"The Tracey Ullman Show" (1987) TV series 1987-1990

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Directors:

Ted Bessell
Art Wolff

Writers:

Jeff Baron (writer)
Dan Castellaneta (writer)
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | unknown

Release Date:

5 April 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Plot Keywords:

Cult Cartoon | Sketch Comedy | Cult Comedy | Actor Playing Multiple Roles | Variety Show

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 13 wins & 25 nominations

Cast

Tracey Ullman	...	Various Characters / ... (49 episodes, 1987-1990)
Dan Castellaneta	...	Homer Simpson / ... (49 episodes, 1987-1990)
Sam McMurray	...	Various / ... (43 episodes, 1987-1990)
Joseph Malone	...	Various Characters / ... (40 episodes, 1987-1990)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson (28 episodes, 1987-1989)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (28 episodes, 1987-1989)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson / ... (19 episodes, 1987-1989)

(more)

Series Directed by
Paul Flaherty		(1 episode, 1987)
Ted Bessell		(unknown episodes)
Art Wolff		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Paul Flaherty		(13 episodes, 1987)
Michael Sardo		(2 episodes, 1989)
Jeff Baron		(unknown episodes)
Dan Castellaneta		(unknown episodes)
Marc Flanagan		(unknown episodes)
Susan Gauthier		(unknown episodes)
Matt Groening		(unknown episodes)
Paul Haggis		(unknown episodes)
Sue Herring		(unknown episodes)
Holly Holmberg Brooks		(unknown episodes)
David Isaacs		(unknown episodes)
Ken Levine		(unknown episodes)
Heide Perlman		(unknown episodes)
Guy Shulman		(unknown episodes)
Sam Simon		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Paul Flaherty	....	co-producer (13 episodes, 1987)
Lawrence Jordan	....	associate producer (10 episodes, 1990)
Paul Germain	....	associate producer (9 episodes, 1988-1989)
Jerry Belson	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
James L. Brooks	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Ken Estin	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Marcy Levitas Hamilton	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Jay Kogen	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Heide Perlman	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Sam Simon	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Jeffrey Townsend	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Wallace Wolodarsky	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Gregg Heschong		(20 episodes, 1987-1989)

Series Film Editing by
Steve Shultz		(9 episodes, 1987)
Douglas Hines		(unknown episodes)
Brian K. Roberts		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Portia Iversen		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Billy Laughridge	....	hair stylist (1 episode, 1989)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Karen Miller Ehrlich	....	key second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Frank Bellina	....	property master (68 episodes, 1987-1990)
Cosmas A. Demetriou	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Nancy Mickelberry	....	set designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Travis Powers	....	sound effects editor (39 episodes, 1987-1989)
Michael Ballin	....	sound mixer (4 episodes, 1987)
Mike Clark	....	sound mixer: PA (unknown episodes)
Jim Fitzpatrick	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Leamon Gamel	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Jeff Johnson	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Brad Sherman	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Ken Speed	....	special effects assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Christopher Dusendschon	....	animation cameraman: Klasky/Csupo (5 episodes, 1987)

Series Stunts
Tony Snegoff	....	stunt werewolf (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Jack Anderson	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Missy Boswell	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Michael S. Endler	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Curtis Foster	....	best boy (unknown episodes)
Thomas B. Ham	....	best boy grip (unknown episodes)
Michael R. Marquette	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Henry Minski	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Wesley Archer	....	animator (unknown episodes)
Gabor Csupo	....	animator (unknown episodes)
Matt Groening	....	animator (unknown episodes)
Bill Kopp	....	animator (unknown episodes)
Margot Pipkin	....	animation producer (unknown episodes)
David Silverman	....	animator (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Bonita Pietila	....	voice casting (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jill Korengold	....	wardrobe production assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Chris Ledesma	....	music editor (17 episodes, 1989-1990)
George Clinton	....	composer: theme music (unknown episodes)
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
James Nordberg	....	transportation coordinator (42 episodes, 1987-1990)

Series Other crew
Smith Wordes	....	assistant choreographer (5 episodes, 1987)
Paula Abdul	....	choreographer (unknown episodes)
John Biesack	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Doris Grau	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Stephen J. Lineweaver	....	visual consultant (unknown episodes)
Steve M. Miliotti	....	craft service (unknown episodes)
Billy Pittard	....	title designer (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• 20th Century Fox Television
• Gracie Films

Distributors

• Fox Network

Other Companies

• Klasky-Csupo  animation production

Runtime:

30 min (79 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

The Simpsons began as 30 second bumpers shown before and after commercial breaks.

Quotes:

Kay: Hello Mummy. I-i-i-i-i-i-t'ssssssssss K-a-a-a-y.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Gwyneth Paltrow/Barenaked Ladies (#24.12)" (1999)

Any show with a musical number called "I'm Dating A Corporate Lawyer" cannot be ignored.

Like David Frost and Benny Hill, Tracey Ullman succeeded where many Brits before and after failed - in conquering America (case in point Lenny Henry's appalling "True Identity"). In fact, "The Tracey Ullman Show" was a bigger hit in America than when it aired on the BBC; too bad.

This playlet show (most of the pieces were too long to qualify as "sketches") was a great showcase for Trace and her fellow players, most notably Julie Kavner and Dan Castellaneta (though I suppose we shouldn't overlook Sam McMurray [especially as the Tom Jones-type Gulliver Dark] and even Joseph Malone). The show went more for character than slapstick - although there were recurring characters, with the most memorable including the Janis Joplin-esque Summer Storm, secretary Kay ("'Ello, mummy? It's Kayyyy..."), and golfer Kiki Howard-Smith - and the humour was more gentle than roll-on-the-floor; for instance, Jinx Haber was hired for the role of Peter Pan because she could really fly, but when the union objected that she was putting harness operators out of work she was fired.

Of course, the show's most notable for giving the world its first exposure to "The Simpsons" (they weren't introduced immediately - the early episodes featured cartoons revolving around a psychiatrist called Dr. N!Godatu, with Matt Groening's creation alternating... until ultimately the producers made the correct choice, and the rest is truly history) - they were even billed in the opening credits of the show in later seasons. (The BBC reportedly edited out the Simpson shorts when they aired the show, which certainly helps explain why they didn't get around to screening "The Simpsons" until 1997.)

"The Tracey Ullman Show" also had plenty of musical moments, though not from guest bands but from the cast itself - kudos to both the performers and to Paula Abdul, hired as the show's choreographer and the inspiration for the third-season playlet "The Wave Girls" (set amongst a basketball team's cheerleaders - Paula herself appeared at the end of this episode. This was when her pop singing career had taken off). Anyone else ever seen a song-and-dance number set to "Paint It Black" or "Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This"? Didn't think so. Too bad the final season was the weakest, but all good things... all this and a theme by George Clinton. Ripe for watching in repeats somewhere.

"Go home!"