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Wanda Sykes Teams Up With 50Kshoes.com To Raise Funds for Haiti

Broadway World - Found Mar. 9, 2010
And to become a Wanda Sykes Fan, please visit her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheWandaSykesShow. About Wanda Sykes Wanda Sykeshas been...

Posted on March 9, 2010, 7:17 am

Yeah, I Said it -- Wanda Sykes: A Book Review

Associated Content - Found Mar. 6, 2010
Wanda Sykes, if nothing else, is an honest comedian. From her stand-up routines to her various acting roles to her talk show, Wanda Sykes...

Posted on March 6, 2010, 6:03 am

Real Talk with Wanda Sykes

EdgeBoston.com - Found Mar. 4, 2010
One thing that makes Wanda Sykes so popular is that she has an opinion about just about everything, and she is not afraid to share it.

Posted on March 4, 2010, 1:18 pm

The New Adventures of Old Christine Season 5 Episode 16

dingoRUE - Found Mar. 6, 2010
The New Adventures of Old Christine Season 5 Episode 16 Subway, Somehow airs Wednesday March 10 at 8/7c on CBS. CHRISTINE URGES RITCHIE?S SCHOOL

Posted on March 6, 2010, 10:43 am

Wanda Sykes weighs in on Conan and President Obama

Moraes on TV - Found Feb. 23, 2010
"I like both of these guys." Sykes, on the call to promote the fact that "The Wanda Sykes Show" just returned with new episodes, also...

Posted on February 23, 2010, 8:00 am

Wanda Sykes hoping for O'Brien Fox move

Digital Spy - Found Feb. 25, 2010
Wanda Sykes has revealed that she is hoping Conan O'Brien moves to Fox.

Posted on February 25, 2010, 12:25 pm

Happy Birthday, Wanda Sykes

NewsOK.com - Found Mar. 7, 2010
... was 33.    Best wishes to Wanda and everybody who shares this special day with her. ?Penny TV Pictured at right:  Wanda Sykes provides...

Posted on March 7, 2010, 1:54 pm

Wanda Sykes Puts NBC on Blast

Daily Beast - Found Feb. 5, 2010
Wanda Sykes dropped by Leno last night with one question on her mind: Is NBC smoking medical marijuana?

Posted on February 5, 2010, 2:00 am

GLAAD To Honor Wanda Sykes

Deadline Hollywood Daily - Found Feb. 18, 2010
GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) announced that Drew Barrymore will receive the Vanguard Award, and Wanda Sykes will receive the

Posted on February 18, 2010, 2:40 am

Wanda Sykes Grills NBC For Serving Fried Chicken (Video) | Black ...

Web TV Hub - Found Feb. 5, 2010
Apparently Wanda Sykes found out that NBC had a ?Black History Month? menu and wasn?t to pleased about it.

Posted on February 5, 2010, 2:06 am

Wanda Sykes Biography

Wanda Sykes
extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License

Wanda Sykes

Wanda Sykes, September 2004
Born March 7, 1964 (1964-03-07) (age 46)
Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
Occupation Actress, comedienne, writer, rapper, singer
Years active 1987–present
Spouse(s) Dave Hall (1991-1998)
Alex Sykes (2008-present)1
www.WandaSykes.com
Official website

Wanda Sykes (born March 7, 1964) is an American writer, stand-up comedian and actress. She earned the 1999 Emmy Award for her writing on The Chris Rock Show. In 2004 Entertainment Weekly named her as one of the 25 funniest people in America.2

She is well known for her role as Barb on The New Adventures of Old Christine and for her appearances on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. In November 2009 The Wanda Sykes Show, her own late-night talkshow, premiered on Fox airing Saturday nights.345

Contents

Early life

Sykes was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. Her father served as a US Army colonel employed at the Pentagon, and her mother worked as a banker. She attended Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland, and went on to graduate from Hampton University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing. After college, her first job was as a procurement officer with the National Security Agency (NSA),6 where she worked for five years.7

Career

Not completely satisfied with her role with the NSA, Sykes began her stand-up career at a Coors Light Super Talent Showcase in Washington, DC, where she performed for the first time in front of a live audience in 1987.87 She continued to hone her talents at local venues while at the NSA until 1992, when she moved to New York City.7 Her first big break came when opening for Chris Rock at Caroline's Comedy Club.7 In 1997, she joined the writing team on The Chris Rock Show and also made many appearances on the show.8 The writing team was nominated for four Emmys, and in 1999, won for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Special. Since that time, she has appeared in such films as Pootie Tang and on TV shows such as Curb Your Enthusiasm. In 2003, she starred in her own short-lived Fox network sitcom, Wanda at Large. The same year, Sykes appeared in an hour-long Comedy Central special, Tongue Untied. That network also ranked her #70 on its list of the 100 greatest all-time stand ups. She served as a correspondent for HBO's Inside the NFL, hosted Comedy Central's popular show Premium Blend, and voiced a recurring character named Gladys on Comedy Central's puppet show Crank Yankers. She also had a short-lived show on Comedy Central called Wanda Does It.

In addition to her film and television work, she is also an author. She wrote Yeah, I Said It, a book of humorous observations on various topics, published in September 2004.

In 2006, she landed a recurring role on the sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine; she became a series regular in the second season. She also guest starred in the Will & Grace episode "Buy, Buy Baby" in 2006. She provided voices for the 2006 films Over the Hedge, Barnyard, and Brother Bear 2. She had a part in My Super Ex-Girlfriend and after playing in Evan Almighty, had a bit part in License to Wed. Sykes' first HBO Comedy Special, entitled Wanda Sykes: Sick & Tired, premiered on October 14, 2006; it was nominated for a 2007 Emmy Award.9 In 2008, she performed as part of Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour for LGBT rights.

In October 2008, Wanda Sykes appeared in a television ad for the Think Before You Speak Campaign, an advertising campaign by GLSEN aimed at curbing homophobic slang in youth communities. In the 30-second spot, she uses humor to scold a teenager for saying "that's so gay" when he really means "that is so bad."1011

In March 2009, it was announced that Sykes would be the host of a new late-night talk show on Saturdays on Fox, The Wanda Sykes Show which was scheduled to premiere November 7, 2009.1213 In April 2009, she was named in Out magazine's Annual Power 50 List, landing at number 35.14

In May 2009, Sykes was the featured entertainer for the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, becoming both the first African American woman and the first openly LGBT person to get the role. Cedric the Entertainer had been the first African American to become the featured entertainer in 2005. At this event, Sykes made controversial headlines as she responded to conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh's comments regarding President Barack Obama. Limbaugh, in reference to Obama's presidential agenda, had said "I hope he fails". In response, Sykes quipped: "I hope his [Limbaugh's] kidneys fail."15

Sykes' third comedy special, Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me premiered on HBO in October 2009.13 November 2009 saw the premier of The Wanda Sykes Show, which starts with a monologue and continues with a panel discussion in a similar format to Bill Maher's shows Real Time with Bill Maher and Politically Incorrect.13

Awards

Sykes was nominated for three Primetime Emmys and in 1999 won the Emmy for "Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special." In 2001, she won the American Comedy Award for "Outstanding Female Stand Up Comic". She won three more Emmys, in 2002, 2004 and 2005 , for her work on “Inside the NFL” for “Outstanding Studio Show - Weekly- Inside The NFL" followed by a Comedy Central Commie Award for "Funniest TV Actress in 2003."16

Personal life

Sykes was married to record producer Dave Hall from 1991 to 1998.7 In October 2008, she married her female partner, Alex, whom she met in 2006. In November 2008, she publicly came out as lesbian while at a same-sex marriage rally in Las Vegas regarding Proposition 8, which forbids new marriages of same-sex couples in California.717 Alex gave birth to twins Olivia Lou and Lucas Claude on April 27, 2009.1

Sykes expressed her excitement over the presidential election of Barack Obama, and feeling "crushed" after California voters passed state Proposition 8.718 She has continued to be active in same-sex marriage issues hosting events and emceeing fundraisers.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1998 Tomorrow Night
2000 Nutty Professor II: The Klumps Chantal
2001 Down to Earth Wanda
Pootie Tang Biggie Shorty
2005 Monster-in-Law Ruby
2006 The Adventures of Brer Rabbit Sister Moon Direct-to-video
Voice
Over the Hedge Stella Voice
Clerks II Wife of Angry Customer
My Super Ex-Girlfriend Carla Dunkirk
Barnyard Bessy the Cow Voice
Brother Bear 2 Innoko Direct-to-video
Voice
CondomNation Linda
Hammy's Boomerang Adventure Stella Direct-to-video short film (from the Over the Hedge DVD)
2007 Evan Almighty Rita
License to Wed Doctor uncredited

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1997–2000 The Chris Rock Show Various Characters 7 episodes
1999 Best of the Chris Rock Show Various Characters TV special
2001 The Downer Channel Various First 2 episodes
The Drew Carey Show Christine Watson Episode: "Eat Drink Drew Woman"
Episode: "Mr. Laffoon's Wild Ride"
Episode: " Drew and the King"
2001-2009 Curb Your Enthusiasm Wanda Episode: "Thor"
Episode: "The Massage"
Episode: "The Benadryl Brownie"
Episode: "The Terrorist Attack"
Episode: "Krazee-Eyez Killa"
Episode: "The Surrogate"
Episode: "The Bowtie"
Episode: "Funkhouser's Crazy Sister"
2002, 2003 Crank Yankers Gladys/Wanda/Gladys Murphy 3 episodes
2003 MTV: Reloaded The Oracle TV film
Wanda at Large Wanda Mildred Hawkins Episode: "Pilot"
Episode: "King Rat"
Episode: "Wanda and Bradley"
Episode: "Wanda's Birthday"
Episode: "The Favor"
Episode: "Bradley Has a Friend?"
Episode: "Back to the Club"
Episode: "Clowns to the left of Me"
Chappelle's Show Herself Episode: "The Best of Chappelle's Show: Volume 2 Mixtape"
MADtv Herself Season 9 episode 903
2006 Will & Grace Cricket Episode: "Buy, Buy Baby"
2006-2009 The New Adventures of Old Christine Barbara 'Barb' Daran 42 episodes
2007-2010 Back at the Barnyard Bessy the Cow 45 episodes
2009 Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me13 Stand-up HBO comedy special
2009 The Wanda Sykes Show Herself; also creator, and writer Talk show

Writer

Year Title Role Notes
1997-98 The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show Writer 11 episodes
1997-00 The Chris Rock Show Writer Wrote 33 episodes
Co-produced 14 episodes
1998 Comedy Central Presents Herself and writer (as Wanda Sykes-Hall) Episode: "Wanda Sykes-Hall"
2001 Best of the Chris Rock Show: Volume 2 Writer TV special
The Downer Channel Writer Wrote the first 2 episodes
2002 The 74th Annual Academy Awards Special material written by Award show
2002-03 Premium Blend Writer 4 episodes/Stand-up
2003 Wanda Sykes: Tongue Untied Writer Documentary
Wanda at Large Creator, writer and producer 19 episodes
2004 Wanda Does It Creator, writer and executive producer Episode: "Wanda Does Repo"
Episode: "Wanda Does Vegas"
Episode: "Wanda Does the Sky"
Episode: "Wanda Does the Night"
Episode: "Wanda Does the WNBA"
Episode: "Wanda Does Photos"
2006 Wanda Sykes: Sick and Tired Writer Stand-up
2009 Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me13 Writer Stand-up

Discography

References

  1. ^ a b Julie Jordan (13 May 2009). "Wanda Sykes Becomes Mom of Twins!". People. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20278746,00.html. Retrieved 2009-05-13. 
  2. ^ "The Best of the Rest". Entertainment Weekly. 19 March 2004. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,600311_2,00.html. Retrieved 2008-12-25. 
  3. ^ "Wanda Sykes Official Site". Wanda Sykes Returns To Fox. http://www.wandasykes.com/press_pop.php?pressReleaseID=32. Retrieved April 3, 2009. 
  4. ^ "Fox Announces Fall Premiere Dates". THR Live Feed. http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/06/fox-fall-premiere-dates.html. Retrieved July 13, 2009. 
  5. ^ "The Wanda Sykes Show". The Wanda Sykes Show on Fox. http://www.fox.com/programming/shows/?sh=twslnp. Retrieved July 12, 2009. 
  6. ^ "Wanda Sykes Biography". Yahoo! Movies. AEC One Group Stop, Inc.. 2008. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1804481088/bio. Retrieved 2008-12-11. 
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Karpel, Ari (March 2009). "Black and Gay Like Me". The Advocate (1024). http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid71760.asp. 
  8. ^ a b "Wanda Sykes". The Notable Names Database. 2008. http://www.nndb.com/people/626/000044494/. Retrieved 2008-12-29. 
  9. ^ "Complete List of 2007 Emmy Nominations", Associated Press, 2007-07-19, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289974,00.html, retrieved 2009-11-27 
  10. ^ Juergens, Brian (2008-10-08). "Hilary Duff and Wanda Sykes on "That's so gay": Knock it off!". After Elton. http://www.afterelton.com/blog/brianjuergens/hilary-duff-wanda-sykes-on-thats-so-gay-knock-it-off. Retrieved 2009-11-27. 
  11. ^ http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com
  12. ^ Fox (2009-04-01). "Wanda Returns to Fox!". Press release. http://www.wandasykes.com/press_pop.php?pressReleaseID=32. Retrieved 2009-11-27. 
  13. ^ a b c d e Ostrow, Joanne (2009-11-07). "Wanda Sykes brings her sass to late night". Denver Post. http://www.mercurynews.com/tv/ci_13723269. Retrieved 2009-11-27. 
  14. ^ Out magazine
  15. ^ Bolcer, Julie. "Wanda Sykes Rips Into Rush Limbaugh." The Advocate. 11 May 2009. (accessed May 11, 2009).
  16. ^ "Wanda Sykes Biography". Comedy Central. May 11 2009. http://comedians.comedycentral.com/wanda-sykes. Retrieved 2009-05-11. 
  17. ^ McKinley, Jessie (2008-11-15), "Across U.S., Big Rallies for Same-Sex Marriage", New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/us/16protest.html?_r=1&ref=us, retrieved 2009-11-27 
  18. ^ Sarah Warn (15 November 2008). "Wanda Sykes Comes Out as Gay and Married". afterellen. http://www.afterellen.com/people/2008/11/wanda-sykes-comes-out. Retrieved 2008-11-22. 

External links