Beyond the Scenes from The Daily Show

Critical Race Theory has become the right wing’s new boogeyman, but no one seems to even know how to define it. Leading scholar, Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw, and producer CJ Hunt join host Roy Wood Jr. to break down what CRT actually is, why it’s necessary, and how ignoring the blowback could endanger years of progress.   Original air date: September 21, 2021   Watch the original segments: https:/...

From the sex-shaming of early cinema legend Hedy Lamarr to trapping Jane Fonda in an exploding orgasm piano, Hollywood’s relationship to female sexuality is complicated, controlling and sometimes just plain weird. Roy is joined by correspondent Desi Lydic and Daily Show writer Kat Radley for a stimulating discussion about the depiction of female pleasure onscreen.   Watch the original segment:  ht...

Esports competitions have seen a boom in popularity in recent years with some of the highest paid players making up to six figures. Celebrities like Drake and Post Malone have even invested in the sport. Host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with Daily Show correspondent Michael Kosta and LA Thieves Call of Duty player Sam “Octane” Larew to break down the similarities and differences between traditional and...

Conservatives are outraged by kids’ exposure to drag shows and there’s been an increase in protests at drag events. But drag dates all the way back to ancient societies and Shakespearean theater. Host Roy Wood Jr. chats with the star of HBO’s We’re Here, Bob the Drag Queen, Princeton journalism professor,  Channing Joseph, and author of the book, Drag: Combing Through The Big Wigs of Show Business...

The Rooney Rule came into effect in 2003 to increase the number of Black head coaches in the NFL. Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the league exposed how team owners don’t take this rule as seriously as they should. Host Roy Wood Jr. sits with CBS Mornings co-host, Nate Burleson, and former New York Jets coach, Collette V. Smith, to discuss the lack of diversity in the NFL’s head coaching positions a...

Leslie Jones, The Daily Show's first guest host, is back for a special episode to chat about her week behind the desk. Leslie sits down with host Roy Wood Jr, along with her co-host of The fckry Podcast, Lenny Marcus to discuss how SNL prepared her for this role, what advice Chris Rock gave her, why she wanted to tackle men’s mental health on the show, and the backstories she created for each of t...

Lewis Black, the Daily Show’s longest serving contributor, joins host Roy Wood Jr. to talk rage, comedy and how the show, and satire in general, have evolved over his 25 year tenure.   Original air date: November 9, 2021   Check out some Back in Black segments: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheDailyShow/search?query=back%20in%20black See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more abou...

Are we being brainwashed by cop shows? Daily Show producer Madeleine Kuhns and writer Ashton Womack join Roy to look at the legacy and popularity of policing onscreen, and how it shapes our relationship with police in the real world.    Watch the original segment: https://youtu.be/s_L-ingGsxY   Original air date: September 21, 2021 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more ab...

The porn industry and sex work are often stigmatized, but adult performers face racism, discrimination, and pay disparities within the industry. Host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with Daily Show segment director Stacey Angeles and adult entertainers and co-creators of the adult film production company, Royal Fetish Films, Jet Setting Jasmine and King Noire to discuss how the porn industry perpetuates ra...

The current federal minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13 and has not increased since 2009. Meanwhile, disabled employees can legally be paid less than their non-disabled counterparts, earning as little as 25 cents per hour. Host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with Daily Show researcher Stephanie O. and the President of One Fair Wage, Saru Jayaraman to discuss how the subminimum wage is legal, how tipp...

From a young age, boys are inundated with messages that teach them not to cry, openly express emotions, or show any sign of weakness for fear of appearing weak or feminine. And as a result, men experience a lack of intimacy and close friendships. Host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with the co-founder of  “A Call to Men,” Ted Bunch, and developmental psychology professor at NYU, Niobe Way, to chat about h...

President Biden's Infrastructure bill aims to address racism in America's highway design. In this episode, host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with Daily Show writer Randall Otis and ACLU President Deborah Archer to discuss how the initial construction of  U.S. highways displaced and destroyed thriving  Black communities, the legacy of racist transportation policies, and how to repair and rebuild highways...

While America has made progress in removing confederate statues from public squares, many remain standing. Director of the PBS documentary The Neutral Ground, CJ Hunt, and founder of Project Say Something, Camille Goldston Bennett, join Roy Wood Jr. to discuss why these monuments were erected in the first place, how many are left, what’s being done on the ground to remove them, and where they shou...

The number of white Brooklyn residents has increased over the years while Black residents have been displaced. Host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with Daily Show segment producer, Jordana Hemingway and urban planner and Pratt Institute professor, Ronald Shiffman to discuss how gentrification directly impacts the displacement of people and culture, the relationship between gentrification and policing, and...

Books are being banned from schools and public libraries at alarming rates, and stories from LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC authors are disproportionately being pulled from shelves. How do book bans harm learning and access to information? What do these challenges say about the American educational system? Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom a...

This past Sunday marked eight years since the killing of Cecil the Lion. Cecil’s death started a debate over the humanity of trophy hunting, the killing of wild animals for sport. Host Roy Wood Jr. sits with Daily Show writer Joseph Opio and author of the book “Undercover Trophy Hunter,” Eduardo Gonçalves, to break down the history of trophy hunting in Africa and the growing opposition to it.    O...

The NCAA has introduced name, image, and likeness deals that allow college athletes to accept payment from sponsors and brands -- including anything from endorsement deals to TikTok sponsorships. In this episode, WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu sits down with Roy Wood Jr. to discuss what this means for college athletes, the future of player compensation, and how she is involved with navigating deals for...

The pink tax is a form of gender discrimination that can cost women an average of $1,400 a year. In this episode, host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with correspondent Desi Lydic, segment director Stacey Angeles, and Congresswoman Jackie Speier to discuss why the pink tax exists and how it impacts women’s wallets. Representative Speier even gives Roy a few examples of everyday female products that cost m...

At the height of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, Daily Show producer Chelsea Williamson posed a question on Instagram: “If you’re Black and my friend, can you tell me what racial things have happened to you at your job?” The responses led Chelsea to pitch a segment exploring what it’s like to be Black in overwhelmingly white workplaces. Chelsea and former Daily Show writer Christiana Mbakwe-...

How is Switzerland able to have so many guns per capita, but no mass shootings? Host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with correspondent Michael Kosta, segment director Stacey Angeles, and their Swiss producer Pierre-Adrian Irlé, to discuss how the country’s approach to military service and common sense laws have created a safe gun culture that America can learn from.   Watch the original segments: https://...

What the f**k is up with Florida? Host (and former Florida resident) Roy Wood Jr. is joined by Daily Show correspondent, Desi Lydic, Daily Show segment director, Sebastian DiNatale, and local author, Craig Pittman, to break down what makes the Sunshine State so special when it comes to the eccentric local newsmakers that have come to be known as “Florida Man.”   Watch the original segment: Who is...

We all have preferences when choosing who to date, but when do they cross the line into sexual racism? Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng, UMass Amherst sociology professor and associate dean, Jennifer Lundquist, and “Dates & Mates” podcast host, Damona Hoffman join Roy Wood Jr. to discuss how dating apps amplify users’ racial biases and how this impacts those looking for love online. See omnys...

In light of Fox settling with Dominion, we take a look back at an episode about Fox News and disinformation. Host Roy Wood Jr., correspondent Desi Lydic, and senior producer Matt Negrin discuss the digital series Desi Lydic Foxsplains, and how right-wing news outlets spread misinformation. They’re joined by CNN’s senior media reporter, Oliver Darcy, who breaks down why Fox News is so successful in...

Recorded on 4/26/23. Child labor violations are on the rise, while some states are trying to loosen child labor laws. Host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with investigative reporter for the New York Times, Hannah Dreier, and the Chief Programs Officer for Justice for Migrant Women, Norma Flores López, to discuss why the number of unaccompanied minors entering the United States has climbed since the pandem...

Recorded on 5/1/23. From Tucker Carlson to Dominion to Biden’s age, Roy Wood Jr. didn’t hold back at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. In this episode, he sits down with some of his writers for the correspondents’ dinner – Christiana Mbakwe-Medina, Felonious Munk, and David Angelo – to reflect on the writing process leading up to the dinner, why the Property Brothers threw a wrench in Roy’s...