‘Daily Show’ star Roy Wood Jr. to headline White House Correspondents’ Association dinner

The White House Correspondents’ Association is doubling down on “The Daily Show.”

Roy Wood Jr., a correspondent for Comedy Central’s satirical news program, is set to perform at the WHCA dinner this April as the event’s featured entertainer, the organization announced Thursday.

The New York City-born comedian follows former “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah, who performed last year at the fund-raising dinner supporting journalists who cover the White House.

“It’s an honor to be a part of a long-running tradition of celebrating those members of the media, who work so hard to uncover the truth, and hold our government accountable,” Wood said in a statement. “It will be a great night that will go down in the history books, or not, depending on which state you live in.”

Wood, who joined “The Daily Show” in 2015, portrays a reporter on the popular series and is the son of an accomplished TV and radio journalist, Roy Wood Sr.

“Roy Wood Jr. brings a journalistic eye to his comedy,” Tamara Keith, president of the WHCA, said in a statement. “He’s hilarious — but also makes sure his audiences are thinking as they laugh.”

The dinner is scheduled to take place April 29. Noah headlined the event’s return following two years of cancellations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Biden went to the 2022 dinner, which had more than 2,500 attendees.

“I’m really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans with a lower approval rating than I have,” Biden joked at the time.

Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Wanda Sykes, Aretha Franklin and Bob Hope are among the event’s past performers. At the 2018 dinner, comedian Michelle Wolf garnered attention for her critical quips about the Trump administration.

With News Wire Services