Honestly, walking into a room full of people who probably didn't vote like you is a bold way to start a comedy special. But that is exactly what happened when Wanda Sykes stepped onto the stage for her 2019 Netflix debut. She didn't lead with a "hello" or a "how's everyone doing tonight?"
Instead, she went for the jugular.
She basically told the crowd that if they voted for Donald Trump and still paid for a ticket to see her, they just made another bad decision. It’s a hilarious, jarring opening that sets the tone for the entire hour. It wasn't just about politics; it was about the feeling that the floor had dropped out from under our collective reality.
The Orange Elephant in the Room
For a long time, Wanda Sykes tried to avoid the "orange elephant." She actually admitted in interviews with Entertainment Weekly and The Los Angeles Times that she considered calling the special Oh Well. That was the vibe back then, right? We’d see something wild on the news and just shrug. "Oh well, what’s next?"
But she couldn't keep doing that.
The title Wanda Sykes: Not Normal came from the realization that we were all just getting used to chaos. She talks about the presidency like it’s a weird performance art piece. One of the best bits is her physical impression of Trump. She doesn't just do the voice; she becomes an inflatable tube man—the kind you see flailing outside a car dealership. It’s silly, but it captures that frantic, directionless energy she was seeing in the White House.
She also digs into the Secret Service details. Like, why are we paying for Tiffany Trump’s security? Wanda's take is basically: "Who is even looking for Tiffany? She’s not on our radar. She’s barely on her dad’s radar."
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A House Full of White People
The special takes a really personal turn when she talks about her home life. Wanda is a Black woman, a lesbian, and a mother. She’s married to Alex Niedbalski, a white French woman, and they have two white kids.
She describes waking up every morning as "a minority in my own house."
There’s a great story she tells about taking her family to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in D.C. She talks about how the museum made her feel proud and powerful—reminding her that her ancestors survived some of the worst history imaginable. Meanwhile, she looks over at her wife and kids, and they’re just... sad. It’s a nuanced look at how different people process the same history based on their own identity.
The Reality TV Obsession
Wanda doesn't just stick to the news. She goes after the stuff we watch to avoid the news, and she's not kind to it.
The Bachelor gets absolutely shredded.
She argues that the show basically shouldn't exist in a post-#MeToo world. To her, it’s a regression. She jokes that the only time you hear "Me too" on The Bachelor is if someone mentions they have chlamydia. It’s a sharp, mean-but-fair critique of how we consume "entertainment" that contradicts the values we claim to hold in public.
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Then there’s Naked and Afraid.
She has this legendary bit about an episode where a Black guy named Ronnell gets paired with a white lady from North Dakota. He’s doing great. He’s survivalist-level calm. Why? Because, as Wanda explains, they basically booked a homeless man. He wasn't "surviving" the island; he was on vacation. It’s a classic Wanda observation—finding the intersection of race, class, and the absurdity of reality television.
Why It Still Matters Today
Even though this special dropped in 2019, it feels strangely relevant in 2026. The "new normal" we all talked about back then just became... the normal. But watching Wanda Sykes: Not Normal reminds you that it's okay to still find things weird.
She reminds us that the bar used to be different.
Remember when the biggest scandal was President Obama wearing a tan suit? Or Michelle Obama showing her arms? Wanda uses those memories to show how far the goalposts moved. It’s not just a comedy set; it’s a time capsule of a moment when everyone was collectively losing their minds.
The Critical Reception
Critics loved it, and the industry did too. The special pulled in two Emmy nominations:
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- Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
- Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
It cemented her as one of the "uncancellable" greats. She isn't worried about Twitter mobs because, as she’s said before, "Only God can cancel me." She’s been in the game since The Chris Rock Show in the late 90s. She has the "NSA-level" security clearance of comedy—she’s seen it all and she isn't scared of the microphone.
Takeaways for the Comedy Fan
If you're looking to revisit or watch Wanda Sykes: Not Normal for the first time, keep an eye out for these specific things:
- The Physicality: Watch her body language during the Trump and menopause bits. She’s a master of using her whole self to sell a joke, not just her voice.
- The "Black Friend" Logic: She has a great segment on why everyone needs a Black friend. It’s a hilarious take on racial dynamics that feels like a masterclass in social commentary.
- The Pacing: Notice how she switches from high-stakes political anger to low-stakes family drama. It keeps the special from feeling like a lecture.
If you want to understand the current landscape of stand-up, you have to look at how Wanda bridged the gap between old-school "setup-punchline" comedy and the modern, deeply personal "identity-based" storytelling. She’s one of the few who can do both without making it feel forced.
Go back and watch the "toilet paper on the shoe" bit. It’s a perfect metaphor for her entire comedic philosophy: if you see something wrong, even if it’s embarrassing, you have to say something. Otherwise, you’re just letting the guy walk onto the plane with trash stuck to his foot.
Next Steps to Explore More:
- Check out her follow-up special: Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer (2023) on Netflix to see how her perspective shifted after the pandemic.
- Watch her sitcom: The Upshaws gives a more scripted, narrative look at the family dynamics she jokes about in her stand-up.
- Listen to her guest spots: Find her old interviews on The Daily Show or The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to see her improvise on the same "not normal" themes.