester. The show was typical of his style, incorporating stories from his life into larger political statements.
By all accounts,Minhaj lost his chanceto hostThe Daily Showafter a recent expose in The New Yorker. The comedian said many of his more politically-charged stories from his act were not exactly true and included “emotional truths.” It made people question the validity of his ability to be the type of truth-teller needed forThe Daily Show.
This revelation has thrown the doors open to the hosting gig. The problem, as Roy Wood Jr. sees it, is that the most qualified person has not been offered the job.
Moving Forward
So what happens next? The fact is that Wood Jr. is at the top of his game, and he has stated that ifThe Daily Showdecides to change its mind and tap him for the job, he’d still seriously consider it.
“It you’re offered the chance to host The Daily Show at any point in your life…you have to stop for a second and consider that.”
Whether this avenue truly remains open will be up to both Wood Jrand Comedy Central. The two have a long history together, and although Wood Jr is obviously upset about the situation he is in, it does not seem that Comedy Central has completely burned that bridge.
“I’m grateful to [sic] Comedy Central for giving me the runway to also produce three one-hour stand-up specials, for letting me host two award-winning podcasts, letting me write & shoot my own comedy pilot, write, film, and much more. I look forward to finding other ways to collaborate with them down the road.”
In the meantime, Wood Jr will explore his options elsewhere. Due to his tenure onThe Daily Showand his experience and clout in the industry, we are sure to see more of him all over the media landscape.
