By April MacIntyre Nov 6, 2009, 16:30 GMT
Wanda Sykes has a new talk show coming to FOX. Unlike the others, it promises to be a roundtable discussion with Wanda's favorite comedic minds and friends who will give their take on current events in the news as well as pop culture.
08/06/2009 - Wanda Sykes - 'The Wanda Sykes Show'' is scheduled to run on November 7, 2009. Wanda is also known for her comedy appearances on programs like ''Chris Rock,'' ''Curb Your Enthusiasm" and ''The New Adventures of Old Christine.'' © Carla Van Wagoner / PR Photos
Sykes currently appears on “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” and her stand-up comedy routine was showcased this month on HBO in the comedy special, "Ima Be Me." Sykes starred in, wrote and produced the FOX series “Wanda at Large.” She also starred in the cable series “Wanda Does It,” where Sykes tried various non-showbiz jobs. Sykes has also had recurring roles on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Crank Yankers.” Sykes was nominated for three Emmy Awards and in 1999 won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special. In 2001, she won the American Comedy Award for Outstanding Female Stand-Up Comic. Sykes won three Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Studio Show – Weekly (2002, 2004 and 2005) for her work on “Inside the NFL.” Her first book titled “Yeah, I Said It,” a hilarious collection of essays touching on life, family and current events, was published by Simon and Schuster in September 2004. Born in Portsmouth, VA and raised in Maryland, her stand-up career began at a talent showcase in Washington, DC, where she performed for the first time in front of a live audience.
Monsters and Critics' smallscreen editor April MacIntyre caught up with Wanda Wednesday this week.
I enjoyed your HBO special the other night, "Ima Be Me" on HBO.
Wanda Thank you.
Which leads me to "Esther." I really liked kind of your alter ego there, Esther Rolle. I'm wondering if we're going to see more of her in as far as like the questions that you're going to ask your guests, is this show going to be real?
Wanda: Will Esther interview guests?
No, but will you ask real questions from the gut, where Esther dwells?
Wanda: Esther makes cameos of, yes, I have nothing to do with that, she's never booked on the show, she just—kind of barges in. We're not doing the typical interview with the celebrity, "Hey, tell us about your new movie." We're throwing them in on the panel.
When we have the panel discussion and we'll talk about current topics or it could be pop culture or maybe something's bugging somebody that night and we'll have more like a group discussion on the subject.
Kind of like "Tough Crowd with Collin Quinn," you're going to do a dissection of the top stories of the day and see what's bugging at everyone?
Wanda: Collin Quinn, who is a friend, his show made me nervous in a way, because I felt like that nobody liked each other when on that, and I know that crowd, because I hung out with them when I'm in New York doing the comedy show. There's a comics table and we all sit around and basically rip each other apart.
My show won't have that energy.
Less testosterone?
Wanda: Yes, it'll be more of, I mean, the same intensity as far as opinions, but you'll get why I invited these people to stop by and hang out with me. It's like, I'm not going to have guests on that I'm trying to rush out the door.
These are people that I enjoy and want to hang out with and have a drink and get to know a little better.
Who are some of the people that you like that we're going to see?
Wanda We'll get Chris Rock, and if I can track down Dave Chappelle, I'll get him to come by, Jane Fonda.
Actually the first guest, one of our first panel guest, Mary Lynn Rajskub, I worked with her on the show called the Downer Channel back in the day on NBC. I'm just happy that we both survived that and we're still employed. I'm sure we'll post to that on Saturday night.
Yes, of course, there's some politicians I would love to sit down and have a conversation with.
And also you mentioned Tough Crowd, my best friend Keith Robinson, he was a regular on Tough Crowd. Keith is my co-host, we've been friends for over 20 years.
Nice to know he's resurfaced with you.
Wanda: Yes, yes. You'll get to see that probably, too. What I'm really like I guess with my friends, someone who really knows me.
I want your opinion, a lot of elections last night, and Maine's gay marriage was up for vote again and it went down, and I wanted to know if you had a comment about that.
Wanda: It's very disappointing. I know exactly how the community is feeling right now especially in Maine. It's just sad when someone's civil rights can be put up to a vote.
That just should never happen. The constitution declares a separation between church and state. And I think that's what it's going to come down to and what we need to uphold and when that happens I think there will be equality for everybody.
Don’t miss the series premiere episode of THE WANDA SYKES SHOW airing Saturday, Nov. 7 (11:00 PM-Midnight ET/PT) on FOX.
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