Summary
While Wanda Sykes: Legacy shines during moments of relatable, laugh-out-loud observational humor, the special ultimately gets bogged down by a heavy, one-sided political focus.
I walked into the Netflix special Wanda Sykes: Legacy completely blind. Having never seen her stand-up work before, I wasn’t sure what to expect, although I do know she has done Emmy-winning work as a writer and performer on The Chris Rock Show.
According to Netflix’s logline, “Wanda Sykes returns to her alma mater with a fearlessly funny takedown of everything from the state of the world to the cultural clash over washcloths.” That alma mater is Hampton University, a historically Black university in Virginia.
The opening felt wholesome and sweet, and I was excited for some light-hearted comedy. In the beginning, I found myself giggling at her jokes about Donald Trump, particularly enjoying her impression of his dancing.
Unfortunately, I became progressively less entertained as I realized how politically charged the performance actually was. While most modern comedy features political elements, I am not a fan of making politics the centerpiece. If a comedy show is going to tackle politics, I believe it ought to target both sides equally – let no stone go unturned. Sometimes the funniest jokes are the ones you make about yourself. To be clear, I’m not saying this is a bad special; it will be incredibly popular with the target audience. That audience just isn’t me.
That said, I will give her some praise. There were a few fun, silly jokes that made me chuckle, though they probably say more about my sense of humor than her overall routine. For instance, she joked about how standing in a queue at a self-checkout aggravates her because she’s essentially waiting in line to work for free – a feeling I never realized I had experienced myself! It’s a simple, silly joke, but that’s exactly my type of humor. It hit on that perfect observational truth that good comedy thrives on the absurdities of modern daily life
Overall, I didn’t hate the special, but it won’t be joining my list of favorites. Stand-up is getting harder these days as the market becomes crowded and the pressure to stand out increases.
If you’re looking for a pure, guaranteed laugh, I highly recommend heading over to Amazon Prime to watch Seasons 1 and 2 of Last One Laughing, hosted by Jimmy Carr. It’s not stand-up, but it is bloody hilarious – the kind of show that makes your stomach hurt from laughing. Ultimately, while Legacy had its slow patches, it was much more light-hearted and enjoyable than the politically tight Ali Wong: Single Lady.
More on Wanda Sykes:
