Wanda Sykes: Anytime I Have to Ask Myself, is it Wrong? I Know I’m on to Something

Wanda Sykes’ brand new special, What Happened…Ms Sykes? debuts tonight on EPIX, and get ready because Sykes comes out swinging. First off all, nobody can use the word “Fuck” as effectively as Wanda Sykes and she’s got a few other choice words for the stupid people of the world. As an outspoken advocate of at least four communities- she’s black, female, gay, and a cancer survivor, Wanda is well-known for her straight no bullshit talk. Her new special continues her tradition of telling it like it is on issues that matter like Ferguson, gun control, cancer and the world’s food supply and quite a few issues that might not make the national agenda, like what happens when your French wife can’t cook, and everything that goes with raising kids. Despite connecting on some pretty big issues, there is no preach in “WH…MS”.  Wanda remains at the top of her game at finding out what’s funny about the serious topics she addresses.  We talked with Wanda about creating the special, whether she uses the Wanda persona off stage, and what her wife thinks about being talked about in the special.

Watch What Happened…Ms. Sykes? premiering on EPIX tonight, Friday October 21 at 10pm in the East.

The Interrobang: Congratulations, I saw the special, and it’s such a great special. You did something you always do, which is to completely surprise, and pull off the unexpected. Without giving anything away, you go and open the show with a piece that was so unexpected, and hilarious, and very personal, but really hitting some big issues, but from the other end. What made you decide to open with that particular piece?

Wanda Sykes: It seemed like when I was out touring, a lot of the jokes, and everything that were landing, were the ones where I was just being honest about how I feel, and just what I noticed. Like my situation, what I’m doing. It’s all my day-to-day. Just cooking for these people, and cleaning, and all that. Looking at it like, “This is what this looks like out from the outside.” I was like, “is that, is it wrong? that, nah,” anytime I have to ask myself, “Is it wrong?” I know I’m onto something. It’s like, “No, I’m just being honest.” That’s where it just was like, the jumping off point of, “How did this happen? What is going on?” I just expanded that into everything else. Look at the world, and look at our food, and look at the politics. That was the catalyst I guess, my life.

The Interrobang: You move around between some heavy issues, and some day to day things like about cooking and carrots. Is that intentional, are you looking to break up the heavier subject, or are you just choosing what’s funny to you?

Wanda Sykes: Just what’s funny to me. It really is. Of course, there’s a way of putting it together when crafting the whole hour. You want to, I want people to have a good time, all throughout the hour. It wasn’t intentionally going, “Now I need to lighten it up.” It wasn’t that. It’s just, “This I just find these are all the funniest moments for me.”

The Interrobang: You’re fire on stage. Just the way you can take a sentence, and give it more meaning than just the words in the sentence. Is that crafted stage expression, or is that just who you are?

Wanda Sykes: I would say it’s a little bit of both. It’s me, but it’s also my stage persona. If I’m in a debate, or arguing, or whatever with my friends, or my wife, or whatever, I still use that to state my point. We’re talking about sports, if I’m talking about sports with a friend, I still can use that. It’s me, but it’s also the stage me.

The Interrobang: I can imagine that could be very effective as a mom.

Wanda Sykes: Oh yeah. Actually, when I’m talking to my kids, I have to intentionally not use that voice. I’m trying to be more measured, and rein it in a little bit. I figure I’ll save that for the teenage years.

The Interrobang: With so many people taking on gun control these days, you came through with, I think, one of the best catch-you-off-guard examples that I’ve ever heard, comparing stroller safety to gun safety. It was so effective. Where did that come from?

Wanda Sykes: I think I was reading an article, or watching the news, and they were saying this stroller had been recalled, or this car seat had been recalled, I’m like, “This is crazy. Okay, we can recall a car seat, or a stroller, but you can buy whatever gun you want. This is nuts.” It was just, because a kid loses the tip of his finger we have to take this product off the market, but a gun kills twenty kids, “Oh well, no that’s the second amendment right.” It’s just nuts.

The Interrobang: How did you choose the title of your special, “What Happened Ms. Sykes?”

Wanda Sykes: It’s a take off of the documentary about Nina Simone, “What Happened Ms. Simone?” I love her, I thought was so well done, the documentary. It was just a play on that. I wanted, but of course, I’m fortunate, didn’t suffer all the mental illness that she went through, and all. It’s about, she always said, “It’s job of an artist to speak out on social issues, and just to be aware of what’s going on.” That was my take on the task that Nina Simone has given to artists.

The Interrobang: How did your family feel seeing the special? Were they happy with it?

Wanda Sykes: My wife has seen it. She was there at the taping. My kids are too young. They’re only seven. She’s happy, she’s very proud.

The Interrobang: Is it fun for her to be a part of it?

Wanda Sykes: Yes, she loves it. She … Well, I guess it all depends on the joke. I’m sure there’s some jokes where she wasn’t too crazy about, but the ones that made it into the show, she enjoys it, and when I’m out performing, and she’s not there, she’ll ask me, “How did I do?” I’m like, “Oh, you killed, baby.”

The Interrobang: What are you working on next? What are you going to do, do you just take some time off now?

Wanda Sykes: I take a break, yeah. I’m doing episodes of Black-ish, and right now, It’s a lot, doing a special. I’m ready to take a little break. Probably for the rest of the year, and I’ll probably be back out next year.

Wanda Sykes upcoming EPIX comedy special, “What Happened…Ms. Sykes?,” premieres Friday, October 21 at 10/9c on EPIX.

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