Wanda at Large

Wanda at Large
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Lance Crouther Les Firestein Bruce Helford Wanda Sykes
Written by	Lance Crouther Barton Dean Les Firestein Jennifer Fisher Alyson Fouse Brian Hargrove Bruce Helford Jack Lugar Jack Kenny Patrick Meighan Sue Murphy Dino Shorte Wanda Sykes
Directed by	John Blanchard Gerry Cohen Leonard R. Garner, Jr. Katy Garretson Shelley Jensen Bob Koherr Lee Shallat-Chemel
Starring	Wanda Sykes Phil Morris Dale Godboldo Tammy Lauren Jurnee Smollett Robert Bailey, Jr.
Composer(s)	Mathematics
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	19
Production
Executive producer(s)	Les Firestein Brian Hargrove Bruce Helford Jack Kenny Deborah Oppenheimer
Producer(s)	Michael Attanasio Jennifer Fisher Ernest Johnson Lisa Koontz Wanda Sykes
Editor(s)	Larry Harris
Cinematography	Gregg Heschong Julius Metoyer
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	22–24 minutes
Production company(s)	Mohawk Productions Warner Bros. Television
Distributor	Warner Bros. Television
Broadcast
Original channel	Fox
Original run	March 26, 2003 (2003-03-26) – November 7, 2003 (2003-11-07)

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.

Synopsis

Sykes starred as Wanda Hawkins, an outspoken standup comic who is chosen to be a correspondent on a Washington, D.C., political talk show The Beltway Gang on WHDC-TV.^[1] However, Wanda's mannerisms infuriate the show's moderators (Phil Morris and Ann Magnuson). At home, Wanda must manage her sister-in-law (Tammy Lauren), who is raising two children, Holly (Jurnee Smollett), and Barris (Robert Bailey, Jr.).

Reception and cancellation

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 falling down 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 8:30, only to be canceled on November 7 along with the new show 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]

Cast

• Wanda Sykes – Wanda Hawkins
• Dale Godboldo – Keith Townsend
• Phil Morris – Bradley Grimes
• Ann Magnuson – Rita
• Tammy Lauren – Jenny Hawkins
• Jurnee Smollett – Holly Hawkins
• Robert Bailey, Jr. – Barris Hawkins

The show was filmed from October 2001-June 2002, and intended to have only one season, and be picked up by The WB, and premiere on August 18, 2002 to replace For Your Love.

Episodes

Season 1

Season 2

* The unaired episodes were aired for the first time on TVOne on July 4, 2006 during the 4th of July launch marathon of the series.

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.

Award nominations

References

External links

• Official website
• Wanda at Large at the Internet Movie Database
• Wanda at Large at TV.com
• Wanda at Large at epguides.com