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Wanda Sykes enters the race of late-night talk shows
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Wanda Sykes
Late–night TV is getting a little more racially diverse, in terms of who’s hosting the shows. This autumn marks the debuts of late-night talk shows hosted by three comedians/actors: Mo’Nique (on BET), George Lopez (on TBS) and Wanda Sykes (on Fox). "The Wanda Sykes Show" premieres November 7 at 11 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time, and will air on Saturdays in that time period. Because Sykes’ show is on a broadcast network instead of on cable TV, she’s the one out of the three who will have the largest potential audience.
It’s a formidable challenge, considering that there are more nighttime talk shows on TV compared to 10 years ago, and even veterans like Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien have been struggling in the ratings. But Sykes is ready to take on the challenge by offering a setting that’s different from other late-night chat shows. For starters, there will be bar serving alcohol on her set, and she and can drink from the bar during the show. Need we say more? During a recent telephone conference all with journalists, Sykes offered a peek into what to expect from her talk show (and what not to expect), and she sounded off on gay-rights issues, George W. Bush and which stars would be her dream guests.
Are we going to see more of your alter ego Esther Rolls, as far as the questions that you're going to ask your guests? Is it going to be real?
Will Esther interview guests?
No, but you know what I'm saying, kind of from the gut …
Esther makes cameos of, yes, I have nothing to do with that, she's never booked on the show, she just …
She just barges in?
Yes, she kind of barges in. We're not doing the typical interview with the celebrity, "Hey, tell us about your new movie." We're throwing them in on the panel. When we have the panel discussion and we'll talk about current topics or it could be pop culture or maybe something's bugging somebody that night and we'll have more like a group discussion on the subject.
Wanda Sykes
Kind of like a "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn," you're going to do a dissection of the top stories of the day and see what's bugging at everyone?
Colin Quinn, who is a friend, his show made me nervous in a way, because I felt like that nobody liked each other when on that — and I know that crowd, because I hung out with them when I'm in New York doing the comedy show. There's a comics table and we all sit around and basically rip each other apart. My show won't have that energy.
Less testosterone.
Yes, it'll be … the same intensity as far as opinions, but you'll get why I invited these people to stop by and hang out with me. It's like, I'm not going to have guests on that I'm trying to rush out the door. These are people that I enjoy and want to hang out with and have a drink and get to know a little better.
Who are some of the people that you like that we're going to see?
We'll get Chris Rock, and if I can track down Dave Chappelle, I'll get him to come by. Jane Fonda. Actually the first guest, one of our first panel guests, Mary Lynn Rajskub, I worked with her on the show called "The Downer Channel" back in the day on NBC. I'm just happy that we both survived that and we're still employed. I'm sure we'll post to that on ["The Wanda Sykes Show" premiere episode].
Yes, of course, there are some politicians I would love to sit down and have a conversation with. And also you mentioned "Tough Crowd"; my best friend Keith Robinson, he was a regular on "Tough Crowd." Keith is my co-host. Yes, we've been friends for over 20 years …
Keith Robinson and Wanda Sykes
Maine recently voted against gay marriage. Can you comment on that?
It's very disappointing. I know exactly how the community is feeling right now, especially in Maine. It's just sad when someone's civil rights can be put up to a vote. That just should never happen. The constitution declares a separation between church and state. And I think that's what it's going to come down to and what we need to uphold and when that happens I think there will be equality for everybody.
You and George Lopez are debuting your own late-night talk shows within days of each other. What do you think a minority host brings to a late-night program or any program that you're not getting from what basically is a white male fraternity?
I believe all these shows are driven by the host. So Letterman is the only one who could do the Letterman show. That goes for all of us. Yes, George[Lopez] is minority, and so am I, but it's basically not what you're getting from a minority, it's us. George has been at this for 20-plus years and so have I.
We're seasoned comedians and I think that's what we're going to bring to it. Dave Letterman, he brings his "I'm from Indiana" point of view, and Jay brings his "I'm Italian." I think that's where it is, it's host-driven, so it's going to be more our personality and not just, "Oh, here's, now you're finally going to get the voice of a black woman." I mean, yes, I'm a black woman, but I don't speak for all black women.
Wanda Sykes at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, California, in August 2009
Can you describe what the structure of your talk show will be beyond the panel discussion? Will you go out and do a monologue, will it be entertainment numbers or will it be like the Bill Maher thing of sitting and discussing what's going on?
We're doing a little bit of everything really. I will do a monologue, but it's not going to be just a string of random jokes. I want it to feel like a live standup performance, so it'll be more concentrated on one area, and I will have a sidekick, Keith Robinson, one of my closest friends. I've known him for over 20 years ... He will be like my co-host.
We will have a panel discussion similar to Bill Maher, but it won't be as, I should say, as serious, not as confrontational, I guess. You want to feel like these people are on the show for a reason that I enjoy them, we're getting to know each other; it's like mingling, I should say. But of course, they will be opinionated, but it's, "Hey, we'll still have our beer summit." We can sit down, have a drink and laugh about it.
Will there be any performances by any musical acts?
Yes, there will be a musical act, not every week, but if something comes up and it's like, "Heck, man, I would love to get this person to perform," then, yes, we will have that.
Could you give us some idea of the topics you're going to cover in your premiere and also who exactly the panelists will be for this first episode?
The panelists this week, we will have Mary Lynn Rajskub from "24," Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, he's on "Brothers" but he's a friend of mine, and Phil Keoghan from "The Amazing Race," one of my favorite shows. I want to get to know Phil a little bit. I'm tired of just seeing him standing on that mat greeting people from all around the world. I wanted to sit down and have a drink with him.
Wanda Sykes
When you were a comic coming up, did you aspire to be a late-night host or did you see it as just kind of the white male fraternity and it was kind of a mental road block?
Honestly, I cannot recall having that. I sound like Dick Cheney now, don't I? When I started doing standup, I had one goal and that was just to be a really funny comic who would be able to get on the road and work and make a good living. Yes, fortunately for me it's gone far beyond that, but that's still really my goal was just to be a funny, hard-working comic.
How did you decide that you wanted to do the late-night show?
Fox had some dirty pictures on me. No, they approached me, maybe like a year ago, and I said, "No," and then they came back maybe like a couple months ago or three months ago, I can't really remember, and pitched the idea again of doing a late-night show. I'm a mom now, so it just made sense where now I won't have to be on the road as much doing standup, because that's what I love to do. I'll be able to get that, whatever that need is to perform live by doing this late-night show.
What topics will you be discussing and what's bugging you?
What topics? Well, what's bugging me is that, I guess, that will probably be my monologue. Everybody's picking on the president, it's been only a year since he's been elected, and it seems like the man can't do anything right. Everything he does, people find some fault with him. I'll talk about that. The topics on the panel, honestly, we have not narrowed it down. We have probably like six or seven things floating around out there right now, so…
Will you talk to them about it before you go into the discussion, will they know what you're going to be talking about?
Yes, we'll give them an area, yes. We'll let them know what will be coming up, yes.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Wanda Sykes in "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
And will we see Julia Louis-Dreyfus, your co-star in "The New Adventures of Old Christine"?
Yes, you'll see her in a taped piece. She's in a taped piece and of course I will have her back live on the panel.
And you are staying with that show "Going Nowhere," right?
Of course, of course.
Your format’s different from Ellen DeGeneres’ show, but she does share her personal life, and whenever the gay thing comes up, she'll show pictures from her wedding. Is that something you're interested in doing or do you want to keep your personal life private?
Whenever there's an opportunity and it's funny, then, yes, I'll definitely talk about my personal life. My last standup special for HBO, I think I put it all out there. If I don't talk about it, it's because I don't have a joke for it yet. If it's due to be funny, you'll hear it.
Who are your inspirations, as far as your comedy?
As far as my comedy, it's Richard Pryor, Moms Mabley. I hate making a list, because I always leave someone out. I think growing up, yes, those two.
"The Wanda Skyes Show" writer John Ridley, Wanda Sykes and "The Wanda Sykes Show" executive producer Eddie Feldman
One of the criticisms about late-night TV has not just been about it being dominated by white guys hosting, but it’s also very much dominated by white male writing staffs. Is your writing staff going to have more variety?
Yes, yes. I have white women, black women, black men, white men. Yes, and hopefully the show does well and we get a bigger budget, I'll even expand it even open it up a little more.
Was that a priority for you or did that sort of just come naturally?
I went with funny. I went with, "OK, let me look at the material, let me see who's out there and who's available," and I went with funny is what spoke to me.
Do you have a theory about why it's taken so long to integrate late-night TV?
I would love to blame [George W.] Bush, yes, let's stick that on him, let's blame Bush.
Wanda Sykes at the annual White House Correspondents' Assocation gala dinner in Washington, D.C., in May 2009
In More magazine, you said that being gay is more of a stigma in the black community. How do you feel that black folks will embrace your show?
I think the community, and just like everybody else, that they respect honesty. People can't fault you for being open and honest. I think you get in trouble when you try to portray something that you're not and people find out and then you're hiding something. I think as long as you're open and honest that either if you like it, fine, and if you don't, at least you'll respect it. I get African-Americans coming up to me all the time; they show up to my shows. The community is very supportive, so I'm not worried about the gay thing turning viewers away. And besides, what else are you going watch?
The Washington Post said that this was your year, this is your moment. How does it feel to be closing out the year with your own show?
It feels pretty good, it feels pretty good. It's a great way to close it out and hopefully it'll continue and I can establish some roots here, because I would love to see this thing go for awhile.
Are you going to be Twittering while you have your show?
No, if it happens, it's not me Twittering. It's somebody else doing it. I don't Twitter, I don't Facebook. I do face-to-face book, that's what I'm good at. I talk to people.
Wanda Sykes at the Fox Al-Star party in Pasadena, California, in August 2009
In a perfect world, if you could book whatever combination of guests you could for the panel … any thoughts as to who you would just absolutely kill to get together?
I would pick George Clooney. Well, if they don't have to be alive, then I would go with Moms Mabley, George Carlin, and Richard Pryor.
OK, so let's say they have to be living. George Clooney and who else?
Condoleezza Rice. I bet you Clooney will loosen her up, huh? Get us some drinks and Condi … oh, boy. Condi, Clooney, and who else should I throw in there? And Michael Strahan. She likes the football player.
Is there anybody that you'd really hope to get on to just total eviscerate?
I would say Glenn Beck, but to me, interviewing Glenn Beck would be like interviewing Forrest Gump: They're not even real people.
Wanda Sykes and Fox Broadcasting Company President of Entertainment Kevin Reilly
You mentioned you'd love to sit down and have a drink with Phil Keoghan. What's the idea about drinking on the set?
Yes, come on, I'm not going to work this hard and not be able to drink on one of my shows. This is my second job, so this show I want it to just be just a good time. Hopefully, you guys will feel like you're hanging out at my spot and sitting there with me and my friends. I feel like the viewers, you guys are going to be sitting at home drinking, so we all should be on the same plane, right?
So what's your drink?
I will probably start out with a little of vodka and club soda, yes. If you spill it, you won't have a problem with the wardrobe, yes. And then there will be the after-show drink, if we have a great show, then I'll probably do a couple of shots of Patrón. Actually, you know what, and even if the show doesn't go well, then I'll have more shots of Patrón.
Is there any product placement involved here?
Oh, no, no, no, but just look for the little green bottle.
Wanda Sykes at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, California, in August 2009
Back to Maine voting against gay marriage. What to you think went on there?
Oh, well, what went on is the same thing that happened here in California. All the propaganda of "The gays are coming, gay marriage, and they're going to indoctrinate your kids and all that crap." So fear, basically fear, and like I said, I believe that eventually this is going to get to the highest court and they're going to have to determine that the majority cannot vote to take away a minority’s civil right; it's the separation of church and state. I've been in that place where those people are right now, up in Maine, and yes, so I don't find anything funny about it.
Will you talk about that on your talk show?
Probably not, because it's not funny. Yes, if I can find a joke then of course I'll do it. You got to say there is something that they did pass that to legalize weed, so I don't know.
You’ve been on "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Do you think we can expect Larry David to make an appearance on your show?
Sure. We haven't locked in a date, but yes, I would love to have Larry on.
A lot of that show is ad-libbed. Are there any great bits that you had that ended up getting edited out?
Everything gets a little truncated on that show, because he has a limited amount of time to get everything in and a scene can go on for 15, 20 minutes, so he has to cut it down. But I think he does a great job doing it.
What's your favorite city to perform in?
I love going back to D.C. It's where it all started and I love that crowd. They're smart … so I love going back to D.C. Now, if I was from an awful city, then, yes, maybe not, maybe going home would not be fun, but, yes, I just love D.C.
Do you think you'll ever move back there?
Move back to D.C., probably not. There are too many politicians there for me. Those people are scary.
Wanda Sykes speaks in front of Barack Obama (pictured in back row, center) at the anual White House Correspondents' Assocation gala dinner in Washington, D.C., in May 2009
Can you speak specifically on how you feel Barack Obama’s been handling the gay-rights issue?
I look at it as, "Give the man some time, he hasn't even been in office, he was elected this time last year." I remember banks closing, these long lines, people trying to get their money out of the bank, the economy just in the toilet, the Dow went over what 10,000 last week, so he's doing something right. [Gorge W.] Bush left a huge mess … It's like giving [Obama] a spoon and asking him to go fill up the Grand Canyon. I believe that he'll get to the gay-rights issue and so I'm just trying to be patient and just give him time.
There have actually been several people of color who have tried to host late-night shows, such as Keenen Ivory Wayans and Magic Johnson. I've always had this theory that when a host comes and has a real point of view, it almost speaks for a generation and that's when they really pop. That seemed to happen with Arsenio Hall, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle. Are you taking any lessons you've learned from working with Chris on the HBO talk show and bringing it to your show? And do you have a sense that you have to kind of speak for a generation in a way, sort of offer something different than what we're going to see on Leno and Letterman and all of these guys to survive?
Everything that I've learned from "The Chris Rock Show," I'm bringing to my show. My mandate is, "Hey, let's be funny and, most importantly, let's be relevant." So, yes, that's what I'm bringing to it and you'll definitely get to hear my voice and you'll get my sensibility.
As far as speaking for a generation, I'm going to talk about the things that I know, the things that are important to me and I might question the younger generation, because a lot of times, I just don't understand what the heck's going on. I'm sure people in my generation probably feel the same way. Maybe I'll learn something. Who knows? So yes, it will have that, I guess going down that same path.
Newsweek recently sort of talking about your show and George Lopez's show might not be willing to offer the kind of cutting humor that makes fun of Obama since yu and Lopez publicly supported Obama in his presidential campaign. Do you think that's going to be problem and what do you say to folks who wonder if you can bring the funny in politics if you're supportive of the president?
So I guess you didn't see my HBO special. That's what I would say.
Photo credits: Photos #1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10: Fox.Photos #4, 8: Getty Images. Photos #6: CBS. Photos #9, 12: AP.
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