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

Directors:

Ted Bessell
Art Wolff

Writers:

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

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

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 / ... (69 episodes, 1987-1990)
Dan Castellaneta	...	Homer Simpson / ... (69 episodes, 1987-1990)
Sam McMurray	...	Various / ... (62 episodes, 1987-1990)
Joseph Malone	...	Various Characters / ... (54 episodes, 1987-1990)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson / ... (39 episodes, 1987-1990)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson (27 episodes, 1987-1989)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (27 episodes, 1987-1989)

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
Marilyn Suzanne Miller	....	senior producer (18 episodes, 1989-1990)
Paul Flaherty	....	co-producer (13 episodes, 1987)
Lawrence Jordan	....	associate producer (10 episodes, 1990)
Paul Germain	....	associate producer (8 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		(19 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 (67 episodes, 1987-1990)
Chris Buchinsky	....	prop illustrator (2 episodes, 1987-1990)
Cosmas A. Demetriou	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Nancy Mickelberry	....	set designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Travis Powers	....	sound effects editor (32 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 (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
George Clinton	....	composer: theme music (unknown episodes)
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
James Nordberg	....	transportation coordinator (40 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:

[repeated line]
Kay: [into a phone] Hello Mummy. I-i-i-i-i-i-t'ssssssssss K-a-a-a-y.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: Homerazzi (#18.16)" (2007)

A true classic - someone should hurry up and release this on DVD!

The Tracey Ullman Show, which premiered in April of 1987 (and didn't run nearly long enough), is the closest thing to the timeless classic Carol Burnett Show (circa late 60s/early 70s) that Generation X will probably ever see. Tracey brought back the variety show with a vengeance, and it was truly amazing. The acting (by a phenomenal cast) was nothing short of inspired, the dialogue was brilliantly written, it was nominated and deservedly won several Emmy and other awards, and it also gave the world The Simpsons. What more could one ask? For all these reasons and more, this series should be released on DVD, if for no other reason than to show the world what a great variety show this was.

The Tracey Ullman Show also boasted any number of very special guest stars, such as Tim Curry, Cesar Romero, Isabella Rossellini, Marilu Henner, Keanu Reeves, Kelsey Grammer, Carole King, Martin Short, and Glenn Close, among others - many of them appearing in musical numbers that I only wish I could obtain on CD.

Catch it...if you can.

I'd give this a 10 out of 10 if the IMDb had a rating system for TV series.