Roy Wood Jr. talks about his new TBS sitcom Sullivan and Son

Birmingham it is time to come together and support one of our own.   The Birmingham market is familiar with Roy Wood, Jr. from his popular radio show the Roy Wood, Jr. Morning show on 95.7 Jamz.  The world was introduced to Roy Wood Jr. from his appearance on the television series the Last Comic Standing, Def Comedy Jam, appearances on multiple national late night shows,  radio programs and stand-up comedy across the country.  Now we can catch Roy in a weekly sitcom on TBS.  Exciting!

Comedian Steve Byrne plays Steve Sullivan, a corporate attorney who finds new life behind the bar when he takes over his parents’ pub. Wood will play Roy Williams, an old friend of Steve and owner of a video rental/electronics store who never seems to be at work. He is one of the many faces that stops by the bar for a drink on a regular basis. Along with pals Owen and Ahmed, Roy tries his best (and fails) to help make Steve’s life run a lot smoother. The series is slated to air Thursdays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), beginning with a one-hour premiere of back-to-back episodes on July 19.

“I play the owner of a video rental store, so basically I’m broke and I need the bar to forget my troubles,” said Wood. “Add to that the fact that my wife gets on my nerves and well, where else is a man supposed to go to hide away from the world?”

The series, which marks TBS’s second new sitcom this summer, is executive-produced by Vince Vaughn (The Break-Up), Peter Billingsley (Iron Man) and show-runner Rob Long (Cheers). The outstanding ensemble cast includes Dan Lauria (The Wonder Years), Christine Ebersole (Royal Pains, Amadeus), Brian Doyle-Murray (Groundhog Day, Saturday Night Live), Jodi Long (Beginners), Valerie Azlynn (Tropic Thunder), Vivian Bang (Yes Man), and Owen Benjamin (The House Bunny).

With so many spectacular comedians in one show, it wasn’t long before the idea of a comedy tour was born. The Sullivan & Son tour, starring Byrne, Wood, Benjamin and Ahmed. will take stage in the following cities:

• July 17 – Philadelphia, PA, Helium Comedy Club
• July 19-22 – New York, Gotham Comedy Club
• July 24 – St. Louis, MO, Funnybone Comedy Club
• July 26-29 – Chicago, Up Comedy Club
• July 31 – San Francisco, Cobbs Comedy Club

Urbanham: Can you tell us about your role on the new show Sullivan and Son and what we can expect?

The show is centered around Comedian Steve Byrne and his return to his hometown of Pittsburgh to run the family bar after a brief stint in corporate America.

The bar serves as a bit of a town hall and Steve mediates people’s problems.

I play an old friend of his that comes around the bar as a regular drinker, constantly sticking my nose in other people’s affairs. And since I run a Video Rental/electronics store, I’m free all day to just hand out and drink.

Urbanham: This looks like a pretty good cast and we see from your Facebook page there will be some great special guests on the show. Can you tell us what we can expect from the first season and who we will see?

The cast itself is littered with TONY & EMMY Nominees and lots of strong comedians. Billy Gardell from CBS’ ‘Mike & Molly’ along w/ legendary comedian George Wallace (HBO, Showtime, Vegas mainstay) are amongst some of the guest stars.

I think people can expect a show that doesn’t pull punches and is in a lot of ways like the bar we’ve all hung out at one time or another. Movie vet Vince Vaughn being on of the executive producers also bring another comedic influence to things behind the camera as well.

Urbanham: You have Birmingham roots and there are several people in the area that have a desire to act on the next level. Can you offer some advice to those that maybe reading this on what steps they should take?

Leave Birmingham. You dont have to move to another city but at the very least try and see what other cities have to offer. I love my city, but you MUST practice your craft in other places or experience it in other places whenever possible. Atlanta, Miami, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles. Wherever.

The more you expose yourself to different things the more well rounded you’ll be in your experiences. I dont think I’m qualified to give advice to straight up actors. My path to this show was from my stand-up comedy so it’s hard for me to compare my path to a non stand-up actor.

But I do know that the more you diversify your experiences the more prepared you’ll be for new horizons.

The unfortunate truth of the mater is that not alot of projects shoot in the Birmingham area so sooner or later you’re going to have to leave even if only for a temporary while like I did.

We all have different sets of circumstance outside of our passions so if you can’t leave town as often as youd like to then SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE AS PASSIONATE AS YOU ARE.

I’ll say it again…

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE AS PASSIONATE AS YOU ARE.

Every genre of entertainment has some dark corners. Be it Rapper, signer, model, actor, videographer, you’re going to have bad days. Hard days where you second guess yourself. the last thing you need is someone next to you telling you “you can’t do it”, when you’re already saying it to yourself.

Surrounding yourself with motivated people can keep you
going during the times when all you have IS hope.

Urbanham: What’s next for you?

Beyond this TBS project my plans for the rest of the fall are to take part in the ‘Sullivan & Son’ Comedy Tour with my other tour mates Steve Byrne, Ahmed Ahmed, & Owen Benjamin

And this fall I also plan to release my debut Stand-up comedy CD and my fourth and final prank call Album tentatively titled ‘Lay Down & Die’

Make sure you LIKE the Sullivan and Son Facebook Page and send Roy some support and tune in on Thursday July 19, 2012 to TBS!

http://www.facebook.com/SullivanAndSon?ref=ts

For more information on Roy Woods Jr. visit http://www.roywoodjr.com/