Filed under: Exclusives, Interviews, Television
Birmingham, Ala.-bred comedian Roy Wood Jr. was a finalist on this season's 'Last Comic Standing' on NBC.The 31-year-old comic, who has been doing standup for 12 years, has appeared on shows like 'Russell Simmon's Def Comedy Jam,' 'Chelsea Lately,' 'Late Show with David Letterman,' 'The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,' 'Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen,' and Comedy Central's 'Premium Blend.'
Known for his hilarious prank phone calls, Wood's audio can be heard on over 40 national radio shows, including Jamie Foxx's Foxxhole Radio on Sirius|XM Satellite Radio.
BV Buzz caught up with Woods, who is currently on the 'Last Comic Standing' 60-city tour, and had him take our Buzz Blitz.
Wh

Wanda Sykes is untouchable to me right now in her analysis of society. Wanda is fun to watch. Adele Givens is the most fun to work with. I actually look forward to working with her. She respects you as an equal. She's one of the few black comics from the old school that doesn't treat new guys like dirt. She's quick to pull you aside and give you a little advice as well. Sheryl Underwood as well.
Name a common food that people would be surprised that you don't like.
I hate just about all melons: honeydew, cantaloupe and mangos. I can tolerate watermelon if it's really cold and really firm. To this day I can't eat a fruit salad if there are melons in it. It all feels like a slimy snot covered glob of mush. I can't even pick around melons in a fruit salad to get to the grapes. The grapes are contaminated with the slime. I don't even want melons loose on my bre

What three things would you take to an island with you if you were on 'Survivor?'
A box of Crunch n Munch. A PlayStation 3, but I'm not sure where I'd plug it up at. A gallon of southern style sweet tea.
If you could prank call anyone and get away with it, who would you chose and why?
I don't get to prank call many celebs and the ones I ha

You're about to get into a fight and can call any celebrity to have your back. Who would you chose and why?
Mike Tyson. Do I really need to explain why? [Insert bite joke here] LOL
Finish this sentence: "Best way to piss me off is to..."
Talk bad about my city (Birmingham, AL) in my presence. Or steal my jokes, blogs, or prank calls and present them as your own. Here's an exam

Chris Rock, Paul Mooney and Kat Williams are performing comedy concerts at the same time and you can only go to one. Which one would you chose and why?
Chris Rock. It's not a knock on Mooney or Williams, but Chris Rock is the comic I grew up with. Mooney's been doing it longer than either of them, but unfortunately Rock's stand-up was more commercially viable to me in the late 90's. When I started in 1998, Chris Rock's 'Bring the Pain' special was like Comedy: 101 to me. Still is! I've also had more access to Chris. About five years ago I saw Rock come through Birmingham and comfortably work through two hours of new material, trying to whittle it down to the hour of material that would ultimately be his 'Never Scared' stand-up special. After having witnessed his process of developing his act it only made me admire his work that much more.
*****
For related stories, read also: 'Comic Rodney Perry Takes the Buzz Blitz'
& 'Rickey Smiley: Raising 10 Kids Is No Laughing Matter.'
VIDEO: Watch Roy Wood Jr on 'Last Comic Standing.'
Popular Black Comedians
Famous, Black & Funny
Being funny comes as a natural gift for man - but only the really talented (and really daring) ones have answered the call to make the masses laugh with their comedy. The wild and crazy Tracy Morgan, the much heralded Whoopi Goldberg, the brassy Mo'Nique and the late, great Richard Pryor are just a few of the black, famous and funny people who made us laugh over the last 50 years. There are many more. And they all have stories behind the funny. Check out who they are and what they've done.
Famous, Black & Funny
Martin Lawrence
Started Out: Making an appearance on the national talent show 'Star Search,' which ultimately led to a gig on 'What's Happening Now!' Big Break: Hosting the groundbreaking comedy series 'Def Comedy Jam.' Hometown: Landover, Md. Also Was Seen: In the films 'Do the Right Thing,' 'House Party,' 'Boomerang,' 'Bad Boys,' 'Thin Line Between Love & Hate' and 'Big Momma's House.' In addition, he starred and executive-produced his own Fox sitcom 'Martin' for five seasons. Factoid: In 1989, Lawrence was engaged to 'Saved by the Bell' actress Lark Voorhies.
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Steve Harvey
Started Out: Began doing stand-up in the mid-1980s and was a finalist in the second annual Johnnie Walker National Comedy Search in 1989. Big Break: Hosting the nationally syndicated TV series 'Showtime at the Apollo.' Hometown: Welch, W. Va. Also Was Seen: On the series 'Me and the Boys' and his eponymous sitcom. Also appeared in the movies 'Love Don't Cost A Thing,' 'The Original Kings of Comedy' and 'The Fighting Temptations.' Factoid: Born in 1957, Harvey (real name: Broderick Steven Harvey) made his literary debut with the New York Times best-selling relationship/advice book 'Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man,' in 2009.
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Wanda Sykes
Started Out: Began her stand-up career at a Coors Light Super Talent Showcase in Washington, D.C. Big Break: Played multiple roles on Chris Rock's Emmy Award-winning HBO show. Hometown: Portsmouth, Va. Also Was Seen: In the movies 'Monster-in-Law' and 'Pooty Tang' and on the TV shows 'Wanda At Large,' 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and 'The New Adventures of Old Christine.' Factoid: During a Las Vegas gay rights rally in November 2008, Sykes proclaimed she was "proud to be gay."
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Jamie Foxx
Started Out: Acting on a dare (from a girlfriend) and competing in an open-mic contest at a comedy club in 1989. Big Break: Playing the comely date-challenged Wanda on 'In Living Color' Hometown: Linden, Texas Also Was Seen: In the films 'Booty Call,' 'The Players Club,' 'Any Given Sunday,' 'Miami Vice,' 'Ali' and 'Ray,' for which he won an Academy Award for best actor in 2005. Also fronted his eponymous sitcom. Factoid: As of 2009, Foxx (real name: Eric Marlon Bishop) has released three music albums: 1994's 'Peep This,' 2005's 'Unpredictable' and 2008's 'Intuition.'
Famous, Black & Funny
Tracy Morgan
Started Out: Appearing on the sitcom 'Martin,' where he played 'Hustle Man.' Big Break: Morgan's claim to fame came in 1996 when he began appearing on 'Saturday Night Live.' Hometown: New York City Also Was Seen: In 'A Thin Line Between Love and Hate,' 'Martin,' 'Half Baked,' 'How High,' 'Head of State,' 'The Tracey Morgan Show,' 'Little Man,' 'First Sunday' and '30 Rock.' Factoid: Andrew Dice Clay inspired Morgan to pursue comedy.
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Chris Rock
Started Out: Doing stand-up comedy in 1985 in New York City's Catch a Rising Star Comedy Club. Big Break: Was a cast member of the popular sketch comedy series 'Saturday Night Live.' Hometown: New York City Also Was Seen: In the movie 'New Jack City,' where he played a crackhead informant. Factoid: Born in 1965, Rock won a Grammy for best spoken comedy album in 1999 for the project 'Bigger & Blacker.'
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Mo'Nique
Started Out: Appearing at the downtown Baltimore Comedy Factory Outlet. Big Break: Starred on the hit UPN sitcom 'The Parkers.' Hometown: Baltimore Also Was Seen: In 'Three Can Play That Game,' 'Hair Show' and 'Shadowboxer.' Factoid: Born in 1967, Mo'Nique (real name: Monique Imes) is the author of 'Skinny Women are Evil: Notes of a Big Girl in a Small-Minded World' and the cookbook 'Skinny Cooks Can't Be Trusted.'
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Eddie Griffith
Started Out: Griffith began his acting career the 1991 action-thriller 'The Last Boy Scout.' Big Break: In 1996, Griffith showcased his talent on a national scale when he landed the role of Eddie on the TV series 'Malcolm & Eddie.' Hometown: Kansas City, Mo. Also Was Seen: In 'Foolish,' 'Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo' and 'Undercover Brother.' Factoid: Suffered a heart attack in 1996 while taping an episode of 'Malcolm & Eddie' following a scene in which he did the salsa dance.
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Bill Cosby
Started Out: While in his early twenties, Cosby appeared on various well-known variety programs including 'The Ed Sullivan Show.' Big Break: In 1965, he appeared as Alexander Scott in the Emmy Award-winning flick 'I Spy.' Hometown: Philadelphia Also Was Seen: In 'Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids,' 'Uptown Saturday Night,' 'Let's Do it Again,' 'Ghost Dad,' 'The Meteor Man' and the groundbreaking NBC sitcom 'The Cosby Show.' Factoid: Beginning in 1965, Cosby scored the Grammy Award for best comedy album six years in a row.