Fox is finalizing a deal with actress-comedian Wanda Sykes for a Saturday late-night show.
The hourlong show, slated to premiere in the fall, will succeed the recently canceled sketch comedy "MadTV." It will be topical, featuring a panel of recurring guests sparring over issues from politics to pop culture. It also will include Sykes in field segments.
Known for her outspoken comedic perspective, Sykes is set to host the 2009 White House Correspondents' Assn. dinner. The actress, who co-stars on CBS' "The New Adventures of Old Christine," previously headlined the sitcom "Wanda at Large" on Fox.
The fate of Fox's other Saturday late-night show, "Talk Show With Spike Feresten," which airs at midnight, remains up in the air.
The Hollywood Reporter
How much could MAD-TV cost to produce? Were ratings that low for Fox to cancel it? Were Fox executives sick of it? Is there more to this MAD-TV cancellation than being reported?