March 26 (2003-03-26) – November 7, 2003 (2003-11-07)
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.
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 showThe 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.
Wanda garners the ire of the show staff when her irreverence toward the station owner moves tapings to late Saturday nights.
15
9
"Only Built for Cuban Wandas"
Bob Koherr
Lance Crouther
Unaired
Bradley disses a rap mogul who steps in to appear on the show when the scheduled rapper (RZA) fails to appear.
16
10
"Did Wanda Say a 4-Letter Word?"
Bob Koherr
Lance Crouther
Unaired
Wanda goes to Keith's therapist (Cheryl Hines) as a skeptic, but leaves a changed woman, who admits having feelings for Bradley.
17
11
"The Plane Trip"
Bob Koherr
Jennifer Fisher
Unaired
Wanda's new boyfriend shows some negative qualities when their plane to a skiing weekend is delayed at the airport.
18
12
"The Un-Natural"
Linda Mendoza
Patrick Meighan
Unaired
19
13
"Twas the Knife Before Christmas"
Bob Koherr
Alyson Fouse
Unaired
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.[citation needed]
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 8:00pm. 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]
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 8:30pm.
