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  • Deep Learning Applications in Image Analysis by Sanjiban Sekhar Roy Hardcover Bo



    Deep Learning Applications in Image Analysis by Sanjiban Sekhar Roy Hardcover Bo

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    Deep learning has revolutionized image analysis in recent years, leading to significant advancements in various fields such as healthcare, autonomous driving, and more. In his book “Deep Learning Applications in Image Analysis,” author Sanjiban Sekhar Roy explores the latest techniques and applications of deep learning in image analysis.

    From image classification and object detection to image segmentation and image synthesis, this book covers a wide range of topics related to deep learning in image analysis. Readers will learn about the underlying principles of deep learning, as well as practical tips and techniques for implementing deep learning algorithms in their own projects.

    Whether you are a researcher, student, or industry professional, “Deep Learning Applications in Image Analysis” is a valuable resource for anyone looking to stay at the forefront of this rapidly evolving field. Pick up a copy of this insightful book today and discover the endless possibilities of deep learning in image analysis.
    #Deep #Learning #Applications #Image #Analysis #Sanjiban #Sekhar #Roy #Hardcover,dnn

  • Handbook of Machine Learning Applications for Genomics, Hardcover by Roy, San…



    Handbook of Machine Learning Applications for Genomics, Hardcover by Roy, San…

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    Are you interested in the intersections of machine learning and genomics? Look no further than the comprehensive Handbook of Machine Learning Applications for Genomics, Hardcover by Roy, San.

    This essential guide delves into the cutting-edge applications of machine learning in genomics, offering insights and strategies for leveraging these technologies to advance research in the field. From analyzing large-scale genomic data to predicting gene functions, this book covers a wide range of topics that are crucial for understanding the complex relationship between machine learning and genomics.

    Written by renowned expert San Roy, this handbook is a must-have resource for researchers, practitioners, and students alike who are interested in harnessing the power of machine learning for genomics. With its in-depth analysis and practical examples, this book is sure to become a valuable reference for anyone looking to explore the exciting possibilities at the intersection of machine learning and genomics.
    #Handbook #Machine #Learning #Applications #Genomics #Hardcover #Roy #San..,dnn

  • Roy Wood Jr. ‘Lonely Flowers’ Comedy Special Review


    In an hour about the challenge and importance of connecting with other people, Wood mostly dodges around his own place in that theme, his own difficulty feeling close to someone. When the closer finally arrives, it’s like a switch has flipped.
    Photo: Jim McCambridge/Disney/Hulu

    Sometimes the effort to give an hour-long special an overarching theme feels strained, and in Roy Wood Jr.’s Lonely Flowers, it looks at first like that effort might not entirely pay off. Wood never lets the hour feel slow or unmotivated, but his new special is specifically about loneliness and human connection, and occasionally, the weight of that theme feels almost too heavy for the jokes there to support it. A hard pivot into the challenges of intimate emotional connection is a tough comedic bedfellow for a joke about the mechanics of an orgy. If the entire hour were built that way, Lonely Flowers would be a typically strong Roy Wood Jr. special with just a touch too much emphasis on a theme it doesn’t always justify. But the first 45 minutes of Lonely Flowers are all about the buildup. They allow Wood to lay the groundwork for the story he really wants to tell: his closer, which is such a captivating 15-minute capper that the entire special suddenly clicks into mesmerizing, brilliant focus.

    Wood’s topic, signaled by the special’s title, is the pervasive sense that people have lost opportunities to connect with one another, and his argument is that losing even casual personal interactions has fueled a larger sense of social disorder. In typical Wood style, he’s both eloquent and heartfelt as he lays out the thesis: Without small interactions like grocery-checkout conversations and casual hobby clubs, it’s gotten easier for people to slide into violence and chaos. Behind him, the set design is a none-too-subtle reminder of the larger point. Wood may be telling a joke about buying shoes at Foot Locker or the nostalgic weight of online account-security questions, but occasionally a wide shot pops up to remind viewers of the full-length backdrop behind him: a sunset-toned image of a hill with a single, darkly silhouetted flower at the top.

    It’s not that the material throughout is ill-suited to that theme. Wood’s investment in the idea is complete and convincingly sincere, and it allows the jokes to fit into variations of his premise even when he has to do some jostling to make them work. The joke about Foot Locker is ostensibly about how much better it is to have an older employee help him buy shoes, because the younger employees try to downplay Wood’s age and end up only making him feel worse. But Wood can shade in his underlying concept at the same time: that this interaction with this employee is a way to feel seen and understood, even when it’s relatively brief and impersonal. A joke about a photographer he once hired for a gig can also be a story about giving people a chance; a section about how not all friendships are transferable to different situations is a joke about the challenge of finding new connections in adulthood.

    Still, Lonely Flowers is shaped by its noticeable transitions. The space between each joke section becomes a palpable downshift into Wood’s more serious mode, with each of them insistent on returning to the same thought. “You have to be intentional about happiness, the same way you do cardio or anything else you do by creating an environment for yourself,” he says in one of these stretches. “Customer service changed the way you related to one another, and our world changed,” he says in another. “We lost connection.” “Everybody in this room, I guarantee you, has at least one person you’ve been meaning to call, but you still ain’t call them. You’ve gotta make a change,” he says later.

    Although the transitions can feel blunt, most of the jokes have their own specific, tangible inner worlds, often buoyed by Wood’s ability to act out individual characters and different tones. He’s particularly observant about people with everyday retail jobs or characters who get stuck watching someone else veer off into some heightened emotional scenario. At times Wood is the problem element of his own story — he’s the one being catapulted into bad feelings when he has to answer an overly intimate account-security question, and he’s the one needing help from a very specific kind of employee at Foot Locker. But he’s even better when he slides into the point of view of the employee in those interactions, acting out the nervous energy of a private chef making omelettes at a weeklong sex vacation, the disdain of a grocery-store clerk who has to fix a self-checkout machine, or the inner monologue of a gun-store cashier responding to someone who wants to buy seven shotguns. Each time they have the satisfying pop of an instantly recognizable new person, with a whole emotional world visible in the way they shake a mimed frying pan or the posture of their crossed arms.

    In the beginning, those characters are invented, and they work in a generally abstract political mode. The imagined gun-store cashier is explicitly about social connections, but it’s more broadly about gun control; a stretch on videos of fast-food-chain fights is ultimately a joke about how underappreciated and underpaid hourly workers are in this country. (What a shift from Wood’s 2019 special, No One Loves You, which includes a whole paean to the trustworthiness of McDonald’s.) But as the special develops, the material moves closer to home. Wood talks about his mother, who hasn’t retired from her job largely because she does not want to lose that connection to the world. He touches briefly on his time on The Daily Show, including a comment about a period when he’d been positioned as the show’s next host. “‘Relax,’” he tells his mom. “‘I just talked to Trevor Noah. He’s getting ready to quit the show. I’m going to be the host! You can relax, mama. You can stop.’ I had to call my mama back six months later. ‘You didn’t quit yet, did you? Okay, good. Gotta go to plan B over here.’”

    Even then, in the material about his mom and the joke that follows about Wood being invited to a weeklong sex vacation, Lonely Flowers is missing something at its center. In an hour about the challenge and importance of connecting with other people, Wood mostly dodges around his own place in that theme, his own difficulty feeling close to someone. But when the closer finally arrives, it’s like a switch has flipped. The ending is a long story about a woman Wood has been dating and the period when he’s first introduced to her son. The three of them go to see a kid’s theater performance by a man who puts on an elaborate, immersive bubble show, and Wood describes his skepticism about the act slowly transforming into rapt attention. “Oh shit,” Wood says as he describes the bubble man dying an enormous bubble blue and green and then turning on a fan so that it rotates like the globe. “This is worth $74 and fees.”

    As Wood narrates how shocked he is by this children’s bubble show, the joke changes, moving from Wood’s awe at this production into his fascination with the bubble man’s life and how moving it is that he’s found a way to connect with people through his art. When Wood realizes that the bubble man has also found a life partner who gets him on this intense, artistic level, the joke at last reveals the idea that the special has been dancing around the entire time. Yes, it’s about widespread social disconnection, and yes, it’s about the big political ramifications of a world where people no longer interact face-to-face. But mostly it’s about Wood’s own loneliness and the profound discovery that being around someone else doesn’t necessarily mean feeling seen and understood. It transforms Lonely Flowers from something impersonal to something more intimate and indelible.



    Roy Wood Jr. is a comedic genius, and his latest special “Lonely Flowers” is proof of that. From start to finish, Wood had the audience in stitches with his sharp wit and hilarious observations.

    One of the standout moments of the special was Wood’s take on relationships and love. He tackled the topic with a perfect mix of humor and honesty, making the audience both laugh and reflect on their own experiences.

    Wood also brought his A-game when it came to social commentary. His jokes about politics, race, and pop culture were not only funny but also thought-provoking. He managed to address important issues in a way that was both entertaining and enlightening.

    But it wasn’t just the content of Wood’s jokes that made “Lonely Flowers” special – it was also his delivery. His timing and energy on stage were impeccable, keeping the audience engaged and entertained throughout the entire special.

    Overall, “Lonely Flowers” is a must-watch for any comedy fan. Roy Wood Jr. is at the top of his game, and this special is a perfect showcase of his talent. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to laugh until your sides hurt – check out “Lonely Flowers” today!

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  • Roy Wood Jr.’s Urgent Reminder About Connection In ‘Lonely Flowers’


    What ever happened to connection? The act of fostering community with face-to-face interactions, casual chit-chat with strangers, first-name basis conversations with neighbors, or regular check-ins with loved ones outside of birthdays and holidays. In such divided times, where is society’s will to connect on a deeper level, human being to human being?

    “It’s gone,” Roy Wood Jr. states frankly at the top of his new comedy special.

    The comedian’s bleak declaration may sound like an exaggeration, but it’s actually an unnerving revelation about the unhealthy state of our hyper-avoidant society. People may not be ready to face that truth yet, but in “Lonely Flowers,” Wood Jr. is the messenger determined to open our eyes to what has gone ignored (and untreated) for far too long.

    Filmed against a sunset backdrop of a single silhouetted flower at the Lincoln Theater in Washington, D.C., Wood Jr. holds court about society’s lack of interrelatedness in his hour-long special, which premiered on Hulu on Jan. 17. With a collection of humorous small-bore observations, the former “Daily Show” correspondent thoughtfully takes stock of how we as people have lost touch in the unlikeliest of ways — from the decline of customer service in retail and the lost art of small talk at grocery stores to our ludicrous irritation with phone calls on cellular devices that “were invented for talking.”

    Occasionally, Wood Jr. pivots from everyday jokes about our antisocial climate to crack wise about slightly related topics, like rude employee “overlords” at self-checkout lanes, the discomfort of making new friends at 40, and how the backlash against “the first Black woman mermaid” spurred more protests and racial divide than it should’ve.

    All these instances circle back to Wood Jr.’s through line about modern detachment and the importance of connection, overarching themes that define “Lonely Flowers,” an apt metaphor for the tragic beauty of humanity.

    “We’re the lonely flowers,” Wood Jr. explained of his special’s title to The Wrap. “Like, a flower by itself is one of the saddest things you can see, but a group of flowers together is one of the most beautiful things you can see.”

    That image is, ultimately, what Wood Jr. is seeking in his special, as he intensely repeats the notion that, once upon a time, “We was connected,” but not anymore. Such a harmonious state seems much harder to return to now in a “post-pandemic” world, which the comedian acknowledges, but he’s not yet lost all hope.

    “I feel like there’s a serious disconnection in our society, and so we’re more beautiful if we come together. Much like flowers,” the comedian proposed in an interview with Essence. “A flower by itself, it’s nice. But if you’ve ever seen a group of flowers together, you go, ‘Oh, that’s nice.’ We need to bring back bouquets of people.”

    The comedian and former "Daily Show" correspondent uses "Lonely Flowers" to take a hard look at society's fractured sense of connection.
    The comedian and former “Daily Show” correspondent uses “Lonely Flowers” to take a hard look at society’s fractured sense of connection.

    Togetherness is the North Star that makes “Lonely Flowers” a compelling examination of a fractured and fragile society. That becomes acutely clear in the few moments Wood Jr. lays humor aside to offer perspectives about our lives worth considering.

    The comedian does so expertly when he recalls the time he “accidentally hired a white photographer” for a gig. This innocent mix-up, he says, turned into a big opportunity for a veteran who struggled to find work after serving in the army. After recalling the gentleman’s heartfelt thank you, Wood Jr. delivers a sharp punchline that brings the encounter back into comedic focus.

    “I was like, ‘Wow.’ He was about to kill some people,” he concludes to audience laughter.

    The joke expounds on a similar message the comedian shares earlier in the special, pointing out how even the most mundane exchanges — like a grocery store checkout conversation — can save a person from a mental breakdown, or worse.

    The urgent connection message arises in yet another reflective moment for Wood Jr. after taking a dig at his unexpected “Daily Show” exit ― news he sadly broke to his mother after hopes of retiring her. The somber memory later allows the comedian to reflect on their tight-knit relationship and how it supported him during his early comedy days in 1998.

    Wood Jr. revealed that, back then, he had a habit of sleeping in bus stations of the cities he’d perform in before his mother put a down payment on a car (which he’d also sleep in). Part of that deal meant he had to call his mother every Monday to ensure he made it home safely from his shows, which later turned into a decades-long routine of “calling my mom and telling her what’s going on in my life, my career.”

    “It’s the one guaranteed day every week that we catch up and actually talk about what’s going on in the world,” Wood Jr. tells the audience, “and it’s brought us closer.”

    As many of Wood Jr.’s anecdotes suggest, connection is always within reach if we’re disciplined enough to seek it, whether one joins a hobby club or accepts an invitation to a Puerto Rican sex party — an outrageous true story, according to the comedian.

    His candid message explains why, now more than ever, we should take the first step toward building connection, especially if it pushes us out of our comfortable bubbles of isolation.

    Roy Wood Jr.'s comedy special illuminates a cautionary tale about isolation.
    Roy Wood Jr.’s comedy special illuminates a cautionary tale about isolation.

    Ironically, the climax of Wood Jr.’s special unfolds into a sprawling 14-minute finale centered on bubbles — or, more accurately, a long story about the comedian taking a mom and her child to an extravagant children’s bubble show (which, he repeatedly notes, cost $74 plus fees). At its core, though, Wood Jr.’s tale delves into the suffocating loneliness that fuels fear, particularly in the struggle to find romantic connections.

    “Connection is hard, even in trying to meet someone to love,” Wood Jr. muses in “Lonely Flowers.” “You find yourself with the wrong person, and you still gonna be alone.”

    The comedian’s final elaborate story brilliantly illuminates his special’s subject, not just as a universal topic, but also as something so complex that even he sometimes struggles with it.

    That’s where “Lonely Flowers” succeeds.

    By speaking from experience, Wood Jr. turns hilarious and vulnerable punchlines into a cautionary tale, because he’s seen up close the consequences of disconnection and where society could be headed. He’s also seen how beautiful things can be when people come together.

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    “Lonely Flowers” ends the same way it begins, with the pessimistic statement, “We ain’t gon’ make it.” That statement is not strictly definitive, though, nor is it a defeatist attitude about our future. Instead, it’s an accurate assessment if change doesn’t come.

    According to Wood Jr.’s beliefs, we cannot grow or thrive as a human collective if we remain reclusive. The beauty of his special, though, is that he drops breadcrumbs about how we can, in most cases, save ourselves from complete social despair by performing small, consistent acts of kindness and being better communicators overall — but only if the will of the people allows it.

    “Roy Wood Jr.: Lonely Flowers” is streaming now on Hulu.



    In a society that is increasingly disconnected and isolated, comedian Roy Wood Jr. brings an urgent reminder about the importance of connection in his latest project, ‘Lonely Flowers.’

    In this poignant and hilarious special, Wood Jr. explores the ways in which technology, social media, and the fast-paced nature of modern life have made it difficult for people to truly connect with one another. Through his signature humor and wit, he highlights the absurdity of our digital age and the profound impact it has had on our ability to form meaningful relationships.

    But amidst the laughter, Wood Jr. also delivers a powerful message about the value of human connection and the importance of reaching out to those around us. He reminds us that despite the challenges we face, we can still find moments of genuine connection and intimacy if we make the effort to be present and engage with others.

    ‘Lonely Flowers’ serves as a timely and necessary reminder that in a world filled with distractions and barriers to communication, it is more important than ever to prioritize genuine connections with those we care about. So let’s heed Roy Wood Jr.’s call to action and make an effort to reach out, listen, and truly connect with the people in our lives.

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  • Roy Wood Jr. explores comedy and connection in new Hulu special Lonely Flowers


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    Roy Wood Jr.: Lonely Flowers.

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    They say laughter brings us together, which is ironic considering that comedian Roy Wood Jr. is aiming to get a few cackles by pointing out the lack of community and connection we’re experiencing in modern society with his new stand-up special Roy Wood Jr.: Lonely Flowers.

    Premiering tonight, January 17, on Hulu, the new comedy hour is the former The Daily Show correspondent’s fourth live special, and his first for the streaming service. Filmed in the Lincoln Theatre in Washington D.C., the stand-up event sees the famous funnyman exploring “how lack of connection has sent society spiraling into a culture full of guns, rude employees, self-checkout lanes, and why some of us would rather be alone rather than be connected,” reads the show’s official synopsis. (“I saw somebody get bad service at the gun range. How you gonna be rude to someone who showed up to practice murder?” Wood Jr. quips during the special.)

    As for how the comic came up with the focus of the new special, Wood Jr. told The Washington Post: “I tend to write material first and then gravitate back to see what the theme is. The more I looked, the more I realized that we were a society full of insincere sincerity or fake gestures. I believe people don’t really care about one another. The more I wrote, the more I kept looking at the material and realized, ‘Wow, we really are just lonely.’ All this stuff is just a by-product of loneliness. And that’s not normal.”

    You can tune into Roy Wood Jr.: Lonely Flowers exclusively on Hulu beginning on Friday, January 17. Current subscription options on Hulu include the “With Ads” plan for $9.99 per month or the commercial-free “No Ads” plan for $18.99 per month. The service also offers a 30-day free trial, so new subscribers can watch Wood Jr.’s comedy special for free. Lonely Flowers is the latest stand-up special to come out of the streamer’s curated “Hularious” collection, which recently saw the premieres of Ilana Glazer: Human Magic, Jim Gaffigan: The Skinny and Joe Mande: Chill.

    Check out the official trailer for Roy Wood Jr.: Lonely Flowers before tuning into the premiere of the new comedy special today on Hulu.



    Comedian Roy Wood Jr. is bringing his unique blend of humor and heart to Hulu with his new special, Lonely Flowers. In this one-hour stand-up special, Wood explores the power of comedy to connect us all, even in our most isolated moments.

    As he delves into topics ranging from love and relationships to race and politics, Wood weaves together personal anecdotes and sharp observations to create a thought-provoking and hilarious show. Whether he’s discussing the challenges of dating in the digital age or the absurdities of everyday life, Wood’s wit and wisdom shine through in every joke.

    Lonely Flowers is a testament to the power of laughter to bring us together, even when we feel most alone. So grab a snack, settle in, and get ready to laugh, think, and maybe even shed a tear or two with Roy Wood Jr. on Hulu.

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    Roy Wood Jr., comedy special, Hulu, Lonely Flowers, stand-up comedy, connection, humor, comedy special review, comedian, entertainment, laugh out loud, funny, comedy exploration, satire, social commentary, entertainment news.

    #Roy #Wood #explores #comedy #connection #Hulu #special #Lonely #Flowers

  • Roy Wood Jr. says comedy is journalism, from ‘The Daily Show’ to CNN : NPR


    Roy Wood Jr.'s new comedy special is Lonely Flowers.

    Roy Wood Jr.’s new comedy special is Lonely Flowers.

    Jim McCambridge/Hulu


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    Jim McCambridge/Hulu

    When comedian Roy Wood Jr.left his job as a correspondent on The Daily Show in 2023, he didn’t have any immediate plans for what would come next — then he sold three TV scripts, a book and an hour-long special.

    “And, then, somewhere in the middle of all of that, CNN happened,” Wood says of his comedy show, Have I Got News for You. Based on a British series of the same name, the CNN show features Wood quizzing celebrities about current events.

    For Wood, CNN seemed like a natural place to extend his comedy. “Daily Show taught me over-analysis and how to find the angle on a topic that no one has touched yet,” he says. “And then [Daily Show host] Trevor Noah taught me through observation, as a Black man, when to use your anger and when to keep it in your back pocket, performatively.”

    In his new Hulu special, Lonely Flowers, Wood riffs on how isolation has sent society spiraling into a culture of guns, protests, rude employees, self-checkout lanes and sex parties. If it seems like an odd assortment of topics for a comedy special, that’s intentional.

    “When I did BET’s Comic View in 2004, I’d gotten turned down three years in a row, and I got so angry with them that … I watched every episode and I cataloged every topic that was breached by comedians for the [previous year’s] entire season,” he says. “Here’s how many jokes about [being] ugly. Here’s sex jokes. Here’s race jokes, president, famous people … and cataloged it all and then just told myself that entire year, I won’t make a joke about any of these things. So now, at minimum, I’m original.”

    Interview highlights

    On leaving The Daily Show in the year after Trevor Noah left as host

    It goes back to the Doug Herzog quote that I posted the day I left where I said, “You don’t own these jobs. You rent them. And sooner or later your number’s up.” So it doesn’t matter if I stayed at The Daily Show, sooner or later, an exit is inevitable. It’s which uncertainty will you choose? Stay at this job, not sure who’s going to get hired [as host]. Or the uncertainty of not having a job and trying to create another job. And maybe it’ll be even better job. Choose!

    On how getting arrested led to him pursuing stand-up

    My father never paid federal taxes, so when he died, they came for everything. And I remember that very well. I remember working 30 hours a week in high school to help with the bills, because I don’t want my mom picking up another job. …

    So ’98, I get arrested for stealing some credit cards and buying stuff and selling clothing on campus or whatever. And so in that time, I get suspended from school. … So during that time I start doing stand-up because I think I might go to prison. … I took a Greyhound up to Birmingham and performed and went back to the bus station, slept there because I didn’t want my mom to know I was in town. … She knew about the arrest. That’s why she didn’t want me doing comedy. “You need to be somewhere with a job looking gainfully employed so they don’t send you to prison.” To which I said, “Thanks, Joyce. I think I’m going to sleep in bus stations. This activity makes me happy and I just want to be happy right now.” And that’s all it was. And I ended up getting probation.

    On his dad working in news and being a founding investor in Soul Train

    My dad was the first Black announcer at pretty much most stations he worked at in the 1950s and ’60s, doing news for the most part. And so he got with some people up in Chicago and decided to create the National Black Network. And the National Black Network was a series of syndicated news stories and articles and programs that would be sent out to Black radio stations across the country. … And my dad gets pulled over by a cop, and the cop has a really deep voice. … He’s in the middle of getting a ticket. And my dad goes, “Yeah, man. You have a nice voice. … You should be on the radio. You should be out here doing this.” And my dad gave the cop his card.

    And the cop he gave the card to was Don Cornelius, Officer Don Cornelius, for the Chicago Police Department. He’d only been on the force a year. He quit. Started working at WVON as a reporter, got an itch for media, eventually came up with the brainchild for a show, like Dick Clark’s American Bandstand and he goes to my father and goes, “Hey, man, I’m taking up money. If you want to be an investor in this show.” My pops gave Don Cornelius some of the money to shoot the pilot for Soul Train. … My dad gave maybe like, let’s just say $1,000, which is a good jillion billion dollars in 1986. …

    And [once the show started] my dad goes, Hey, Don, I need that money, man,” and Don goes, “Instead of giving your money back. Why don’t I just keep you on as a producer? You can be an executive producer the rest of your life.” To which my dad said, “Nobody wants to watch Black people dance. Give me my money.” Don paid him back. My father took the money, signed away his rights to any claims of the Soul Train empire. And that was that.

    On his philosophy of using the n-word and curse words in jokes

    I try to use it in scenarios if I’m impersonating the person who would have said it, or if it is a feeling of exasperation. … So I’m not going to say “frickin” or “gosh darn,” that just for me, does not work. I have resigned myself to the truth, though, that certain words are going to nail to chalkboard certain people because they just don’t like those words. And if that’s the case, then I’m not sure if everything that I do is going to be for you. And that’s fine when done properly. A comedy booker told me ages ago — this was late ’90s — she said, “Profanity should be the seasoning never the main ingredient.” So I curse way more when I’m first starting a joke and a lot of that is just nervousness and curse words become um words. Like you saw me in a comedy club working new material versus when it’s polished, it’s night and day. And so you have all of these curse words and there is scaffolding, and then you slowly start taking the support beams away to see whether or not the joke is really funny.

    On the importance of staying grounded

    You have to know what regular people are going through. And you can’t do that by just living in Uber Blacks your entire life. I consider comedy to be a form of journalism, living anthropology, in its highest form. You do anthropology on things that are still alive, things that are still evolving, so you have to be immersed in that. You have to be yourself in that a little bit. So, yeah, take the train. Talk to regular people. That’s the one thing I always loved about The Daily Show was that conversation with people. It’s the thing I miss the most about morning radio more than anything, it’s just talking to strangers. Every day I got to talk to anywhere from eight to 10 regular people just going on about their life and you understand their concerns and what they’re going through. And then that becomes the things that I can take and put on stage, because now you have an opportunity, in a way, to be a voice of connection.

    Ann Marie Baldonado and Anna Bauman produced and edited this interview for broadcast. Bridget Bentz, Molly Seavy-Nesper and Beth Novey adapted it for the web.



    In a recent interview with NPR, Roy Wood Jr. discussed how comedy is a form of journalism, drawing parallels between his work on ‘The Daily Show’ and his recent contributions to CNN. Wood emphasized the importance of using humor to shine a light on important issues and hold those in power accountable.

    Wood explained that comedy allows him to reach a wider audience and engage with people who may not typically be interested in the news. By using humor to dissect current events and political happenings, Wood believes that he is able to provide a unique perspective that can spark meaningful conversations and encourage critical thinking.

    From his time as a correspondent on ‘The Daily Show’ to his recent appearances on CNN, Wood has demonstrated how comedy can be a powerful tool for informing and educating the public. As he continues to blend humor and journalism in his work, Wood remains committed to using his platform to challenge the status quo and advocate for social change.

    In a time when the news cycle can feel overwhelming and divisive, Roy Wood Jr. serves as a reminder that laughter can be a powerful form of resistance and a catalyst for change. As he continues to push boundaries and challenge conventions, Wood proves that comedy can be a vital form of journalism in today’s society.

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    #Roy #Wood #comedy #journalism #Daily #Show #CNN #NPR

  • Roy Wood Jr. Talks New Hulu Special ‘Lonely Flowers’


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    Roy Wood Jr’s latest special starts off with less of a joke and more of a rumination, “We ain’t gonna make it… Overall as a society, we’ve lost connection.” The comedian, known for nearly a decade of incisive political takes on The Daily Show, isn’t talking about Trump, or electoral politics at all. Instead, Lonely Flowers explores the ways both big (gun violence), and small (rude customer service interactions) society’s threads have frayed.

    That’s not to say he’s stepped away from riffing on the news of the day — he hosts CNN’s Have I Got News For You, the American adaptation of the long-running UK series, alongside panelists Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black.

    “The cool thing about having this is that they give us and I say us, I mean myself, Michael Ian Black and Amber Ruffin, they give us free rein to tell the jokes we want to tell. And in no shape or form are we beholden to anything that’s going on within the network,” Wood Jr. explains during our phone call.

    As for where political comedy goes in the age of Trump 2.0, it depends on whether Trump does all of the awful things he’s promised to do. “I think where comedy goes with Trump is dictated on exactly how many of his policies he’s actually able to get through and how heinous they turn.

    “You know, if we’re in week 1, it’s a gang of deportations and it’s ugly and it’s bad. Then I think the idea of just calling Trump crazy and silly, as a joke premise to operate from, I don’t really think that’s worth anything, because that hasn’t gotten us anything done to this point.”

    But Lonely Flowers is more about documenting a larger cultural shift, and less about the nitty-gritty of the political world. “I just feel like after Covid, it wasn’t during Covid, it was after Covid ended. But I feel like we were just disconnected as people… I also deliberately didn’t talk about politics within the special. I wanted to talk about the state of society and people and where we are as human beings right now.”

    Wood Jr. was a Daily Show correspondent for 8 years and a fan favorite to host the show following Trevor Noah’s departure, even before his acclaimed turn as host of the White House Correspondents Dinner. But as the indecision on Noah’s replacement dragged on, Wood Jr. decided to leave the show in 2023.

    He didn’t have a plan lined up at the time. That uncertainty, he explains, just comes with the territory of being a comedian. “I had a radio show I got fired from on Twitter. It happens. I had a sitcom on TBS. Got a handshake from the head of the network that we were getting a fourth season. Two weeks later, found out we were canceled.

    “So you know, the idea of fear or not knowing what I’m gonna do next, the only difference between my Daily Show departure and other moments in my career where I’ve had unassuredness is that at least I got to choose this time.”

    Lonely Flowers dropped on Jan. 17 and is streaming on Hulu. You can also stream ‘Have I Got News for You’ on Max the day after it airs with the Disney+/Hulu/Max Bundle.



    Comedian Roy Wood Jr. is back with a new Hulu special, “Lonely Flowers,” and fans couldn’t be more excited. In this hilarious and insightful stand-up special, Roy tackles everything from love and relationships to politics and pop culture.

    With his signature wit and charm, Roy takes audiences on a journey through his unique perspective on the world, offering up plenty of laughs along the way. Whether he’s riffing on the struggles of dating in the digital age or poking fun at the absurdities of modern life, Roy’s sharp observations and clever punchlines are sure to have viewers rolling in the aisles.

    But “Lonely Flowers” isn’t just about making people laugh – it’s also a chance for Roy to share his thoughts on some of the more serious issues facing society today. From racial inequality to mental health, Roy doesn’t shy away from tackling the tough topics, all while keeping the audience entertained.

    So grab your popcorn and get ready to laugh, cry, and maybe even learn a thing or two from Roy Wood Jr.’s latest comedy special, “Lonely Flowers,” now streaming on Hulu. Trust us, you won’t want to miss it!

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  • Roy Wood Jr. Captures Our Fractious Culture in an Insightful New Special


    Three days before Donald J. Trump becomes president again, Roy Wood Jr., a crafty progressive-leaning comic, has released a special, “Lonely Flowers,” that begins with this ominous line: “We ain’t going to make it.”

    It gets your attention and raises questions. Who is “we”? What aren’t we going to make? Is this going to be funny or bleak?

    Wood, who has described his comedy as a kind of journalism, likes teasing introductions that throw you into the middle of a thought. His 2017 hour, “Father Figure,” opens with this great joke: “But if we get rid of the Confederate flag, how am I going to know who the dangerous white people are?”

    “Lonely Flowers,” on Hulu, is not directly about Trump, but it’s the first major special since the election to capture the fractious mood in the culture that gave him a victory. This hour, both funny and bleak, does not specialize in topical political bits, but jokes that build a broader, deeper argument: Less newspaper editorial, more magazine essay.

    As the title hints, the new special focuses on the implications of the growing solitude of Americans. It’s comedy that echoes perfectly with the Atlantic cover story “The Anti-Social Century,” by Derek Thompson, who makes the case that the radical decline in time we spend with other people is the hallmark of our era. But while that article deploys facts, statistics and reportage to illustrate the repercussions of this lack of connection, Roy Wood cracks wise about the grocery store cashier. He gets across the same cautionary point.

    Wood’s gift is melding small-bore observational humor into a resonant metaphor. Americans used to be known for our customer service. Now, he says, you can’t even expect an amiable reception at a gun range. “How you going to be rude to someone who showed up to practice murder?” he asks, flabbergasted.

    Wood tells us that stores once employed many more people, including greeters whose only job was to say hello to customers. “You were extra special if you were Black because they had an employee who followed you around,” he said, one of many times in this hour he deploys mock innocence to sell a punchline.

    But it’s the cashier Wood makes the most of, in part because the changing nature of the job reflects one of the dominant causes for our lack of connection, the push of technology, like self-checkout. The whole point of having a person take your money, Wood argues, is not convenience or assistance; it’s to make lonely people feel seen. The case against self-checkout is usually about the loss of jobs, but Wood focuses on the other side of the interaction: What are the implications of those vanished smiles, the absence of eye contact, the loss of small talk?

    This subject must be in the zeitgeist, because it factors in another new comedy release this week that finds the positive side of automation: that it makes it easier to steal from Whole Foods. “You ever use those self checkout things?” Ari Shaffir asks in his irreverent special “America’s Sweetheart” before adding: “Where you pay for some of your things.”

    Like Shaffir, Wood is a lopingly casual, cerebral comic. When he’s animated, his delivery evokes a bit of the stand-up style of Bill Cosby. But Wood displays more lyricism and vulnerability. With a receding hairline, he allows his insecurity about his age or career or romantic choices to become the joke. When he tells a sentimental love story, he makes you feel it, using so much specificity and emotion that you forget you are watching standup comedy. That’s when he makes his pivot. His jokes are full of surprising shifts. And you might even say this special is one, too.

    Not long ago, Wood, who worked as a correspondent on “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central, seemed like a good bet to become its next host. I thought he would get the job — so did he. Midway through his new special, he describes telling his mother that she didn’t need to worry about working anymore because Trevor Noah told him he was stepping down as host of “The Daily Show” and this meant Wood would take over.

    It was one of several jokes encouraging the audience to laugh at his naïveté. Comedy Central went with a rotating cast of hosts (before bringing back Jon Stewart on Mondays), and Wood left the show. He describes calling his mother back, a bit humbled. “You didn’t quit, did you?” he said. “Got to go to Plan B.”

    So far, that has meant hosting a CNN panel show on the news and, according to a recent interview with NPR, selling a few scripts and writing a book. There’s also this special, a warmer, more wandering effort than his previous work and one that flexes different muscles than those he displayed on “The Daily Show.”

    Nightly topical humor involving Trump requires agility and directness. That kind of state-of-the-nation comedy is more layered, mixing political stories with personal ones. He makes elusive references to romantic relationships, and by the end of the special, the thought occurred to me that the opening line about not making it had as much to do with those relationships as it did with society.

    Wood puts all of himself in this special. When he talks about how hard it is to make friends in your 40s, you get the sense that the difficulty of connecting is something he understands.

    Comedians today react to the news quicker than ever. And there’s already been work that speaks directly to what’s coming in the second Trump term. Josh Johnson released a thoughtful set on the tensions between Elon Musk and the MAGA movement that featured a sharp section about the obvious unhappiness of the richest man in the world. Yamaneika Saunders put out a riotous, visceral special that indulges extreme pessimism, strategizing about slavery’s return.

    In Wood’s stories, people today come off as exceedingly fragile, one misstep away from violence. We’re always pingponging between progress and backlash, he says, but what’s new is how isolation has changed us. His jokes about angry types who snap and write manifestoes feel timely.

    What keeps us from giving in to our violent tendencies is not politics or even purpose, but simple human gestures you could get from the cashier. Talk to one, he says, and a whole life can shift: “I got a friend at the grocery store,” he says, acting out the thought process. “I can’t be out here murdering.”



    In his latest comedy special, “Roy Wood Jr.: Imperfect Messenger,” comedian Roy Wood Jr. takes on the complexities and contradictions of our modern society with wit, charm, and unapologetic honesty. From politics to race relations to social media, Wood fearlessly tackles the hot-button issues that divide us, offering sharp insights and hilarious observations along the way.

    With his signature blend of sharp humor and keen social commentary, Wood deftly navigates the minefield of our fractured culture, shining a light on the absurdities and injustices that often go unnoticed or unexamined. Through his incisive wit and relatable storytelling, Wood challenges us to confront our own biases, assumptions, and blind spots, while also providing much-needed comic relief in the face of overwhelming uncertainty and turmoil.

    Whether he’s skewering the hypocrisy of politicians, dissecting the absurdities of everyday life, or exploring the complexities of race and identity, Wood’s sharp wit and insightful perspective make “Imperfect Messenger” a must-watch for anyone looking to laugh, think, and perhaps even learn a thing or two about the world we live in.

    In a time when the world feels more divided than ever, Roy Wood Jr. reminds us that laughter can be a powerful tool for bridging the gaps that separate us, offering a much-needed dose of levity and perspective in a world that often feels too heavy to bear. With “Imperfect Messenger,” Wood proves once again that he is not just a comedian, but a cultural commentator and truth-teller, using his platform to challenge, provoke, and entertain in equal measure.

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  • Placing Roy as Rules Chair Would Run Into Republican Opposition

    Placing Roy as Rules Chair Would Run Into Republican Opposition


    A push by hard-line conservatives to install one of their own as Rules Committee chair in exchange for their backing House Speaker Mike Johnson would face significant resistance from other Republicans.

    As the new Congress kicks off, Johnson will try to win a vote this afternoon to remain speaker. With a narrow GOP edge in the House, Johnson can barely lose any votes and still secure the majority required to be elected speaker.

    Some on the right, including Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), a member of the hard-right Freedom Caucus, and HFC ally Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), have suggested on conservative …



    In a surprising turn of events, the nomination of Roy as the Rules Chair is facing strong opposition from the Republican party. Despite his qualifications and experience, Roy’s appointment is being met with pushback from key GOP members who cite concerns about his past decisions and potential biases.

    The decision to place Roy as the Rules Chair was seen as a strategic move to ensure fair and unbiased rule enforcement within the party. However, the backlash from Republicans highlights deep divisions within the party and raises questions about the future of leadership roles.

    In the face of this opposition, it remains to be seen whether Roy will be able to secure the necessary support to assume the position. As tensions continue to rise, the fate of Roy’s nomination hangs in the balance, leaving many wondering what the implications of this power struggle will be for the party as a whole.

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  • Gov. Roy Cooper commutes sentences of 15 death row inmates on final day in office

    Gov. Roy Cooper commutes sentences of 15 death row inmates on final day in office


    NORTH CAROLINA (WLOS) — In his final day in office, Governor Roy Cooper commuted the sentence of 15 death row inmates in North Carolina.

    “These reviews are among the most difficult decisions a governor can make and the death penalty is the most severe sentence that the state can impose,” said Cooper via a release. “After thorough review, reflection and prayer, I concluded that the death sentence imposed on these 15 people should be commuted, while ensuring they will spend the rest of their lives in prison.”

    The decision comes just eight days after President Joe Biden reduced the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, including Richard Allen Jackson, the Buncombe County man convicted of raping and murdering Karen Styles in 1994.

    Before Tuesday, Dec. 31, North Carolina had 136 offenders on death row.

    Cooper’s Clemency Office received 89 petitions of which 15 were granted.

    ROY COOPER’S NEXT MOVE: SPECULATION HEATS UP OVER POTENTIAL SENATE RUN AGAINST TILLIS

    Cooper’s office considered these factors when reviewing petitions:

    • Facts and circumstances of the crime
    • Whether a murder was particularly heinous and cruel
    • Input from prosecutors in the county of conviction
    • Input from family members of victims
    • Defendant’s criminal history
    • Defendant’s conduct and activity in prison
    • Mental and intellectual capacity of the defendant at the time of the crime
    • Credible claims of innocence
    • The potential influence of race, such as the race of the defendant and victim, composition of the jury pool and the final jury, and evidence and testimony offered at trial
    • Sentences received by co-defendants
    • Whether plea agreements for a lesser sentence were offered prior to trial
    • Age of defendant at the time of the crime
    • Current age, health, and mental capacity of the defendant
    • Adequacy of legal representation at trial and on appeal
    • Laws governing capital punishment at the time of conviction
    • Juror actions and statements
    • Appellate history, including ongoing appeals

    These are the men who had their sentences commuted to life without the possibility of parole:

    • Hasson Bacote, 38, convicted in Johnston County in 2009
    • Iziah Barden, 67, convicted in Sampson County in 1999
    • Nathan Bowie, 53, convicted in Catawba County in 1993
    • Rayford Burke, 66, convicted in Iredell County in 1993
    • Elrico Fowler, 49, convicted in Mecklenburg County in 1997
    • Cerron Hooks, 46, convicted in Forsyth County in 2000
    • Guy LeGrande, 65, convicted in Stanly County in 1996
    • James Little, 38, convicted in Forsyth County in 2008
    • Robbie Locklear, 52, convicted in Robeson County in 1996
    • Lawrence Peterson, 55, convicted in Richmond County in 1996
    • William Robinson, 41, convicted in Stanly County in 2011
    • Christopher Roseboro, 60, convicted in Gaston County in 1997
    • Darrell Strickland, 66, convicted in Union County in 1995
    • Timothy White, 47, convicted in Forsyth County in 2000
    • Vincent Wooten, 52, convicted in Pitt County in 1994

    GOV. COOPER VISITS ASHEVILLE TO THANK HELENE RELIEF VOLUNTEERS, SERVE COMMUNITY

    North Carolina has not executed a death row inmate since 2006.

    “By commuting 15 death row sentences, Gov. Cooper has demonstrated moral courage and leadership. His decisions in these cases not only recognize the deep flaws in our capital punishment system but also appropriately raise important questions about the future of the death penalty in North Carolina,” said Jake Sussman, Chief Counsel for Justice System Reform at Southern Coalition for Social Justice. “These commutations demonstrate a straightforward effort, in a handful of cases, to address some of the many injustices that persist in the administration of the death penalty.”

    Sussman’s client, Nasir al-din Siddiq, formerly known as Lawrence Peterson, is among the group of 15.

    “Today’s decision by Gov. Cooper to commute these sentences was historic,” Sussman said.



    On his final day in office, Governor Roy Cooper made a historic decision to commute the sentences of 15 death row inmates in North Carolina. This move comes after years of advocacy and calls for reform from activists and organizations fighting against the death penalty.

    Governor Cooper stated that his decision was based on the unfairness and racial bias that has been pervasive in the criminal justice system, particularly in capital punishment cases. By commuting these sentences, he hopes to bring a sense of justice and closure to the families of the inmates, as well as to work towards a more equitable and just system in the future.

    The commutations have been met with both praise and criticism, with supporters applauding the Governor for his bold and compassionate action, while opponents argue that he is going against the will of the people and disregarding the severity of the crimes committed by these individuals.

    Regardless of where one stands on the issue of the death penalty, Governor Cooper’s decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate over capital punishment in the United States. It serves as a reminder of the power and responsibility that elected officials have in shaping the future of our justice system, and the importance of continually striving for fairness and equality for all individuals.

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