"Last Comic Standing" contestant plays here this weekend

Roy Wood, Jr., one of the last comics standing on NBC's "Last Comic Standing, plays the Laff House (221 South) this weekend where he'll test material to use on the show's semi-finals Monday.

"I'm doing an hour each show in Philly. Somewhere in there is the 2 minutes and 30 seconds that I'm going to perform on the show," says Wood, who has been traveling on weekends to test his material on various audiences.

Six contestants remain on the comedy competition and Wood's happy with his performance so far. "I think I've been good. If I lose, fine, I didn't go out and make an ass of myself," he told us.

We asked Wood, 31, who lives in Alabama, for his thoughts on Charles Barkley's threat to run for governor there in 2014. "I think Barkley should run for best drinking partner. He'd run unopposed," Wood told us. "I have a lot of respect for the man, but I'm not sure I trust an admitted gambler with balancing the state budget," said Wood who has been doing stand-up 12 years.

He plays two shows Friday and three Saturday at the Laff House. Tickets are $15 here or by calling 215-440-4242.