Wanda Sykes Tells it Like it Is on Late Night

Emmy Award-winning actress, comedian and out lesbian Wanda Sykes brings her irreverent and topical humor to late night television starting November 7 when The Wanda Sykes Show debuts on Fox (11 pm ET/PT)

Named one of Entertainment Weekly's 25 Funniest People in America, Sykes currently appears on The New Adventures of Old Christine. Her standup comedy special also is airing on HBO.

During a recent conference call, Sykes talked about her new talk show and about her disappointment with the recent marriage vote in Maine.

 "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 ...  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," Sykes said.

"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," she explained. "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." 

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As a married lesbian, it's not surprising that Sykes finds the results of the Maine election, "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."

Sykes got her first big break as a standup comedian when she opened for Chris Rock at Caroline's Comedy Club, in NYC. In 1997 she became a writer and appeared on the Chris Rock Show and has since appeared on a variety of TV shows including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Comedy Central and Will & Grace.

In October 2008, Sykes married her female partner, and in November 2008 publically came out as a lesbian. Alex gave birth to twins Olivia Lou and Lucas Claude in April 2009.

Sykes credits the Chris Rock Show with giving her the background to do her own show. "My mandate is, 'Hey, let's be funny, and most importantly, let's be relevant.'  ...You'll definitely get to hear my voice and you'll get my sensibility." 

Here's Wanda chatting about her show. As usual, hilarity ensues. 

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