PASADENA, Calif. _ Wanda Sykes has no problem speaking her mind, rattling off jokes or creating conversation.Now, she’ll try to get others to be funny and interesting as she joins the world of late-night chatters when the weekly “The Wanda Sykes Show” launches at 11 EST tonight on Fox.
Hosting a talk show is new for Sykes but the format is not. She got her start on HBO’s “The Chris Rock Show,” a talk show that had no restrictions because it aired on premium cable. The freedom was perfect for Sykes, who finds humor in everything from politics to sex _ and talks about it frankly.
But even with the strict rules that come with network TV, Sykes doesn’t plan to pull any verbal punches.
“I believe Fox has given us the opportunity to put it out there. I mean, that’s what they want. They booked me to be me,” Sykes says.
The network does have a safety net. Like all network talk shows, “The Wanda Sykes Show” will be recorded in advance. How far in advance might change depending on how much has to be bleeped. Right now, taping the show on Saturday afternoons means Sykes can be topical with her material.
Sykes, a cast member on “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” wasn’t looking to host a talk show when Fox contacted her. She especially wasn’t that interested in a network job because of the potential limitations in language and topics.
The Barack Obama campaign made her change her mind.
“I was like, ‘Wow, I really wish I had an outlet where I could go out there and just speak on this on a week-to-week basis and be current.’ And I thought, ‘You know what? This talk show … I can do that. I can do the things like we did on “Chris Rock.”‘ And that seemed like what they were getting at, what they wanted. And so I’m like, ‘This is the time. This is the time to jump into it.'” Sykes says.
Executive producer Eddie Feldmann says the show will look at what has happened in the world through Sykes’ eyes.
“I think that’s what we’re trying to do maybe a little differently is have that opportunity to have Wanda’s point of view really look at the week in a different way. Yes, through skits, through some really eclectic panels, through things that are somewhat a little different, but fun,” Feldmann says.
The format will be very loose. If something is deemed funny and relevant, it’ll be in the show. Her topics will range from entertainment to politics.
“If Dick Cheney puts out a hip-hop album, we’re booking him,” Sykes says.