Wanda at Large

Wanda at Large is an American sitcom starring Wanda Sykes; Sykes also created the series alongside Bruce Helford, Les Firestein, and Lance Crouther. The series aired for two seasons on Fox from March 26 to November 7, 2003.

Wanda at Large
GenreSitcom
Created byBruce Helford
Les Firestein
Wanda Sykes
Lance Crouther
StarringWanda Sykes
Phil Morris
Dale Godboldo
Tammy Lauren
Jurnee Smollett
Robert Bailey Jr.
ComposerMathematics
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes19
Production
Executive producersLes Firestein
Brian Hargrove
Bruce Helford
Jack Kenny
Deborah Oppenheimer
ProducersMichael Attanasio
Jennifer Fisher
Ernest Johnson
Lisa Koontz
Wanda Sykes
CinematographyGregg Heschong
Julius Metoyer
EditorLarry Harris
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time2224 minutes
Production companiesMohawk Productions
Warner Bros. Television
Release
Original networkFox
Original releaseMarch 26 (2003-03-26) 
November 7, 2003 (2003-11-07)

Synopsis

Sykes starred as Wanda Hawkins, a former government worker who decides to become a stand-up comedian. Through her friend Keith (Dale Godboldo), Wanda is tapped by WHDC-TV head Roger to become a new editorial correspondent for the low-rated political talk show The Beltway Gang .[1] She is immediately seen as unprofessional and inexperienced by the show's moderators, Bradley (Phil Morris) and Rita (Ann Magnuson), whose conservative politics clash with Wanda's liberal views. At home, she must deal with her sister-in-law Jenny (Tammy Lauren), a widow raising Wanda's niece Holly (Jurnee Smollett) and nephew Barris (Robert Bailey Jr.), whom Wanda finds irritating. As the show progresses, Wanda begins to bond with her family and win over her colleagues, with some hinted attraction to Bradley.

Cast

Recurring

Episodes

Season 1 (2003)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Pilot"Gerry CohenBruce Helford & Les Firestein & Wanda Sykes & Lance CroutherMarch 26, 2003 (2003-03-26)
In the series' pilot, Wanda accompanies Keith to a party where she impresses his boss, who offers her an audition for an on-air job.
22"King Rat"John BlanchardSue MurphyApril 2, 2003 (2003-04-02)
Wanda weighs whether or not to run a piece that would embarrass the health official (Mario Joyner) she's dating.
33"Wanda and Bradley"John BlanchardLance CroutherApril 9, 2003 (2003-04-09)
After contentious behavior between Wanda and Bradley, Roger plays up to both as he tricks them into participating in a promo for the show.
44"Wanda's Party"Bob KoherrDino Shorte & Jack LugarApril 16, 2003 (2003-04-16)
Wanda thinks she's been robbed after Keith takes her keys to detain her while Jenny sets up a surprise birthday party.
55"Death of a Councilman"Leonard R. Garner Jr.Wanda SykesApril 23, 2003 (2003-04-23)
Wanda exposes a crooked councilman, who dies before the piece airs, so it's edited into a tribute without her consent.
66"Alma Mater"Leonard R. Garner Jr.Barton DeanApril 30, 2003 (2003-04-30)
After differing with Wanda over accepting honorary degrees from their alma mater, Keith goes to work for Bradley.

Season 2 (2003)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
71"The Favor"Lee Shallat ChemelLance CroutherSeptember 19, 2003 (2003-09-19)
When Wanda looks to score an interview with a troubled athlete (Adam Lazarre-White), it forces her to reconnect with her ex-husband (Dave Chappelle).
82"Where's Roger?"Bob KoherrJack Kenny & Brian HargroveSeptember 26, 2003 (2003-09-26)
After the temporary station manager censors her piece, Wanda tries to charm the man over drinks, but has to badger him to participate.
93"Bradley Has a Friend?"Lee Shallat ChemelJack Kenny & Brian HargroveOctober 3, 2003 (2003-10-03)
Wanda uses Bradley's visiting friend to goad him into visiting a strip club, where she embarrasses him further by buying him a lap dance.
104"Leave Your Daughter at Home Day"Bob KoherrJennifer FisherOctober 17, 2003 (2003-10-17)
Tired of paling in comparison with the permissive Wanda, Jenny sends Holly over to live with her “cool aunt.”
115"They Shoot Reporters, Don't They?"Katy GarretsonDino ShorteOctober 31, 2003 (2003-10-31)
Wanda and Keith are drafted to do live coverage when her filming of a piece on automated-teller machines is interrupted by a bank robbery.
126"Hurricane Hawkins"Shelley JensenAlyson FouseOctober 31, 2003 (2003-10-31)
Wanda's in-your-face style is reduced to “in your place, child” when her overbearing mother (Jo Marie Payton) visits.
137"Clowns to the Left of Me"Bob KoherrWanda SykesNovember 7, 2003 (2003-11-07)
After Wanda offends animal-rights activists, Max puts their leader (Jenny McCarthy) on the show where they form a bond — in silencing Bradley.
148"Back to the Club"Leonard R. Garner Jr.Sue MurphyNovember 7, 2003 (2003-11-07)
Wanda garners the ire of the show staff when her irreverence toward the station owner moves tapings to late Saturday nights.
159"Only Built for Cuban Wandas"Bob KoherrLance CroutherUnaired
Bradley disses a rap mogul who steps in to appear on the show when the scheduled rapper (RZA) fails to appear.
1610"Did Wanda Say a 4-Letter Word?"Bob KoherrLance CroutherUnaired
Wanda goes to Keith's therapist (Cheryl Hines) as a skeptic, but leaves a changed woman, who admits having feelings for Bradley.
1711"The Plane Trip"Bob KoherrJennifer FisherUnaired
Wanda's new boyfriend shows some negative qualities when their plane to a skiing weekend is delayed at the airport.
1812"The Un-Natural"Linda MendozaPatrick MeighanUnaired
1913"Twas the Knife Before Christmas"Bob KoherrAlyson FouseUnaired
Wanda and Keith's Christmas is stymied when Jenny comes down with appendicitis, forcing Wanda to look after Holly and Barris.

Note: The unaired second-season episodes were aired for the first time on TV One on July 4, 2006, during the 4th of July launch marathon of the series.

Production and cancellation

Fox premiered it on March 26, 2003. Fox renewed the show for a second season. The show returned with new episodes in September 2003, but in the so-called Friday night death slot at 8:00 pm. It was canceled on November 7, along with the new Fox comedy series Luis.

During an interview with the Urbanite magazine at Georgia State University, Sykes explained that the show was only supposed to be on Friday night for an interim basis. According to Sykes, "We were told if the new night didn't work out, we would be moved to another timeslot. But, that's part of the game television execs play." She also admitted in a January 2004 interview that she wished that the series would have launched on UPN instead of Fox.[2]

Broadcast and syndication

Reruns began airing regularly on July 5, 2006 on American cable channel TV One. A marathon aired on July 4 as part of the channel's "Power to the People" July 4 weekend celebration.

In 2022, the series is made available for streaming online on Fox Corporation's Tubi.[3]

Reception

Ratings

Wanda at Large premiered on Fox on March 26, 2003, following American Idol. It gradually decreased in the ratings, premiering with 14.3 million viewers, and diminishing to 10 million by the season finale. It still averaged 12.2 million for the six-episode season, however, making it the fourth highest-rated show on Fox that year out of 26, and leading Fox to renew the show. In September, the show returned with new episodes in the Friday night death slot at 8:30 pm.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2004 BET Comedy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Wanda at Large Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Wanda Sykes Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical Wanda Skyes Nominated
2003 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Breakout Show Wanda at Large Nominated
Choice TV Breakout Star - Female Wanda Sykes Nominated
Choice TV Actress - Comedy Wanda Sykes Nominated

References

  1. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 1280. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
  2. Huff, Dominique (2006-04-13). "Wanda does Urbanite". gsusignal.com. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  3. "Watch Wanda at Large". Tubi. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
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