In His Own Words-Comedian Dave Lester Confronts Another Comedian Wearing A KKK Hood On Stage And Whips Him With A Belt!
Maybe I just shouldn’t have been there.
If you looked around the room you could see a clear theme; White male comics-some good- some not. Sprinkles of other races and maybe five women. As soon as I got there I didn’t feel good. I have a bit I’m working about not wanting to live in an all anything neighborhood because any group of all anything acts terrible. White, black, etc..!
After two no-shows to Comedy Fight Club- (a roast WWF themed weekly show) my curiosity got the best of me and I accepted the challenge from NYC newcomer Mikey Mays. Realizing it wasn’t set VS. set but an actual roast format I became disenchanted with the idea of trying to go at a guy I’ve never met. We had our horrible match and I didn’t offer much resistance-Mays wins by popular decision. Cool. There’s a whiskey to finish. A week to begin.
Then they call the next match-Tino Romero who has been doing stand up about 10 years, worked in clubs, ran Mics-very popular, nice and loved guy in the community. His opponent is comedian Michael Kramer who walks on the stage with a make-shift KKK hood and I stop mid step:-the room is filled with an ambivalent noise as if all collectively tryna decide how we feel about this and THAT’S when Kramer pulls out a mini noose dangling it at Tino and the room. There were no jokes attached or a funny sketch scene just a weak attempt at shock value.
I counted 8 black men in the room, maybe 6-7 women.
I’m now on the stage asking Michael if he is sure he wanted to do this and he said “Fuck You” to me; wrong.
There is a table with a WWF styled Championship belt on it and I whipped Kramer 2-3 times with it in very dramatic fashion. It probably looked vicious but he, I and the belt know it wasn’t.
I storm out the room to process what had happened and decided I did it as a gesture lesson on cause and effect. I’m not standing by and letting that rock in my face-that kind of unchecked boldness should be met with unchecked boldness. I want him to know what he did and how he did it was wrong-I wanna talk to him but given how resistant he was I assume I must’ve occurred menacing. I decided if I let this go-another dude will try this shit again. So if they see someone getting checked on it maybe they will think twice about running the racial light irresponsibly. Comedy is vast, it’s an ocean mirroring life and all the ugly but there are levels, contexts and yes-rules. Rules get blurry and so does vision after a blow to the head. I reached out to Michael K-our account is clear as far and I know but I do know he won’t do that again.
I’m glad I was there to help with that.
Dy Dave Lester
CW Reviving ‘MADtv’ With Primetime Series!
“MADtv” is returning to television.
The CW is reviving “MADtv” with a new primetime series, ordering eight hourlong episodes of the sketch comedy, featuring new and returning cast members. The network made the announcement Monday.
No premiere date has been set for the “MADtv” return.
CW aired a “MADtv” special earlier this year, which brought back a large portion of the original cast to celebrate the sketch comedy’s 20th anniversary. For the new show, the net says returning cast members will make special appearances as hosts of each episode.
With 14 seasons and more than 300 episodes, classic episodes from “MADtv’s” library are currently streaming on CW Seed, the CW’s digital network.
Telepictures will produce “MADtv” with David E. Salzman, Mark Teitelbaum and John Montgomery exec producing.
Salzman, who produced the original series and will serve as showrunner, commented: “The ‘MADtv’ franchise is as vibrant as ever thanks largely to social and digital media appealing to a fan base numbering in the millions that relates to the show’s brand of authentic and irreverent cross-cultural comedy. We will continue to present the hard-hitting, laugh-out-loud wall-to-wall pop culture parody our fans expect, but in a fresh, new way.”
“MADtv” debuted in 1995, airing Saturday nights on Fox and in syndication on Comedy Central, before ending its run in 2009.
Kevin Hart And Dwayne Johnson Rap About ‘The Revenant’ At MTV Movie Awards!
Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart showed off an array of hosting skills Sunday night during the 2016 MTV Movie Awards — including a surprise rap.
The duo rapped a song about Leonardo DiCaprio’s Oscar-winning movie “The Revenant” at the event held at the Warner Bros. backlot in Burbank, Calif. with the lyrics, “Leo got f–ked by a bear.”
Accompanied by dancers clad in fuzzy bear costumes, the two hosts got the star-studded audience involved too with Rebel Wilson, Adam DeVine and Anthony Mackie jumping into the song.
The shocking rap came after reports that DiCaprio’s character in “The Revenant” was raped by a bear, despite critics saying that DiCaprio is not raped, but rather, brutally mauled by the bear. At the time, the studio behind the film, 20th Century Fox, released a statement: “As anyone who has seen the movie can attest, the bear in the film is a female who attacks Hugh Glass because she feels he might be threatening her cubs. There is clearly no rape scene with a bear.”
Watch a clip of the rap below.
Source: Variety
Comics Rocks Rock Convention To Honor The Comedy Act Theater; To Be Hosted By Ricky Harris & Tavis Smiley!
Los Angeles – Before there was Def Jam, Comedy Central or Comic View, there was The Comedy Act Theater (CAT), the very first Black comedy club in the country. Just ask Chris Tucker, Eddie Murphy,Damon Wayans or a host of others to name the individual who was singularly responsible for nurturing and launching the careers of most of the country’s superstar Black comedians and they will each name maverick entrepreneur Michael Williams, the founder/owner of the Comedy Act Theater. The Comedy Act Theater laid the foundation and set the blueprint for Black comedy and Black comedy clubs today.
Many industry insiders consider Williams the ‘unacknowledged’ godfather of contemporary African American comedy. But on Friday, April 29, that will all change when comedienne Hope Flood presents her “Awards Dinner and Special Tribute to Michael Williams,” starting at7:00 p.m.with purple carpet arrivals, at the Regency West located at 3339 W. 43rd St. in Los Angeles,the original home of the Comedy Act Theater aka “The House that Robin Harris Built.” The evening is the highlight of her 5th Annual Comics Rock! Convention, an industry event that hosts workshops and seminars for aspiring comedians, actors and producers.
Tavis Smiley
Celebrated media personality Tavis Smiley will present Williams with his award and veteran comedic talent Ricky Harris will host the evening as comedians, celebrities and industry professionals pay tribute to the legacy of Williams’ efforts. The affair launches with a “purple carpet” arrival and includes a buffet dinner, awards presentation and after party. Tickets are $35 in advance and can be purchased online at
The extensive list of Comedy Act Theater performers who either got their start or performed there regularly include Chris Rock, Robin Harris, Jamie Foxx, Martin Lawrence, Monique, Keenan Wayans, Sinbad, Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, andTommy Davidson to name a few. The Comedy Act Theater was considered “the place” for African American talent in entertainment, sports and fashion in the 80’s. Whoopi Goldberg taped her HBO special at the Comedy Act.
“As comedians, we all owe so much to Michael Williams. His theater was our learning ground, our shelter, and our comedy home. I am just deeply humbled to be able to produce this event in his honor. It is so long overdue. I’m anticipating some really special surprises with several comedic legends reaching out on this night to just say ‘we remember when’ and ‘thank you Michael,'” expresses Hope Flood.
For more information on the Comic Rocks! Convention, happening April 26 to 30 at J. Anthony Brown’s JSpot Comedy Club, go towww.ComicsRockConvention.com and mark your calendars for the“Comics Rock the Court Charity Celebrity Basketball Game” on Saturday, April 30, from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Jesse Owens Park, 9651 S. Western Avenue in Los Angeles.
On This Day In Comedy… In 2005 ‘Beauty Shop’ Was Released By MGM!
On this day in comedy on March 30, 2005 Beauty Shop was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
This spin-off of Ice Cube’s Barbershop franchise stars Queen Latifah as Gina, a character introduced in 2004’s Barbershop 2. The plot in this installment has Latifah moving from Chicago to Atlanta to give her daughter a better life and so she can attend a private music school. Latifah is a great hair stylist, but is driven away from her home salon by her jealous boss (Kevin Bacon) so she opens her own shop. It’s a shop of misfits: old ornery customers, new dumb and lazy stylists and a rapper wannabe (Lil JJ) who’s always filming himself.
Eventually things start to look up. Latifah’s old clients return to her, her old boss’ clients come her way and the new people start to trust her and give up some business. Then the jealous ex-boss sends in a guy to destroy Latifah’s business. It almost works at a crucial time, but thanks to Latifah’s loyal employees it all turns out right. That also means Kevin Bacon gets paid a visit by some folks from the shop who give him a proper shaving.
Beauty Shop was directed by Billie Woodruff and co-stars Alfre Woodard, Alicia Silverstone, Andie MacDowell, Mena Suvari, Della Reese, Paige Hurd, Octavia Spencer, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Golden Brooks and Djimon Hounsou. It also features the comedy talents of Adele Givens, Sherri Shepherd, Laura Hayes and Sheryl Underwood with cameos by LisaRaye McCoy, Birdman, Kimora Lee Simmons and Wilmer Valderrama.
The film received numerous award nominations for directing, acting (Latifah and Bacon) and writing (Kate Lanier, Audrey Wells and Norman Vance, Jr.). On a $25 million budget, Beauty Shop earned $37,245,453 at the box office.
Philadelphia’s Infamous Laff House Comedy Club To Re-Open?
by Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The famed Laff House Comedy Club on South Street was a magnet for budding Black comedians and left a hole in Philadelphia’s comedy scene when it closed three years ago. Now– there’s possible re-birth.
“It’s exciting to get started again and to really go at it,” says Rod Millwood, owner of the “Laff House” name. For nearly two decades, Millwood and his wife Mona ran the Laff House Comedy Club near third and South Streets.
It was one of the only venues in Philadelphia dedicated to urban comedy and gave Black comedians, in particular, the opportunity to take the stage during prime time.
“The Laff House created a place for people who had no place to go, but were funny,” says Millwood.
Laff House owner Rod Millwood with Nelly, wife Mona, Kevin Hart, and Eddie Griffith.
(credit: Rod Millwood)
The stage was the stop for comedians like Eddie Griffith, Don “DC” Curry, Sheryl Underwood, Larence Killebrew, and so many other big names to perform in Philadelphia. Plus, it was the Laff House stage that helped develop talents like TuRae, Michael Blackson, and Kevin Hart.
But all of that came to a screeching halt in 2013.
“I pulled away,” says Millwood, when asked why he closed the beloved venue, “from everybody, everything, and I disappeared.”
Millwood’s wife Mona died of ovarian cancer in 2012. She ran the business portion of the club and was his right hand. Millwood says mounting debut, mismanaged funds, and his own grief sent him on a downward spiral of depression.
“When she left, my life fell apart,” he says.
The abrupt closure gave little notice to Laff House employees and left bad blood among many who loved the venue.
“I regret it to this day,” he says, “do you know how much it hurts to have someone call you a loser after years– it hurt. My wife died, I didn’t know what to do.”
He says he had a heart attack and has since recovered. So he’s starting over with a new attitude, a new venue and new comedians. But he’ll have the familiar name and mission.
Laff House owner Rod Millwood shows reporter Cherri Gregg around the “new” Laff House space.
(Credit: Cherri Gregg)
“I want comedians to know they have a place again,” he says, “it’ll be urban comedy– but if you’re funny, you’ll get your shot– Black, White, Asian– I’ll put you on stage.”
He’ll launch the Laff House at Market Live at 21st and Market Streets beginning Friday, April 8th. He has an agreement with the owners who will bring in musical acts; his job is to bring in comedians on Fridays and Saturdays twice a month. Millwood says his goal is to expand and possibly open his own Laff House venue.
“That was then and this is now,” he says, “I want to do it my way.”
Robert Townsend Details Making ‘The Five Heartbeats’ A Comedy Classic!
*Fresh off of making a splash with his debut film, “Hollywood Shuffle,” Robert Townsend had his sights set on creating nothing short of a classic with his next big screen endeavor.
Three years and 25 drafts later, the “Parent ‘Hood” star’s wishfully came to pass in the form of “The Five Heartbeats,” a musical drama he directed that was loosely based on the lives of several recording artists, including The Dells and the Temptations and depicts the rise and fall of a Motown-inspired group.
Co-written and starring Townsend as Donald “Duck” Matthews, “The Five Heartbeats’ arrived in theaters 25 years ago on March 29, 1991 and also starred Michael Wright as Eddie King Jr.,Leon Robinson (J.T. Matthews), Harry Lennix (Terrence “Dresser” Williams) and Tico Wells(Anthony “Choir Boy” Stone) as well as Hawthorne James (corrupt record label owner Big Red Davis), Roy Fegan (Bird, lead singer of rival group Bird and the Midnight Falcons), Diahann Carroll (Eleanor Potter, the wife of the Heartbeats’ manager Jimmy Potter) and Troy Beyer(Eddie’s girlfriend Baby Doll).
“The cast had always said that I’m trying to make a classic. I want to make a classic,” Townsend told EURweb’s Chris Richburg about his intent to create an unforgettable piece of cinema. “I just knew that I had put my whole heart and being into it. I have real high standards, you know, always trying to raise the bar. I was really proud of how the film came together because I really learned the value of having a great team.”
For Townsend, that team included his cast as well as those behind the scenes who worked to make his vision as director a reality.
“When you have a really great team, everybody raises the bar,” he said. “So what I’m really thankful for is that from Bill Dill as my cinematographer, raising the bar. [Academy Award-nominated costume designer] Ruth Carter, Loretha Jones as a producer. Every department was on the top line and it just made my life easy.”
With “Hollywood Shuffle” providing a springboard, Townsend noticed a big shift in the attention given to “The Five Heartbeats, with “going from a budget of $100,000 to almost $9 million.” Equipped with added finances and his internal passion, the filmmaker made sure to not waste precious time and utilized every resource and opportunity available to make his sophomore feature a greater success than his first outing behind the camera.
“It was a big jump and I went in really prepared. I did storyboards. I did shot lists and I created my own language. I created what I call the Townsend Bible,” Townsend shared when touching on his responsibility as director off camera as well as his full commitment as an actor in front of the camera with learning the synchronized moves of the Heartbeats. “Having done my very first movie with no money, you gotta understand that you can never bump heads and make any mistakes once you get on the set. So I created this very unique Townsend Bible and everybody knew what every day was gonna be, from the first minute you stepped on set until you left and went home. And then I had rehearsal. So everything I did, I was trying to not waste money but try to make a movie that people would want to see again and again.”
Although “The Five Heartbeats” moves forward in time to chronicle the fictional singing group’s journey, Townsend’s filming went in the opposite direction with shooting the entire movie in reverse order. The effort proved to be a challenging one, as the cast put themselves in the minds of their respective characters without acting out what happens to them beforehand.
“The first scene we shot of the movie was the church scene. And so Eddie is playing all this pain in his face and singing the song with Baby Doll and we haven’t done anything yet,” said Townsend, who credited Wright for delivering exactly what was needed to convey Eddie’s surprise appearance at the church service Duck attends after being invited by Choir Boy. “All of that is Michael Wright as an actor delivering a brilliant performance because all the pain he’s playing we really haven’t played yet.” [Laughs]
Outside of the actors, Townsend’s challenge in shooting in reverse also came with makeup and hair of the period, which he wanted without having anyone wear wigs or anything that wasn’t real to the chosen era.
“I didn’t want to have wigs. Sometimes you’ll see period movies and then everybody is wearing afro wigs and they have fake mustaches. I made the choice with my team to say, ‘We’re gonna shoot the movie in reverse. We’re gonna grow our hair out as long was possible, any facial hair, hair on your head. As we go through the movie, we’ll grow our hair really long for the latter years and then we’ll start to chisel off and cut down. We’ll cut all the facial hair off and then we’ll do processes for the ‘60s.’“The most difficult thing was tracking the emotion of playing scenes that we hadn’t even done already,” he continued. “So when we’re doing the last barbecue scene, we hadn’t done scenes with Eddie fighting, getting kicked out of the group and us going through our stuff. We hadn’t done all those scenes.”
Although the movie was shot in a different order, Townsend and “Five Heartbeats” co-writer Keenan Ivory Wayans made sure to never lose sight of family, a noticeable theme found throughout their joint collaboration.
“It was very important because when you see a lot of images of people of color, especially as it relates to men, it was a lot of angry stuff,” said Townsend. “There was never tender moments. We as a people are complicated. We are complicated. But even when people do us wrong, there is forgiveness. I think because of the Christian element of faith that surrounds African American people, there is a sense of forgiveness.”
“I think as Keenan and I were creating the story and developing the story, we wanted a sense of family,” he added. “We didn’t want to do the cliché thing where the guy dies. And then you go like ‘Oooh. Yeah, drugs.’ It was like, ‘We’re gonna have a hopeful moment.’ We’re gonna take you on a journey, but the family will stay together. They’re gonna go through stuff, yes, like any family does. Everybody has their seasons.”
Since it’s release, “The Five Heartbeats” ranks high in the hearts of fans, with memorable characters and scenes as well as a soundtrack that included The Dells hit “A Heart is a House of Love.” As a result, the movie has found a permanent place in the video collections of many who regularly turn watching it into an event via viewing parties with family and friends.
“I think as writers, ‘The Five Heartbeats’ now is a staple in black households,” Townsend stated. “It’s the Thanksgiving movie to watch together. It’s the Christmas movie to watch together. It’s that comfort food when you want to feel good. That sense of family is something that Keenan and I both really believe in because we both have strong families and we know that images are powerful.”
Although the movie is a favorite for many, it didn’t get that way from being in the theaters. Through the magic of home video, “The Five Heartbeats” overcame mixed reviews and an unsuccessful run in theaters via strong word of mouth that culminated in consistent praise and a growing fan base with each showing.
Despite being really hurt from his “baby” not doing well at the box office, the new life of “The Five Heartbeats” on video was a welcome turnaround for Townsend.
“When you create something and you put your heart into and it doesn’t work at the box office…Everybody talks about the Academy Awards. I thought we had an Academy Award winning-go. I thought there were some performances, not because I did it, but I can step outside the movie and say ‘Wow. These are some amazing performances,’” he said.
“It’s not like ‘Yeah, this is something I did.’ I was like ‘No. Michael Wright is an amazing actor. He pulled off a hell of a performance that should’ve been considered and nominated. And so when it didn’t work at the box office, it really hurt. I think everybody then takes steps back from filmmakers when you don’t have a hit. And then you go like ‘Well, I did my part.’ When it didn’t work, it stings. It’s like ‘Oh my god. They didn’t like my baby.’
“Then when it came out on television and VHS back then and the whole audience, everybody starts talking about ‘This movie is great.’ All of a sudden, it became a staple and people were talking about it. Every year it just kept growing. The movie bombed and then it was kinda trippy. All of us would call each other and be like ‘People are stopping me on the streets, talking about ‘The Five Heartbeats.’ Hawthorne, who played Big Red, he says ‘Man. People are yelling at me, calling me Big Red.’ Then Tico is like ‘They call me choir boy, church boy, peanut head.’ He was like ‘Rob. Something is going on.’ So we all kind of felt it and it was kind of like this whole move.”
Families and regular fans weren’t the only ones to show love for “The Five Heartbeats.” Real-life singing groups who saw themselves in the members of the group also took to the film.
“There’s just certain things that happen in all groups,” said Townsend. “New Edition, they reached out to me and then they were like ‘Bobby [Brown] is Eddie King’ and so and so is like Duck.’ And so every group that I see when I go out they go like, ‘Oooooh man. I see a lot of stuff.’
Going deeper into the group aesthetic, Townsend added that it all came down to “human nature” regarding the perception of members by fans and people who have a hand in the direction of their careers.
“When Keenen and I did the research, what we found was it’s human nature. The women start screaming for one guy more than another. Then the one guy’s head gets big. It’s the trappings,” he said. “When you’re in a group and the group is struggling and then all of sudden you blow up, the fans come in and money comes in and the record label is trying to get the lead singer away so they can do a solo album. It’s all standard business. So we incorporated everything that we heard and it continues to go on because its just human nature.”
As “The Five Heartbeats” celebrates 25 years, fans can look forward to getting the full story behind the making of the film from Townsend himself via an upcoming documentary he hopes to have out in June. While he couldn’t reveal specific details, the entertainer-director did mention that major revelations will be made about those who were in the running to play the Heartbeats as well as turmoil behind the scenes.
Whether it’s watched as a fan, aspiring filmmaker or singing member of a group, Townsend sums up “The Five Heartbeats” with the one word he feels sums up what his film and everything that happens in it is all about.
“Family,” Townsend stated. “The film is really about the importance of family in that no matter what storms you go through, families that love each other will always come back together. Family.”
Source:EURWEB
On This Day In Comedy… In 1997 ‘BAPS’ Was Released By New Line Cinema!
On this day in comedy on March 28, 1997 B*A*P*S was released by New Line Cinema
Directed by Robert Townsend and written by Troy Beyer, B.A.P.S stars Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle-Reid as Decatur, Georgia waitresses trying to come up. They want to open up the first combination beauty shop / soul food joint and go to make a music video in Los Angeles, California to raise the money. Since we are talking about Halle Berry (no matter how ghetto they tried to make her look); they instead wind up in Beverly Hills at a sick old millionaire’s mansion helping his butler (Ian Richardson) take care of him and living the life of Black American Princesses (thus the title).
However, the girls are ghetto. They’re not skanks. So once they see how other gold-diggers are trying to financially abuse the old rich guy (Martin Landau), they decide to pump the brakes themselves and look after him on the real. Of course when he finally dies he leaves them half his money. So they were ghetto, but not ‘ignant’.
B.A.P. S. features comedians Bernie Mac, Faizon Love, Rudy Ray Moore, Pierre and Anthony Johnson. It was panned by critics and audiences were too enthusiastic either. The film grossed a grand total of $7,338,279 on a $10 million budget, but we are talking about Halle Berry. She got nominated for Best Actress by the Acapulco Black Film Festival.
On This Day In Comedy… In 2015 ‘Get Hard’ Was Released By Warner Brothers!
On This day in comedy on March 27, 2015 Get Hard was released by Warner Bros.
This buddy comedy starring Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell was the directorial debut of Etan Cohen. The critics savaged it, but as usual what do critics know when it comes to popular taste. The film about an accused white collar criminal tutored by a guy who said who spent time behind bars raked in $90.4 million domestically, $21.3 million internationally for a worldwide total of $111.7 million on a $40 million budget.
Ferrell plays a hedge fund manager with an ideal life. He’s engaged to his boss’ daughter and has a bright future. He’s cheap which is evident by the two dollar tip he gives his car washer, (Hart), but during a party Ferrell is arrested for embezzlement and given 30 days to get his affairs in order before going to prison for 10 years. He freaks out. Cutting off his ankle monitor, he tries to swoop up his fiancée to run away with him, but the cops bust him again and as they’re taking him away he asks Hart how did he deal with prison? Of course Hart would have to know – he’s Black. Hart is also crafty. He makes a deal to instruct Ferrell on how to survive for $30,000. Deal!
The normally scary, Hart puts the unsuspecting and scared Ferrell through the rigors of penitentiary life. He peppers sprays him, mad dog faces him, gets him into fights at the park and has a mock prison riot to toughen him up (where Ferrell gets stabbed in the forehead with a homemade shiv). Thinking his once future father-in-law is on the up and up Ferrell tells him he’s getting help and he’ll be okay. That was the wrong thing to say to the actual embezzler. Ferrell’s almost pappy thinks Ferrell is onto him and tells his hit man to take care of Ferrell immediately.
Meanwhile Hart has been convinced that Ferrell is no criminal and certainly not tough so they go in another direction. Hart tells Ferrell he has to learn how to give head or be killed. They even go to a gay hang out, but Ferrell can’t go through with the fellatio. So Hart tries to get Ferrell into his cousin’s gang so he’ll be protected in prison. No luck. They try a white supremacist gang, but Ferrell is not a convincing racist and they try to kill him thinking he’s a cop. With time running out they figure it was the father-in-law. They get his computer records and have him dead to rights. Ferrell’s fiancée was also in on it and the hitmen are about to handle him and Hart when the US Marshals show up because Ferrell’s ankle monitor went off. After a short hitch behind bars for having an unregistered gun (Ferrell had it hidden up his butt – “kestering”) he is released without incident. His almost pappy didn’t fare as well in the joint. Speaking of – in the end, Hart gets his carwash business and Ferrell gets his life back. Yay!
Get Hard also features the talents of Craig T. Nelson, Alison Brie, T. I., Edwina Findley, Shad Gaspard, Paul Ben-Victor, Ron Funches and Jimmy Fallon and John Mayer as themselves. Christophe Beck composed the music. The screenplay was done by Jay Martel, Ian Roberts and Etan Cohen from a story by Martel, Roberts and Adam McKay.
On This Day In Comedy… In 2003 ‘Wanda At Large’ Premiered On FOX!
On this day in comedy on March 26, 2003Wanda at Large premiered on Fox.
Created by and starring comedienne, Wanda Sykes, this sitcom ran for two seasons. It was initially a 6 episode interim show for Fox. The premise was Sykes is a standup comedian doing correspondence work for a political talk show. She’s not particularly their cup of tea and her bosses (Ann Magnuson and Phil Morris) barely tolerate her and her antics. While trying to ignore them, Sykes juggles her domestic life with her sister-in-law (Tammy Lauren) and her two kids (Robert Bailey, Jr. and Jurnee Smollett).
The show was set in Washington, DC and premiered after Fox’s mega-hit, American Idol. Following a second season renewal and a decline in ratings, Wanda at large was moved to the Friday night death spot of 8:30pm and aired its last episode on November 7, 2003.
Wanda at Large was nominated for the BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and a Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout Show. Wanda Sykes received nominations for Best Actress by the BET Awards, Teen Choice and Satellite Awards.
