Wanda at Large is an American sitcom that ran for two seasons on the Fox network in 2003. The series was created by and stars comedian Wanda Sykes. This was also the first show to be created, written, produced and star a black woman.
Synopsis
Sykes starred as Wanda Hawkins, a former government worker who decides to become a stand-up comedian. Though she has struggled throughout her time in comedy, she is tapped by Roger, the boss of WHDC-TV, to be an editorial correspondent for a political talk showThe Beltway Gang. Her friend Keith, played by Dale Godboldo, is tapped as the producer of Wanda's segments. She is immediately seen as unprofessional and inexperienced by the show's moderators, Bradley and Rita. However, she begins to win them over as the show progresses. At home, Wanda must deal with her widowed sister-in-law, Jenny, who is raising two children, Holly and Barris.
The show was filmed from October 2001 to June 2002, and was intended to have only one season – it was picked up by The WB, and was to premiere on August 18, 2002 as a replacement for The WB series For Your Love. However, Fox picked up the show instead of The WB, and it premiered on Fox 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 8:30pm. 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.
Broadcast and syndication
Reruns began airing regularly on July 5, 2006 on United States cable channel TV One. A marathon aired on July 4 as part of the channel's "Power to the People" July 4 weekend celebration.
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. Its first-season finale aired in April 2003. In September, the show returned with new episodes in the Friday night death slot at 8:30pm.
