Roy Wood Jr. has weighed on the future of The daily show after news that it would soon lose its host. Recently, Trevor Noah announced that he is stepping down from his hosting duties after a stint of seven years. The South African comedian joined the show in 2015 when longtime host Jon Stewart made his own departure after a 16-year run.
“I realized that after those seven years my time is up. But in the most beautiful way. Honestly,” Noah told viewers when he daily show exit, and has since lined up a new comedy special on Netflix. “I loved hosting the show. It was one of my greatest challenges. It was one of my greatest joys. I loved trying to figure out how to make people laugh, even if the stories on the worst days. You know, we laughed together, we cried together. But after seven years, I feel like it’s time.”
Noah is leaving The daily show in December before taking a break. The series will then return in 2023 with a new host yet to be named. There has been much speculation as to who might succeed Noah, and as a current correspondent, Wood’s name is one that has come up a lot. Speaking about the situation on The Daily Beast’s The last laugh podcast (per THR), asked Wood if he would take the job himself if asked.
“You can’t say no to such an opportunity. At least you can’t turn your nose up at it. I think you have to sit down and consider what you want to do creatively, and I haven’t thought about that yet.”
Who will be the new host of The Daily Show?
No official announcement has been made yet for the new host of The Daily Show. If it’s not Wood, the correspondent isn’t sure if he’d like to stay with someone new coming in to succeed Noah. Whether he stays if someone else gets the job depends on that person and whether he sees himself working well with the host.
“It would depend on the host. It would depend on the creative direction of the show. What are you trying to do? How do I fit in? And does that creative direction fit my comedic skills and give me a chance to show who I am am?”
Wood also pointed out that Noah’s transition was seen as a little “tumultuous” at the time, as fans were not yet familiar with the comedian. It’s different with correspondents who already have a built-in relationship with the audience, and with this in mind, Comedy Central might want to look at who they have on hand before peeping elsewhere. Meanwhile, former correspondent Samantha Bee has also had many fans suggest her name after the cancellation of her own series Full frontal; Bee had originally left The daily show to follow that series.
Noah’s last episode of The daily show will be broadcast on December 8, 2022.