Jessica Williams Exits The Daily Show
Dope Queen, Jessica Williams will be leaving The Daily Show to focus on developing her new Comedy Central show. The 30-minute scripted series, which currently remains untitled, will follow a “woke” 20 something year old woman who, while socially conscious still hasn’t gotten her life in order.
“I think that a lot of the time, we have this idea that when you are, like, “woke” — and please always put this in quotations! — that you should always have your shit together. But I know that often for me, as a black woman of color, I feel like I’m supposed to represent these ideals and values that I was taught as a young lady. Like I’m supposed to carry myself in a special type of way, but oftentimes I’m, like… I’m still in my 20s, and still kind of a mess. So it’s a show about somebody in their 20s who has all these social ideas, but still does not have it together.” Williams told Entertainment Weekly in an interview.
Williams signed a development deal with Comedy Central back in March and will be producing, writing, and starring in the pilot.
“We see her as a great voice—she’s so dynamic and so funny,” Comedy Central president Kent Alterman tells EW. “…Rather than say goodbye to her for her to go somewhere else, we want to make sure that we’re developing with her so that when she’s ready for her next platform, it can actually be with us.”
Williams has been with The Daily Show since 2012, as the youngest and first Black correspondent, where she used her humor to make light of current social issues. Today will be her last episode with the show.
Check out some highlights from the show.
You nailed it on The #DailyShow, @msjwilly. We’re thrilled to make more stuff with you. Cue awesome highlight reel.https://t.co/mE27qI64MF
— Comedy Central (@ComedyCentral) June 29, 2016
Williams’ upcoming show will join Issa Rae’s HBO comedy series Insecure and a new wave of programming that focuses on young Black women navigating social issues and every day life.
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