Roy Wood Jr. pitches himself as Tucker Carlson’s replacement at Fox News
Roy Wood Jr. just hosted “The Daily Show” and has the White House Correspondents’ Dinner coming up, but he’s ready for his next gig: Tucker Carlson’s old job at Fox News.
The Alabama-raised comedian joked on Twitter he’s ready to step up and even shared screen-shots of his resumé with Fox News, who announced Monday it parted ways with the “Tucker Carlson Tonight” host.
The final episode of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” aired Friday, April 21. The company said “Fox News Tonight” will air live at 8 p.m. EST starting Monday evening as an interim show helmed by rotating Fox News personalities until a new host is named. Sure, they specified network personalities, but did they watch Wood’s masterful stint as interim host of “The Daily Show?”
Wood thanked his former hometown Birmingham and even got high praise from former “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart (on top of the chance to cover former President Donald Trump’s arraignment), more than making his case for the next permanent host of the satirical show.
But he sounds willing to put that on hold with Carlson’s recent departure. “Aye @FoxNews, while the Daily Show is figuring things out, happy to swing by and guest host for a week,” Wood tweeted. “Resume’ is attached.”
He even noted a few accomplishments that might sell Fox News viewers on his credentials. “Also @FoxNews, I’ve done 4 USO tours, performed for the troops in active combat zones, opened for Ron White,” Wood wrote. “AND I’ve been on Country Music Television. I know your base. Please consider for guest host. God Bless America. *eagle flies overhead*”
When the news hit that CNN fired longtime anchor Don Lemon, Wood pivoted to pitch that network, too, and wondered why he couldn’t just do it all. “I’m mean s–t, if Steve Harvey can host 6 different things in one week, why can’t I?” he tweeted.
Wood will serve as the featured entertainer for the 2023 White House Correspondents’ Dinner April 29 at the Washington Hilton. One Twitter user suggested, after all of the national media news broke, Wood would have to make a few edits to the WHCD script. “Updating”? Man I gotta throw out the whole damn script,” Wood tweeted. Trevor Noah, former host of “The Daily Show,” was the featured entertainer at the correspondents’ dinner in 2022. Other headliners for the dinner have included Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, Jay Leno, Wanda Sykes, Craig Ferguson, Stephen Colbert, Cedric the Entertainer and Rich Little.
Wood is a comedian, writer, actor and producer who grew up in Birmingham, where he emerged as a jokester making prank phone calls on radio station 95.7 JAMZ.
After Trevor Noah’s exit, the satirical Emmy-winning show has employed guest hosts to fill in until Comedy Central finds a permanent replacement, including the likes of Leslie Jones, Sarah Silverman, John Leguizamo, Al Franken and the show’s correspondents. Wood marked the first of the show’s reporters to sit behind the desk. His colleagues Ronny Chieng, Michael Kosta, Desi Lydic, Dulcé Sloan, Lewis Black and Jordan Klepper were also tapped to guest host the program between now and the week of May 8, according to Variety.
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