Roy Wood Jr. is on the move after abruptly leaving his role as correspondent on “The Daily Show”.
Since Trevor Noah’s departure as host last year, the hit Comedy Central show has used a growing list of week-long guest hosts before the Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild strikes further delayed the process of naming the next permanent occupant of the host’s chair.
Ironically, Noah and Wood Jr started on the same day, both as correspondents, for the late night satirical news program in December 2014. The following March it was announced that Noah would take the driver’s wheel following long-time host Jon Stewart’s sign-off that coming September. When Noah left the show after hosting for seven years, many assumed Wood Jr would be next in line, especially after a stellar showing during his week-long guest hosting tenure.
However, other names began to be rumored as strong possibilities like fellow current correspondent Hasan Minhaj and former late night talk host Chelsea Handler. Though the famed show is less than two weeks from returning with all new episodes, Wood Jr decided he had had enough of waiting in limbo.
In a statement via The Daily Beast, the Birmingham, Alabama native gave his sincerest thanks.
“After eight amazing years on The Daily Show, where I’ve been able to pursue my comedic and political curiosities with some of the best writers, producers, crew and correspondents anyone could hope for, I’ve made the decision to move on.” He went on to say that he’s “grateful to Trevor Noah, Paramount and especially 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 a film, and much, much more” and he’s looking forward to “finding other ways to collaborate with them down the road.”
“Until then,” he added. “I am excited to nurture new ideas and see what the future holds for me in the shifting sands of late night television, scripted comedy, and whatever else the comedy gods may have in store for me in 2024 and beyond.”
The proverbial writing on the wall seemed to be when Wood Jr told “The Last Laugh” podcast that while he wouldn’t turn down the opportunity if offered, it might be weird for him to stay on with someone else.
“It would depend on the host. It would depend on the creative direction of the show,” Wood commented at the time. “What are you trying to do? How do I fit into that? And does that creative direction fit my comedic skill sets and give me an opportunity to show who I am?”
Now that Wood Jr has decided to go another direction, the question remains, who will the next permanent host be? Fans will have to wait until early 2024 for that announcement as the network will continue on with a rotation of guest hosts throughout 2023.
“The Daily Show” is set to return on Monday, Oct. 16.
