Wanda at Large
American sitcom
title: "Wanda at Large" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2000s-american-multi-camera-sitcoms", "2000s-american-black-sitcoms", "2003-american-television-series-debuts", "2003-american-television-series-endings", "television-series-about-dysfunctional-families", "american-english-language-television-shows", "television-series-by-warner-bros.-television-studios", "television-shows-set-in-washington,-d.c.", "television-series-created-by-bruce-helford", "television-series-by-mohawk-productions", "fox-broadcasting-company-sitcoms"] description: "American sitcom" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanda_at_Large" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American sitcom ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox television"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| image | Wanda at large.jpg |
| genre | Sitcom |
| creator | Bruce Helford |
| Les Firestein | |
| Wanda Sykes | |
| Lance Crouther | |
| starring | Wanda Sykes |
| Phil Morris | |
| Dale Godboldo | |
| Tammy Lauren | |
| Jurnee Smollett | |
| Robert Bailey Jr. | |
| composer | Mathematics |
| country | United States |
| language | English |
| num_seasons | 2 |
| num_episodes | 19 (5 unaired) |
| executive_producer | Les Firestein |
| Brian Hargrove | |
| Bruce Helford | |
| Jack Kenny | |
| Deborah Oppenheimer | |
| producer | Michael Attanasio |
| Jennifer Fisher | |
| Ernest Johnson | |
| Lisa Koontz | |
| Wanda Sykes | |
| editor | Larry Harris |
| cinematography | Gregg Heschong |
| Julius Metoyer | |
| camera | Multi-camera |
| runtime | 22–24 minutes |
| company | Mohawk Productions |
| Warner Bros. Television | |
| channel | Fox |
| first_aired | |
| last_aired | |
| :: |
| image = Wanda at large.jpg | caption = | genre = Sitcom | creator = Bruce Helford Les Firestein Wanda Sykes Lance Crouther | starring = Wanda Sykes Phil Morris Dale Godboldo Tammy Lauren Jurnee Smollett Robert Bailey Jr. | opentheme = | composer = Mathematics | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 2 | num_episodes = 19 (5 unaired) | executive_producer = Les Firestein Brian Hargrove Bruce Helford Jack Kenny Deborah Oppenheimer | producer = Michael Attanasio Jennifer Fisher Ernest Johnson Lisa Koontz Wanda Sykes | editor = Larry Harris | cinematography = Gregg Heschong Julius Metoyer | camera = Multi-camera | runtime = 22–24 minutes | company = Mohawk Productions Warner Bros. Television | channel = Fox | first_aired = | last_aired =
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 show The Beltway Gang . 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
- Wanda Sykes as Wanda Hawkins
- Phil Morris as Bradley Grimes
- Dale Godboldo as Keith Townsend
- Tammy Lauren as Jenny Hawkins
- Jurnee Smollett as Holly Hawkins
- Robert Bailey Jr. as Barris Hawkins
Recurring
- Jason Kravitz as Roger
- Ann Magnuson as Rita Bahlberg
Episodes
Series overview
| color1 = #770077 | link1 = #Season 1 (2003) | episodes1 = 6 | start1 = | end1 =
| color2 = #F988AE | link2 = #Season 2 (2003) | episodes2 = 13 | start2 = | end2 =
Season 1 (2003)
|background = #770077 |overall = 4 |season = 4 |title = 25 |director = 12 |writer = 20 |airdate = 13 |episodes = | EpisodeNumber = 1 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Title = Pilot | DirectedBy = Gerry Cohen | WrittenBy = Bruce Helford & Les Firestein & Wanda Sykes & Lance Crouther | OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770077 | EpisodeNumber = 2 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Title = King Rat | DirectedBy = John Blanchard | WrittenBy = Sue Murphy | OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770077 | EpisodeNumber = 3 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Title = Wanda and Bradley | DirectedBy = John Blanchard | WrittenBy = Lance Crouther | OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770077 | EpisodeNumber = 4 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Title = Wanda's Party | DirectedBy = Bob Koherr | WrittenBy = Dino Shorte & Jack Lugar | OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770077 | EpisodeNumber = 5 | EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | Title = Death of a Councilman | DirectedBy = Leonard R. Garner Jr. | WrittenBy = Wanda Sykes | OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770077 | EpisodeNumber = 6 | EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | Title = Alma Mater | DirectedBy = Leonard R. Garner Jr. | WrittenBy = Barton Dean | OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770077
Season 2 (2003)
|background = #F988AE |overall = 4 |season = 4 |title = 25 |director = 12 |writer = 20 |airdate = 13 |episodes = | EpisodeNumber = 7 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Title = The Favor | DirectedBy = Lee Shallat Chemel | WrittenBy = Lance Crouther | OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = 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). | LineColor = F988AE | EpisodeNumber = 8 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Title = Where's Roger? | DirectedBy = Bob Koherr | WrittenBy = Jack Kenny & Brian Hargrove | OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = F988AE | EpisodeNumber = 9 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Title = Bradley Has a Friend? | DirectedBy = Lee Shallat Chemel | WrittenBy = Jack Kenny & Brian Hargrove | OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = F988AE | EpisodeNumber = 10 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Title = Leave Your Daughter at Home Day | DirectedBy = Bob Koherr | WrittenBy = Jennifer Fisher | OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = F988AE | EpisodeNumber = 11 | EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | Title = They Shoot Reporters, Don't They? | DirectedBy = Katy Garretson | WrittenBy = Dino Shorte | OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = F988AE | EpisodeNumber = 12 | EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | Title = Hurricane Hawkins | DirectedBy = Shelley Jensen | WrittenBy = Alyson Fouse | OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = F988AE | EpisodeNumber = 13 | EpisodeNumber2 = 7 | Title = Clowns to the Left of Me | DirectedBy = Bob Koherr | WrittenBy = Wanda Sykes | OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = F988AE | EpisodeNumber = 14 | EpisodeNumber2 = 8 | Title = Back to the Club | DirectedBy = Leonard R. Garner Jr. | WrittenBy = Sue Murphy | OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = F988AE | EpisodeNumber = 15 | EpisodeNumber2 = 9 | Title = Only Built for Cuban Wandas | DirectedBy = Bob Koherr | WrittenBy = Lance Crouther | OriginalAirDate = Unaired | ShortSummary = | LineColor = F988AE | EpisodeNumber = 16 | EpisodeNumber2 = 10 | Title = Did Wanda Say a 4-Letter Word? | DirectedBy = Bob Koherr | WrittenBy = Lance Crouther | OriginalAirDate = Unaired | ShortSummary = | LineColor = F988AE | EpisodeNumber = 17 | EpisodeNumber2 = 11 | Title = The Plane Trip | DirectedBy = Bob Koherr | WrittenBy = Jennifer Fisher | OriginalAirDate = Unaired | ShortSummary = | LineColor = F988AE | EpisodeNumber = 18 | EpisodeNumber2 = 12 | Title = The Un-Natural | DirectedBy = Linda Mendoza | WrittenBy = Patrick Meighan | OriginalAirDate = Unaired | ShortSummary = | LineColor = F988AE | EpisodeNumber = 19 | EpisodeNumber2 = 13 | Title = Twas the Knife Before Christmas | DirectedBy = Bob Koherr | WrittenBy = Alyson Fouse | OriginalAirDate = Unaired | ShortSummary = Jenny comes down with appendicitis, forcing Wanda to look after Holly and Barris. | LineColor = F988AE
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 8:00pm. 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.
Broadcast and syndication
Reruns began airing regularly on July 5, 2006 on American cable channel TV One. 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.
In 2022, the series was made available for streaming online on Fox Corporation's Tubi.
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 8:30pm.
Awards and nominations
::data[format=table]
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | BET Comedy Awards | Outstanding Comedy Series | Wanda at Large | |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Wanda Sykes | |||
| Satellite Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical | Wanda Skyes | ||
| 2003 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Breakout Show | Wanda at Large | |
| Choice TV Breakout Star - Female | Wanda Sykes | |||
| Choice TV Actress - Comedy | Wanda Sykes | |||
| :: |
References
References
- (2007). "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present". [[Ballantine Books]].
- Huff, Dominique. (2006-04-13). "Wanda does Urbanite". gsusignal.com.
- "Watch Wanda at Large".
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