Wanda at Large

"Wanda at Large" is a Fox network sitcom that ran for two seasons in 2003. It starred comedian Wanda Sykes as Wanda Hawkins, an outspoken standup comic who is chosen to be a correspondent on a Washington, D.C., political talk show. 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.). The show brought her stand-up comedy talents and opinions to the show.

"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".

Sykes during an interview with the Urbanite Magazine at Georgia State University explained that the show was only supposed to be on Friday night for an interim basis. "Fox told us if Friday night did not work out, we would be moved," she said. "As you can see, Fox did not keep their promise." She also admitted in a January 2004 interview, she wished that the series would have launched on UPN instead of Fox.

Television Status

Reruns began airing regularly on July 5, 2006 on US cable channel TV One. A marathon aired on July 4 as part of the channel's "Power to the People" July 4th weekend celebration.

The following is a list of episodes and the dates they were originally supposed to air.

Episodes

*Season 1
**Pilot (originally aired March 26, 2003)
**Death of a Councilman (originally aired April 2, 2003)
**Wanda & Bradley (originally aired April 9, 2003)
**Alma Mater (originally aired April 16, 2003)
**King Rat (originally aired April 23, 2003)
**Wanda's Party (originally aired April 30, 2003)

*Season 2
**The Favor (originally aired September 19, 2003)
**Hurricane Hawkins (originally aired September 26, 2003)
**Where's Roger (originally aired October 3, 2003)
**Bradley Has a Friend (originally aired October 17, 2003)
**Leave Your Daughter at Home Day (originally aired October 31, 2003)
**Clowns to the Left of Me (originally aired October 31, 2003)
**They Shoot Reporters, Don't They? (originally aired November 7, 2003)
**Back to the Club (originally aired November 7, 2003) [Last episode to air on Fox firstrun]
**Twas the Knife Before Christmas (unaired)
**Only Built for Cuban Wandas (unaired)
**Plane Trip (unaired)
**The Unnatural (unaired)
**Did Wanda Say a 4-Letter Word? (unaired)

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.

External links

*
* [http://www.wandaatlarge.com/ Wanda At Large website]
* [http://video.aol.com/video-category/wanda-at-large/1686 Episodes of "Wanda at Large" free at AOL Video]