Comedian Roy Wood Jr. Talks Alabama Bicentennial and the State’s Reputation
On December 14, 1819, Alabama became the nation’s 22nd state. The grand finale of Alabama’s Bicentennial commemoration is this weekend in Montgomery. There will be concerts and parades and appearances from the state’s more notable residents, including Birmingham native and comedian Roy Wood Jr. The Daily Show Correspondent is excited about the state’s 200th birthday, but he says sometimes Alabama gets a bad rap on the national stage. He says his peers in show business respect the pride he has for his home state, but they can’t understand it.
“The look of doubt and sincere confusion on their face tells me everything of what they perceive Alabama to be,” Wood says.
Wood says the state isn’t what it used to be. He credits cities like Birmingham, Mobile and Huntsville for Alabama’s growth. But, he says, the state still has an image problem.
“The way I try to explain Alabama to people is like, listen man, Alabama’s that cousin that used to be crazy and he’s trying to get his life together,” he says. “You got to work with him, at least he’s trying.”
Wood says the state has come a long way and he’s proud to call Alabama home. He says the nation will have a better take on the state after the release of his upcoming Comedy Central show “Jefferson County Probation,” which will be filmed in Birmingham. The show follows the career of a local probation officer and former criminals. He says producing the show in his hometown is just one way he hopes to change people’s perception.
“If there is a way to chip through on that at all, just a smidge, then I’ve contributed positively to the rehabilitation of the reputation of my home state,” Wood says.
Other notable Alabamians taking part in this weekend’s bicentennial celebration include four-time Grammy winner John Paul White of Florence, American Idol winner Taylor Hicks of Birmingham and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Martha Reeves of Eufaula.
A list of bicentennial events can be found online.
Anti-Trump podcast MeidasTouch is rivaling Joe Rogan. Does it have staying power?
The left-leaning media outfit has surged in Donald Trump's second term, appealing to progressives outraged by the president. Still, the online streaming world remains dominated by right-wing voices.
‘The Last of Us’ actor Pedro Pascal says he wouldn’t want to survive an apocalypse
The Chilean-born actor has faced countless on-screen challenges, including cosmic battles and cartel kingpins. He's nominated for an Emmy for his role on the HBO series, The Last of Us.
Takeaways from Taylor Swift’s podcast appearance: her new album, romance and more
Swift revealed the release date, cover art and track list for The Life of a Showgirl. She also discussed her romance with Travis Kelce, buying back her masters and recovering from the Eras Tour.
Mayors of Democratic cities respond to Trump’s threats they could be next after D.C.
When Trump announced his law enforcement actions in D.C., he also singled out a slew of other Democratic cities. The mayors of Baltimore, LA, Oakland, Chicago and New York say crime is down.
A new Spike Lee crime thriller and more to see this weekend
Denzel Washington stars in a loose remake of the 1963 Akira Kurosawa film High and Low. And four anthropomorphic turtles are back in theaters for an anniversary re-release.
Hundreds of retired air force officers protest Israel’s war in Gaza
Hundreds of former air force reservists and pilots join a chorus of defense establishment figures calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza.
