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Nite Out

Funny morning, noon and night

By Dalia Wheatt
Published March 16, 2006

	Preview: Wanda Sykes performs at 8 p.m. Saturday at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Carol Morsani Hall. $39.50 (813) 229-7827 or tbpac.org

Wanda Sykes is one of the 25 funniest people in America, Entertainment Weekly says. She has written for The Chris Rock Show and the Academy Awards. She starred opposite Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda in Monster-In-Law. She has won two Emmys. She's talented. She's outspoken. But she's not a morning person.

Somehow, though, Sykes agreed to a 7 a.m. interview. She recently called from her home in L.A., where not even her border terrier, Riley, was awake yet. Here are the excerpts.

Are you a morning person?

I'm a whatever-I-need-to-be, I guess, person. If I need to be up in the morning, I can do it, but I'm more of a night person, being a comic and all.

You had lots of different jobs on your show, Wanda Does It, but personally what's the worst job you've ever had?

Working at the Ponderosa steakhouse, cleaning out the salad bar and just - yeah. Watching the cooks drop a tray of steaks and throwing them back on the grill.

Is there a job you would want, if you could trade places with someone for a day?

Maybe Oprah. But then again, I doubt that I would do all that Oprah does.

Who or what do you think is funny?

The Simpsons. Whenever the DVD comes out, I just buy that. I like The Office. At first I loved the original, and so I was a little skeptical about the American version. I like King of the Hill also. And I think Steve Carell is really funny, so I gave the American version a shot and I really think they did a really good job on it.

You're on the road a lot. What shows do you TiVo?

I TiVo Lost, Medium. What else do I TiVo? The L Word and what else? There's something else I TiVo. Nip/Tuck, but I haven't really watched all of those. I'm trying to think, is there anything else? Oh yeah, Entourage.

Could you see yourself living in Florida?

No. It's too damn hot. And the humidity, too.

But you live in LA.

We don't get the humidity. I don't know, I just don't see being very productive in Florida.

You mean you'd just be chilling on the beach all day?

Yeah. I would just chill on the beach and drink all day. But it's beautiful. And plus, I'd be a little afraid of the weather there, too.

What was your first splurge after making it big? Did you go out to Ponderosa for a steak dinner?

I think I bought a nice coat. It was a really ridiculously expensive coat. But I don't throw money around.

What's on your night stand?

My clock, and I just started a book about the life of Hattie McDaniel.

Are you going back to bed now?

I don't know. Riley's still sleeping, so maybe I'll try to get a few more winks in. But I have rehearsal today in a couple hours, so maybe I'll get up and go work out or something.

* * *

What's next for Sykes?

n In February the comic began rehearsals for Evan Almighty, a sequel to Bruce Almighty that stars Steve Carell.

n She will film a one-hour stand-up special next month in Seattle.

n She's the voice of Stella the Skunk in Over the Hedge, an animated adventure opening in May.

[Last modified March 15, 2006, 13:20:19]