Totally Tracey Online

Tavis Smiley repeat

2009-07-08T20:35:00.002-04:00

Did you miss Tracey's appearance on the Tavis Smiley show in April? Well, fret no more, for it's being repeated on Friday, July 17.

Tribute to Mel Brooks

2009-07-02T10:24:00.004-04:00

Tracey is scheduled to participate in a tribute to Mel Brooks being given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The tribute will be July 24 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. According to the press release from the Academy, Leonard Maltin will be the host and will feature many clips from Brooks's films and comments from the man himself, along with Richard Benjamin, Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, Carl Reiner, Tracey and Lesley Ann Warren.

You'll recall Tracey's appearance as Latrine in Robin Hood: Men In Tights as well as his appearance in a fourth-season Tracey Ullman Show sketch.

Ally McBeal on DVD?

2009-06-21T09:08:00.005-04:00

Many of you will remember Ally McBeal, which aired for five seasons on Fox in the late '90s and early 2000's and made stars of Calista Flockhart and Jane Krakowski. You'll also remember Tracey in a memorable recurring role (an Emmy-winning role, if I recall correctly) as unconventional psychologist Tracy Clark, who had Ally as a patient.

If you've been waiting for the series to appear on DVD, you may be in luck. TVShowsOnDVD.com is reporting that sometime in 2009, there will be releases of the first season and of the complete series. And Amazon.com is taking pre-orders for both sets. Let's hope the rumors prove to be true.

Back -- with good news

2009-06-11T12:44:00.003-04:00

Well, I am back from my idle time. I was not specific about what I was doing, but now I can be: I had taken a trip to Uganda to visit my sister and her family, to see my oldest niece graduate from the International School there, and to go on a 3-day safari. Details will be posted elsewhere on my site in the future.

And my first post since my return bears good news: it appears that Showtime has decided to pick up a third season of State of the Union, according to C21 Media. I'm pleased with that; even though the series can be quite uneven, having uneven Tracey is better than having no Tracey. No word yet on how many episodes there will be.

Idle time

2009-05-24T20:48:00.003-04:00

I won't be posting anything for the next couple of weeks; with the season finale of State of the Union tonight, I don't expect any major news during this time.

Season Finale

2009-05-19T08:51:00.003-04:00

Well, season 2 of State of the Union is coming to an end. Season 3 is being written now, although I don't know if Showtime has said they'll want to air it. I hope they do. So here is this week's preview clip from episode 7 and final of season 2. Here, a young and attractive substitute teacher lures a student to the supply closet. The student thinks he's going to get lucky, but things are not as they seem...

KCRW's Guest DJ

2009-05-14T07:22:00.003-04:00

Well, Tracey's guest DJ podcast at KCRW has finally arrived. It's an 11+ minute sample of five songs she would pick to play. You can get the podcast at iTunes or directly from KCRW's site (you can read a transcript of her podcast as well).

And what did she pick to play? Let's see:

"That's the Way of the World" -- Earth, Wind and Fire
"A New England" -- Kirsty MacColl
"My Way" -- Sid Vicious
"One Leg Too Few" -- Peter Cook and Dudley Moore (a classic comedy sketch)
"America the Beautiful" -- Ray Charles

Listen to the podcast or read the transcript to find out why she picked them. She had great reasons. Four of the five were great picks, but I'm sorry, there is just no way I can support Sid Vicious's "rendition" of "My Way".

Lots of little things

2009-05-12T21:17:00.002-04:00

Well, only two more episodes left for State of the Union this season. But season 3 is being written now and goes before the cameras in the fall, and season 2 comes out on DVD in October. Meanwhile, check out this clip for Sunday night's episode 6 featuring a dog walker to the stars:

Sneak Peak of Episode 5

2009-05-06T16:08:00.002-04:00

Here is this week's sneak peak clip from episode 5 of State of the Union. In it, Tom Brokaw is at the White House reporting on a meeting of current and former White House children.

Tracey is a coin tosser

2009-05-03T20:11:00.004-04:00

Yes, we must put in that clarification lest we be misunderstood...

The Brisbane Times reports that Tracey will toss the coin at the start of the annual Twenty20 cricket match for the Hollywood Ashes, played between teams of actors from the UK and Australia. The UK won the inaugural match last year, and the Aussies are seeking revenge.

Are we missing the point of SOTU?

2009-04-28T08:10:00.003-04:00

Recently, I posted this message to the TotallyTraceyUllmanClub Yahoo! Group, which has been actively discussing State of the Union. There are some members who really do not care for it and have been vocal about their dislike. Here's what I said:

Last night, some of my first remarks about episode 3 of State of the Union were that it was biting, incisive and insightful but that it wasn't necessarily hilarious (although there were indeed several humorous moments). Maybe the humor wasn't the point. Just maybe, it's the satire.

Wiktionary defines satire as "A literary technique of writing or art which principally ridicules its subject often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change. Humor is often used to aid this", as well as a satiric work. Humor is frequently involved, but it doesn't have to be.

Recall the segments from the first season where the woman who just had surgery is dumped on the street without sufficient recovery time and is living out of her car. Not particularly funny; in fact, you'd be outraged if that situation happened in real life, or you should be outraged. That was sharp satire. Last night's segments on J. K. Rowling and her ridiculously stringent enforcement of her intellectual property rights was also sharp satire, in my opinion. Certainly more humor there, IMHO (the stakes were far lower) -- ragging on a homeless man because he looks like Hagrid, come on. I remember Disney being similarly aggressive a few years ago with their cartoon characters, suing day care centers that had painted them on their walls.

If we focus on the humor or lack thereof in SOTU, then maybe we are missing out on the messages that Tracey is putting into her work. Sure, I'd love to laugh so hard I start coughing (well, maybe just before I start that), but if we're only looking for this, then we may be missing out on what she wants to say.

Just a few thoughts....

Site updates, active discussion

2009-04-25T21:37:00.005-04:00

As we await the premiere of episode 3 of State of the Union season 2, I want to mention that I have updated my guide to SOTU season 2 with last week's episode, and I've started a page for Tracey's 2009 talk show appearances. I've started to summarize her appearances but haven't had time to complete them yet, although I do have screen captures up for 3 of them. IMHO, her appearance on Tavis Smiley's show was her best one this year to date.

If you're interested in discussing any and all aspects of Tracey's career, come on over to the TotallyTraceyUllmanClub on Yahoo! Groups. The group has been going for nine years now and has really picked up in activity this month. And not all of the comments are favorable; some of the group members do not care for State of the Union at all and are not shy about saying so. I don't agree with their views, but I will defend to the death their right to hold them and say them (paraphrasing a quote often attributed to Voltaire but really made by Evelyn Beatrice Hall).

UPDATE: If you missed seeing her on Tavis Smiley, you can catch the full interview here.

Lots on my mind this morning

2009-04-20T08:55:00.000-04:00

Well, episode 2 of State of the Union has aired, and I thought it was great. Tracey was in fine singing voice tonight, as were her guests in the polygamist compound sketches; they included Julia Fordham and Vonda Shepard. I'm at work on the guide and commentary for the episode and will post it in a few days.

Also showing up this morning is a profile in H magazine. There's not much that is new in the profile, but she does talk about the first time she appeared on the Tonight Show: '“Here I was, 20-years-old, on this show with these crusty old people, and I’d never sang live in my life,” she recounts. “I thought I’d be singing into my hairbrush, havin’ a laugh, and they said, ‘No, there’s this guy, Doc Severinsen, and he’s gonna play your song.’ It was like getting your great-grandparents to play your song. It was embarrassing.” Ullman was able to redeem herself on subsequent, non-singing, return visits to the show. ' Personally, I really enjoyed her first visit to Johnny Carson's show. Her next visit to the show is tonight, coincidentally; this will be the last time she'll appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno as host. Will she appear on his 10 PM show? Will she appear on Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show? Time will tell.

Episode 2 tonight -- and a TTO DVD update

2009-04-19T09:46:00.005-04:00

Well, episode 2 of season 2 of State of the Union is tonight. Playing a major part in the storyline will be the story of the wives of that fundamentalist LDS sect that was so much in the news last year.

Also, I've been remiss in not mentioning that the 3rd and 4th seasons of Tracey Takes On... will finally be appearing on DVD this summer and that all four seasons of TTO are on iTunes right now. Well, almost all four seasons; season 2 is missing the Music episode.

Many things

2009-04-14T20:25:00.006-04:00

Many things to report now:

The first episode of State of the Union is available as a free podcast on iTunes. I don't know how long it will be available that way. The entire first season of SOTU is available to buy on iTunes, as are all four seasons of Tracey Takes On....
There are conflicting reports on when Tracey will be appearing on the Chelsea Lately show on E!. The original date was April 22, but the most recent listings have her on April 21. Play it safe, and watch or record on both dates.
Tracey's appearance on Tavis Smiley's show is now confirmed for April 24, and this appears to be a new appearance rather than a repeat of last year's.
I have started my guide and commentary on season 2. You can read it here.

1 down, 6 to go

2009-04-13T20:58:00.004-04:00

Well, the second season of State of the Union kicked off last night. I'm working on the summary and commentary for the episode; it will be a few days before I post it. I'm also still trying to determine my feelings about it. I had some low-grade chuckles throughout, but I didn't have any big laughs -- although the sketch with Heather Mills is growing on me.

I'll have more thoughts later.

One day to go

2009-04-11T18:08:00.004-04:00

There's one day before the 2nd season premiere of State of the Union. There is also word that Tracey will be appearing on the Tavis Smiley show on April 24, although this is not yet confirmed. It's also not clear if this is a new appearance or a repeat of her appearance from last year.

Now for a blast from the past -- 25 years in the past. Here's an interview Tracey gave to host Gloria Hunniford for the Sunday Sunday program in the UK January 8, 1984. You can read my writeup of it here, and you can watch it below. Watching this interview and then comparing it with her appearance on The Early Show yesterday, it's apparent that she's aged very well.

2 days to go

2009-04-10T09:54:00.006-04:00

There are now 2 days before the season premiere of State of the Union. More articles and reviews are showing up on the Web and in papers, including USA Today and Bloomberg News. And Tracey had a good appearance on The Early Show this morning, appearing in 4 segments: at the end of the news at the top of the second hour (commenting on Lindsay Lohan's latest difficulties), the next segment following (her main appearance), at the bottom of the hour (rabbit ears for all!), and helping to model a striped scarf.

Now there is word that she will be appearing on The Tonight Show on April 20. Of course, I shall be looking forward to this.

Update: CBS has posted her appearance from this morning, and you can watch it here or read about it here.

5 days and counting...

2009-04-07T19:53:00.006-04:00

And now the reviews start -- Austin360.com (affiliated with the Austin American-Statesman) has published a preview of three series beginning their seasons soon, and State of the Union is one of them. The critic liked Tracey's impression of Laura Bush and mentioned her treatment of last year's polygamist cult raids in west Texas, Renee Zellweger's musical take on those raids ("Seven Brides for Every Brother") and the ultimate in reality TV, "So You Think You Can Die?". Very interesting....

And in addition to appearing on CBS's The Early Show this coming Friday, Tracey will also be on E!'s Chelsea Handler show on April 22. (UPDATE from 4/14: she might be appearing on the 21st instead of the 22nd)

And lastly, The Tale of Despereaux came out on DVD and Blu-Ray today. Tracey was the voice of Miggery Sow in that, in case you've forgotten.

Update: the Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Tracey will be the first recipient of the BAFTA/LA Charlie Chaplin Lifetime Achievement Award for Comedy (BAFTA/LA is the British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles). She'll receive it May 8 at the British Comedy Festival's awards ceremony. That sounds like quite an honor, and well-deserved. Congratulations, Trace!

Blogs and Kisses again

2009-04-06T19:35:00.003-04:00

The official State of the Union site has posted a clip from the first episode of season 2. In it, Tracey is Arianna Huffington, who is speaking to the president, angling for an ambassadorship...

This sketch is hilarious, and it bodes well for season 2. I wonder if there is an alternate version of this sketch that presumed a McCain victory? I wouldn't mind seeing that as a DVD set extra.

Past -- and present

2009-04-05T08:08:00.003-04:00

Today, the day I'm posting this, is April 5. 22 years ago on this day, a few of us were eagerly awaiting the premiere that evening of The Tracey Ullman Show. We didn't know what to expect, but we soon found out.

One week from now is the 2nd season premiere of State of the Union. Most of us are eagerly awaiting the premiere, and we pretty much know what to expect.

And this Friday, April 10, Tracey is appearing on The Early Show on CBS to promote SOTU.

12 Days to go

2009-03-31T17:01:00.003-04:00

It's now 12 days before the premiere of season 2 of State of the Union. The two long clips (2 1/2 to 3 minutes long) that are on the official SOTU Website are now playing on On Demand on cable. I was able to watch the premiere episode of season 3 of The Tudors on demand, and that looks to be as good as ever. Will the first episode of SOTU season 2 appear on demand? I hope so. What little I've seen so far seems hilarious.

In an interview with Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith recently, Tracey commented on her impression of Renee Zellweger being popular with everyone -- except Renee, who thought she looked like her (Renee's) brother in drag. The impression is back this season but probably not in the future, she said. She also mentioned being on the receiving end of a parody by the Spitting Image puppets back in the '80s -- "pretty rough", she said.

Behind the Scenes of SOTU Season 2

2009-03-20T17:15:00.004-04:00

As the season premiere draws closer, Showtime has posted a behind-the-scenes video for season 2 of State of the Union. Among the characters we see via short clips are Dina Lohan (her clip cracked me up!), Asma Qassim (Malawi's top movie star), Linda Katz-Cohen (publicist for the Dalai Lama), Tom Brokaw, Seth Rogan, Tony Sirico, Padma Perkesh, Granny Cyrus, Arianna Huffington -- I can't remember them all! It's available on Showtime's official SOTU site, and it's also available right here:

Another new SOTU Promo

2009-03-10T16:39:00.003-04:00

Another new promo for State of the Union has started appearing on Showtime, and it's been posted on the official SOTU Web site. It features a wonderfully literal application of the Billy Idol/Generation X song "Dancing With Myself": Tracey's pulled into scenes of her own program and is dancing with herself -- or, we should say, her selves, the other characters.

Here is the promo:

Upcoming guest DJ spot for Tracey on KCRW

2009-02-28T13:24:00.003-05:00

It seems that Tracey will soon be appearing on KCRW Santa Monica as a guest DJ. So says KCRW's own Music News blog, which also reported that she met Robyn Hitchcock at the station after his Morning Becomes Eclectic there.

No, I don't know when she's supposed to be on. If anyone has any info, please get in touch with me.