Totally Tracey Online
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Back -- with good news
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.
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.
Labels: Showtime, State of the Union
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Are we missing the point of SOTU?
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....
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....
Labels: satire, State of the Union
Monday, April 20, 2009
Lots on my mind this morning
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.
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.
Labels: Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, State of the Union, The Tonight Show
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Episode 2 tonight -- and a TTO DVD update
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.
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.
Labels: iTunes, State of the Union, Tracey Takes On
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Many things
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.
Labels: Chelsea Lately, State of the Union, Tavis Smiley, Tracey Takes On
Monday, April 13, 2009
1 down, 6 to go
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.
I'll have more thoughts later.
Labels: Heather Mills, State of the Union
Saturday, April 11, 2009
One day to go
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.
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.
Labels: State of the Union, Sunday Sunday, Tavis Smiley
Friday, April 10, 2009
2 days to go
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.
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.
Labels: State of the Union, The Early Show, The Tonight Show
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
5 days and counting...
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!
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!
Labels: BAFTA/LA, Chelsea Handler, State of the Union, The Early Show, The Tale of Despereaux
Monday, April 06, 2009
Blogs and Kisses again
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.
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.
Labels: Arianna Huffington, State of the Union
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Past -- and present
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.
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.
Labels: State of the Union, The Early Show, The Tracey Ullman Show
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
12 Days to go
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.
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.
Labels: Renee Zellweger, State of the Union, The Tudors
Friday, March 20, 2009
Behind the Scenes of SOTU Season 2
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:
Labels: Showtime, State of the Union
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Another new SOTU Promo
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:
Here is the promo:
Labels: Showtime, State of the Union
Friday, February 20, 2009
More sneak peaks at SOTU season 2
Kudos again to The Expatriate Mimic for posting some more pictures as a sneak peak of season 2 of State of the Union. We get to see the context of the characters, in many instances. There are even some characters not previously announced as appearing or returning.
- Jodie Foster is interviewed about her new film "Spongemom Pantsuit"
- Renee Zellweger is interviewed about her new film "The World is not Magical" (not positive on the title, it's hard to read)
- the Dalai Lama may be appearing on Dancing With The Stars
- we'll visit the women of that Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints sect
- Staff Sgt. Lisa Penning is back in the US, though for how long we don't yet know
All this and more starting Easter Sunday evening (April 12)
- Jodie Foster is interviewed about her new film "Spongemom Pantsuit"
- Renee Zellweger is interviewed about her new film "The World is not Magical" (not positive on the title, it's hard to read)
- the Dalai Lama may be appearing on Dancing With The Stars
- we'll visit the women of that Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints sect
- Staff Sgt. Lisa Penning is back in the US, though for how long we don't yet know
All this and more starting Easter Sunday evening (April 12)
Labels: Dalai Lama, Jodie Foster, Renee Zellweger, State of the Union
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
More characters for SOTU
Thanks to Showtime (by way of our friends at The Expatriate Mimic), we know some more characters who will be appearing in the second season of State of the Union, and we know a little more about some of those characters. Among the celebrities and public figures Tracey will be portraying will be Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, in addition to the previously announced Laura Bush, Celine Dion, Heather Mills-McCartney, Jodie Foster, J.K. Rowling, Silda Spitzer (wife of the former governor of New York), and Tom Brokaw. New original characters include Leslie Katz-
Coen, publicist for the Dalai Lama, Wendy Trenton, world-champion hog caller and Jillian Smart, an overzealous soccer mom.
Season 2 of State of the Union premieres on Showtime April 12, Easter evening.
Coen, publicist for the Dalai Lama, Wendy Trenton, world-champion hog caller and Jillian Smart, an overzealous soccer mom.
Season 2 of State of the Union premieres on Showtime April 12, Easter evening.
Labels: Showtime, State of the Union
Friday, February 06, 2009
ET Interviews "Laura Bush"
ET (that's Entertainment Tonight, not E.T. the Extra-terrestrial) interviewed Tracey during the filming of State of the Union -- specifically, while she was filming the scene featuring "Laura Bush". In the interview, she's made up as Laura, uses Laura's voice (although I can hear her normal voice trying to poke through a couple of times) and responds sometimes as Laura and sometimes as herself. 2 minutes and 49 seconds' worth of interview can be found here (this link will eventually take you to the ET Online site).
Labels: Entertainment Tonight, Laura Bush, State of the Union
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
New Promo for State of the Union
The first promo for the second season of State of the Union is now airing on Showtime. I caught it airing after an episode of The L Word. Here's a summary of the promo, which comes garbed as a public service announcement for identity theft:
- 245 million Americans will have their identities stolen (then we see Tracey as three different characters, the last of which appears to be Tom Brokaw)
- 163 million won't even know it happened (then we see her again, possibly as Dina Lohan)
- 56 million wish they were someone else anyway (now we see her as Arnelle)
- Tracey's back and she's playing us all (now she's Chanel, then Renee Zellweger at another film festival, then Laura Bush, then Padma Perkesh)
- Tracey Ullman's State of the Union, coming in April
- 245 million Americans will have their identities stolen (then we see Tracey as three different characters, the last of which appears to be Tom Brokaw)
- 163 million won't even know it happened (then we see her again, possibly as Dina Lohan)
- 56 million wish they were someone else anyway (now we see her as Arnelle)
- Tracey's back and she's playing us all (now she's Chanel, then Renee Zellweger at another film festival, then Laura Bush, then Padma Perkesh)
- Tracey Ullman's State of the Union, coming in April
Labels: Showtime, State of the Union
Sunday, February 01, 2009
25 Years Ago...
It was 25 years ago this month that Tracey first appeared on American TV, an event that led to so many other things -- her first US series (spawning the Fox network and The Simpsons in the process), her second, third and fourth series, and also to the creation of this website. I wrote about this back in 2004 in "20 Years of Tracey in the USA", and everything I said back then remains true.
To celebrate, here's a video from 1984 I recently discovered. No, it's not from either her guest VJ appearance on MTV or from her appearance on the Tonight Show (you can read about the latter here). Instead, it's a "live" (lip-synched) performance of "My Guy", a.k.a. "My Guy's Mad at Me":
To celebrate, here's a video from 1984 I recently discovered. No, it's not from either her guest VJ appearance on MTV or from her appearance on the Tonight Show (you can read about the latter here). Instead, it's a "live" (lip-synched) performance of "My Guy", a.k.a. "My Guy's Mad at Me":
Labels: My Guy, State of the Union, The Tracey Ullman Show, Tracey Takes On, Visible Panty Lines
Saturday, January 17, 2009
SOTU Season 2 character preview
Thanks to Zap2It.com, we have been given a preview of many of the characters we’ll be seeing in the spring when State of the Union returns (and thanks to The Expatriate Mimic for alerting us to the pics). Most of the 26 pictures show new characters, both real and created. Here are my initial thoughts on the pictures and characters.
So these are some of the characters we’ll be seeing come April. I can’t wait!
- Tracey as herself in an elegant red strapless dress – wow! I think I had better keep my thoughts to myself.
- Arianna Huffington – the makeup and wig appear to be somewhat different from season 1. I have no problem with that. As Arianna was one of my favorites, I look forward to seeing her again.
- Arnelle – Hoo boy! She’s going to be some type of performer, she of the super caboose.
- Celine Dion – Tracey’s Celine looks a little bit worse for the wear. To me, she looks older than Tracey, when in real life she’s around 10 years younger. I have a feeling her portrayal may not be that flattering to the real Celine.
- Dee McNally – she looks to be a flight attendant. Possibly a pilot, but the uniform is more flight attendant-y to me. Perhaps, in her back story, she worked with Trevor at some point. She seems a bit world-weary to me.
- The Glamorous Hostess – Multiple thoughts come to mind here. She looks a little like Sarah Palin; the lab coat suggests a doctor or scientist; the dress gives me the impression of a dominatrix. I could be way off here; we’ll find out when we see her on the screen.
- Granny Cyrus – Oh wow! Looks like this will be the year for the Cyrus family (Miley, Billy Ray, etc.) to get it.
- Granny Cyrus again – wrapped in a shawl this time, looking more grandmotherly
- Dee McNally again – this time, she’s with a colleague, who’s definitely having more fun than she is. I wonder if she’s going to be a grumpy, post-menopausal flight attendant who really should retire? Tracey’s talked about such a flight attendant on some talk shows before.
- Heather Mills – the ex-Mrs. McCartney. I’m pretty sure this will not be a flattering portrayal at all.
- Jacqueline – I don’t really know. The lei suggests Hawaii. For some reason, I’m getting a lesbian vibe.
- Jillian Smart – Middle America, supports her sports teams
- J. K. Rowling – Interesting. I’m not sure if the portrayal will be favorable or unfavorable.
- Jodie Foster – I’m not sure how her portrayal will go
- Len Goodman – top-notch makeup job, for I can’t tell that’s Tracey beneath all of the appliances.
- Linda Alvarez – the anchorwoman is back, and it looks like she’ll have an encounter with some bees
- Linda Kats-Coen – No impression is coming to mind, not immediately
- Miuccia Prada – Tracey likes Prada fashions, so I think this will be a favorable impression of the designer
- Miuccia Prada again
- Penny – I’m not quite sure what to think!
- Shannon – maybe a homemaker, possibly environmentally conscious? I may be off on my impressions
- Silda Spitzer – Again, no strong impression is coming to mind
- Tom Brokaw – Another fantastic makeup and appliance job. But I think Tracey will have difficulty nailing the voice tone, for he’s got a low-pitched voice. She’ll get the cadences and pronunciations dead right, but it’ll be tough for her to get her voice sufficiently low. She’s too feminine for that – but I’m glad it worked out that way.
- Tony Sirico – “Paulie Walnuts” is back with an improved makeup job
- Tori – she’s a dog walker
- Not Tracey at all but her husband Allan
So these are some of the characters we’ll be seeing come April. I can’t wait!
Labels: State of the Union
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
SOTU Season 2 on April 12
News from the TCA tour in Hollywood: We'll have to wait a little longer this year for season 2 of State of the Union. Last year, it premiered on March 30, but according to Must Hear TV, it will premiere on April 12. Arianna Huffington, Padma Perkesh and Renee Zellweger will be back. No, we will not see Sarah Palin; Tracey didn't want to portray her, she "wanted to be that lesbian Sarah Palin talked about who was her best friend for years." Might we see some characters from Tracey Takes On? I don't know, but when asked if Fern Rosenthal might ever be brought back, Tracey observed that Fern would undoubtedly have been one of Bernie Madoff's victims. And speaking of TTO, she noticed how each sketch just "seems to go on forever" (quoting the blog), a pace that's out of step with the "YouTube mentality" (quoting Trace) of today.
I wouldn't mind seeing longer sketches again, but I don't have a problem with the short sketches of SOTU. Having enjoyed the fruits of Tracey's artistic judgment for some 20-odd years, I see no reason to stop trusting it now. I'm looking forward to the new season in April -- and while I'm waiting, I'll be keeping up with the United States of Tara.
I wouldn't mind seeing longer sketches again, but I don't have a problem with the short sketches of SOTU. Having enjoyed the fruits of Tracey's artistic judgment for some 20-odd years, I see no reason to stop trusting it now. I'm looking forward to the new season in April -- and while I'm waiting, I'll be keeping up with the United States of Tara.
Labels: Showtime, State of the Union, Tracey Takes On, United States of Tara
Thursday, December 18, 2008
No SAG'ing on the job
Awards season continues -- fresh off of winning two Golden Satellite Awards for State of the Union, Tracey's just been nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, also for State of the Union. Her competition: Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?; America Ferrera, Ugly Betty; Tina Fey, 30 Rock; Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds.
The awards will be handed out January 25 and will be on both TBS and TNT (why on both?)
The awards will be handed out January 25 and will be on both TBS and TNT (why on both?)
Labels: SAG, Screen Actors Guild, State of the Union
Monday, December 15, 2008
Yes, The Satellite Awards
In a previous post, I had mentioned the Satellite Awards, which I'd never heard of before, and noted that Tracey was up for two of them, an acting award for State of the Union and a Best Comedy Series award, also for State of the Union. Well, she won them both, so congratulations!
Labels: Satellite Awards, State of the Union
Monday, December 01, 2008
The Satellite Awards (?)
For what it's worth...
The International Press Academy announced its nominations for the 13th annual Satellite Awards, covering the best in film, television and videogames. I must confess that I'd never heard of them before. Of most interest to us here, State of the Union has been nominated for Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical (the competition: It's Always Something in Philadelphia, 30 Rock, Pushing Daisies, The Colbert Report, and Skins), while Tracey has been nominated for Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical (her competition: Christina Applegate, Tina Fey, America Ferrera, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Mary Louise Parker).
The awards will be handed out on December 14.
Labels: International Press Academy, Satellite Awards, State of the Union
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Some items of note
Let's see what's been happening lately...
Tracey was interviewed between bouts at Showtime's recent fight card (November 1) that featured Vic Darchinyan and Cristian Mijares. She mentioned that she'd just wrapped up 3 weeks of filming for State of the Union and would now be busy editing it for broadcast next year. Several of the sketches had alternate endings filmed in anticipation of either Obama or McCain winning the election; now those McCain endings won't be used except as possible deleted scenes on a DVD set. President-elect Obama was not among the 52 characters she will be portraying this season, but we will be seeing Laura Bush, Tom Brokaw and Tony Sirico. And we also learned that, after 25 years in this country, she still doesn't understand American football.
State of the Union season 1 is still coming out on DVD next Tuesday (11th). The Tale of Despereaux is still coming to a theater near you on December 19; Tracey is the voice of servant girl Mig.
Labels: Showtime, State of the Union, The Tale of Despereaux
Friday, September 26, 2008
SOTU Preview
Thanks to Claire Fordham's blog (and specifically this entry), we have an idea of who will be appearing in the new season of State of the Union. Claire's sister, singer-songwriter Julia Fordham, will be appearing alongside Vonda Shepard (of Ally McBeal fame) in a sketch, as will "former top model" Debbie Britt.
And with the turmoil in the financial markets in recent weeks, these words of "Campbell Brown" pretty well sum things up: "Horror -- terror -- horror -- nightmare -- horror -- fear!"
Labels: Ally McBeal, Claire Fordham, Julia Fordham, State of the Union, Vonda Shepard
Sunday, September 14, 2008
An Emmy for SOTU
The Creative Arts Emmy Awards were handed out last night, and State of the Union has picked up its first Emmy. Sally Craven and Matthew Mungle have won for Makeup for a Single-Camera Series, Non-Prosthetic (episode 2). Congratulations to them both as they (presumably) get ready to apply their handiwork for season 2 of SOTU.
Labels: Emmy Awards, State of the Union
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Extras in SOTU season 1 DVD set
TVShowsOnDVD.com is reporting that the season 1 set of State of the Union will contain these extras:
- blooper and outtake reels
- character screen tests
- how the opening credits sequence was created
- extra material
- deleted scenes
- commentary from Tracey on the screen tests and the creation of the opening sequence
Labels: DVD, State of the Union
Thursday, July 24, 2008
SOTU Season 1 on DVD in November
TV Shows on DVD is reporting that the first season of State of the Union will be released on DVD November 11. No word yet on what extras, if any, will be included in the set. This is certainly a welcome development, especially when you consider the video fates of Tracey Takes On... (two or three VHS tapes, DVD season releases stopped after season 2) and The Tracey Ullman Show (missing in action, possibly forever). Stay tuned for updates as they become available.
And here's an update, again from TV Shows on DVD. They've got a picture of the cover, which may or may not be the final version, and there will be some extras.
And here's an update, again from TV Shows on DVD. They've got a picture of the cover, which may or may not be the final version, and there will be some extras.
Labels: DVD, State of the Union, The Tracey Ullman Show, Tracey Takes On
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Emmy Nominations are out, and a trip to Israel
Well, the Emmy Award nominations have been announced, and the news is good and bad. State of the Union picked up 3 nominations, all in technical categories:
In other news, according to YNet, Tracey is going to Israel on July 21 to promote State of the Union. Let's hope things remain quiet over there while she's there (I hope for that all the time, of course). I wonder if she'll make it up to Haifa and 'Akká....
- Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series (Martin Samuel) (episode 4)
- Makeup for a Single-Camera Series, Non-Prosthetic (Sally Craven and Matthew Mungle) (episode 2)
- Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie or Special (Sally and Matthew again) (episode 4)
In other news, according to YNet, Tracey is going to Israel on July 21 to promote State of the Union. Let's hope things remain quiet over there while she's there (I hope for that all the time, of course). I wonder if she'll make it up to Haifa and 'Akká....
Labels: Emmy Awards, Israel, State of the Union
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
SOTU on DVD -- well, one episode at least
I'm sure that an official DVD release of the first season of State of the Union is coming -- early next year, I would suspect, in order to tie in with the start of the second season. But you can get the first episode on DVD right now. All you have to do is go to your neighborhood Target store and pick up the first season DVD set of Californication. The SOTU DVD is included as a bonus, and it's only available at Target.
Labels: Californication, DVD, State of the Union, Target
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
SOTU "the best TV comedy you may never have heard of"
The Vancouver Sun ran a column today that called State of the Union "the best TV comedy you may never have heard of." It began by noting "Being a funny girl, it seems, requires not only the natural gift of comedy but the rather fickle twin fates of timing and taste," comparing Tina Fey's current acclaim to the "cool ambivalence North American fans have long held for Tracey" (I like 'em both, by the way) and then calling SOTU "acerbic, hilarious, slightly inappropriate, satirical, always politically incorrect and wonderfully original."
Labels: State of the Union
Friday, May 02, 2008
SOTU Renewed!
Variety is reporting this morning that State of the Union has been renewed by Showtime for a second season of seven episodes in 2009. Only seven episodes? It's better than the five of the just-completed first season, but still.... And I wonder if the budget for these seven episodes will allow for more guest stars to appear. Not that there's anything wrong with seeing Tracey as so many characters.
Labels: Showtime, State of the Union
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A few things
Well, three episodes of State of the Union have aired, and two more are left in this, its first season. If it were up to me, there would have been more. But consider that many comedy series in Britain run for just 6 episodes, so this is in line with that. Still, I hope there will be a next season -- a longer next-season.
I wonder what SOTU characters are everyone's favorites? I find myself partial to musical pharmacist Padma Perkesh and commentator/blogger Arianna Huffington.
My main work right now is creating the episode guide and commentary for SOTU. But I'm also getting ready to move this site to a new location. There will be a lot of work involved in updating the pages to use the new location instead of this one. When that's done, I'll announce where you can find it.
Undoubtedly, many fans of Tracey are also fans of the late Kirsty MacColl. I'm reading the new biography of her written by her mother, Sun on the Water. Don't look for it in your bookstore unless you're in the UK, for it's not available in the US yet. Amazon.co.uk has it, if you want to brave the extortionate exchange rate between the pound and the dollar. I just received it this week and am reading about Kirsty's childhood. She was taken from us far too soon....
I wonder what SOTU characters are everyone's favorites? I find myself partial to musical pharmacist Padma Perkesh and commentator/blogger Arianna Huffington.
My main work right now is creating the episode guide and commentary for SOTU. But I'm also getting ready to move this site to a new location. There will be a lot of work involved in updating the pages to use the new location instead of this one. When that's done, I'll announce where you can find it.
Undoubtedly, many fans of Tracey are also fans of the late Kirsty MacColl. I'm reading the new biography of her written by her mother, Sun on the Water. Don't look for it in your bookstore unless you're in the UK, for it's not available in the US yet. Amazon.co.uk has it, if you want to brave the extortionate exchange rate between the pound and the dollar. I just received it this week and am reading about Kirsty's childhood. She was taken from us far too soon....
Labels: episode guide, Kirsty MacColl, State of the Union, Sun on the Water
Monday, April 07, 2008
SOTU Guide Updates Delayed
Thanks to a hard drive crash this morning, my update to the State of the Union episode guide for episode 2 was lost, so I'm going to have to rewrite it again from scratch. That wasn't the only thing I lost, either, but I'll spare you the details.
Labels: State of the Union
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Guide to SOTU started
Now that State of the Union has begun, I can announce the beginning of my guide and commentary to the program. Each week, as the episodes air, I'll add to it. It's definitely a work in progress, so things may change.
I also want to send out birthday greetings to Tracey's daughter Mabel, who is 22 today. It may seem hard to believe, but it is true.
I also want to send out birthday greetings to Tracey's daughter Mabel, who is 22 today. It may seem hard to believe, but it is true.
Labels: State of the Union
Saturday, March 29, 2008
One more day
At long last, the day has nearly arrived. State of the Union officially premieres tomorrow. The response from the critics has been mixed; some really enjoy it, while others were disappointed. One of the critics (or maybe it was a blogger) observed that Tracey seems to be a polarizing performer, because people either really like her and what she does, or they don't care for her work at all. There may be some truth to that. It's pretty clear which side of the divide I fall on :)
Thanks to Google search and all of the newspaper websites, I've been able to read scores of reviews from across North America. This was something that was all but impossible 21 years ago, back at the time when The Tracey Ullman Show premiered on Fox. It could have been done with difficulty; you would have had to go to a newsstand that sold out-of-town newspapers and bought as many as you wanted and could afford. It's much easier nowadays -- and less expensive too! But that newsstand might be out of business now....
Thanks to Google search and all of the newspaper websites, I've been able to read scores of reviews from across North America. This was something that was all but impossible 21 years ago, back at the time when The Tracey Ullman Show premiered on Fox. It could have been done with difficulty; you would have had to go to a newsstand that sold out-of-town newspapers and bought as many as you wanted and could afford. It's much easier nowadays -- and less expensive too! But that newsstand might be out of business now....
Labels: State of the Union, The Tracey Ullman Show
Sunday, March 23, 2008
SOTU: A Review
Tracey Ullman returns to comedic series television with a new series, Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union (SOTU), on a new network (Showtime, after 14 years with HBO) and with a slightly different approach to skewering the foibles of Americans. It’s been nine years since her HBO series Tracey Takes On… ended, and while she hasn’t been completely absent from the small screen (two seasons of a fashion-related program and two comedy specials for HBO), her voice has been missed. Now, emboldened by becoming an American citizen in 2006, she’s back. Fans will not be disappointed.
The premise of the series is simple. Each episode focuses on a day in the life of America as seen through the lives of its citizens and residents, both famous and unknown. Stock footage and linking narration (provided by Peter Strauss) take the viewer from one vignette to the next. In the course of a single typical episode, the story may flow from the dumping of a woman recovering from surgery on the street due to an inability to pay, to a TV reporter exposing such practices (and noting that the report would be great for her Emmy reel), to blogger Arianna Huffington wondering what to wear to the Bloggy Awards, to a pharmacist advising her elderly client about the side effects of his medication, to a soldier home from Iraq on furlough (a very short furlough) trying to see her son, and finally back to that woman who was dumped.
For those familiar with Tracey’s work from her previous American series The Tracey Ullman Show (Fox) and Tracey Takes On… (HBO), the vignettes are much shorter than a typical sketch on those series. This is a deliberate creative decision to appeal to the YouTube era of shorter attention spans. Some of the characters don’t need more time than this to have their stories told, but some could sustain longer sketches. None of the TTO characters appear in SOTU (although SOTU’s airport security guard Chantal Monticello is very similar to TTO’s airport security guard Sheneesha), but there is no reason why they couldn’t. There are musical numbers, chiefly Bollywood-style in the vignettes featuring Indian pharmacist Padma Prakesh (one of my favorites of the new characters).
Unlike her older American shows, though, SOTU features Tracey impersonating several famous people, among them Arianna Huffington, David Beckham, reporters Campbell Brown and Rita Cosby, Renee Zellweger, Cameron Diaz, Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Dina Lohan (Lindsay’s mother) and Andy Rooney. Some of her targets may not care for the treatment they receive.
The inter-related nature of many of the vignettes recalls the interwoven nature of some of the TTO episodes such as Las Vegas, Hollywood and Road Rage, episodes which were and are among my favorites. The linking narration also helps to tie them together. Some of the vignettes work better than others, so if there’s one you don’t particularly care for, wait a minute or two for the next one.
The same spirit behind her previous series is present for this one, so those who didn’t care for her work in those will probably not care for her in this one, either. Diehard fans, though, will welcome her return, their only disappointment being that there are only five episodes in this first season. Let us hope that Showtime picks it up for a second season and beyond, for it will be worth it.
The premise of the series is simple. Each episode focuses on a day in the life of America as seen through the lives of its citizens and residents, both famous and unknown. Stock footage and linking narration (provided by Peter Strauss) take the viewer from one vignette to the next. In the course of a single typical episode, the story may flow from the dumping of a woman recovering from surgery on the street due to an inability to pay, to a TV reporter exposing such practices (and noting that the report would be great for her Emmy reel), to blogger Arianna Huffington wondering what to wear to the Bloggy Awards, to a pharmacist advising her elderly client about the side effects of his medication, to a soldier home from Iraq on furlough (a very short furlough) trying to see her son, and finally back to that woman who was dumped.
For those familiar with Tracey’s work from her previous American series The Tracey Ullman Show (Fox) and Tracey Takes On… (HBO), the vignettes are much shorter than a typical sketch on those series. This is a deliberate creative decision to appeal to the YouTube era of shorter attention spans. Some of the characters don’t need more time than this to have their stories told, but some could sustain longer sketches. None of the TTO characters appear in SOTU (although SOTU’s airport security guard Chantal Monticello is very similar to TTO’s airport security guard Sheneesha), but there is no reason why they couldn’t. There are musical numbers, chiefly Bollywood-style in the vignettes featuring Indian pharmacist Padma Prakesh (one of my favorites of the new characters).
Unlike her older American shows, though, SOTU features Tracey impersonating several famous people, among them Arianna Huffington, David Beckham, reporters Campbell Brown and Rita Cosby, Renee Zellweger, Cameron Diaz, Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Dina Lohan (Lindsay’s mother) and Andy Rooney. Some of her targets may not care for the treatment they receive.
The inter-related nature of many of the vignettes recalls the interwoven nature of some of the TTO episodes such as Las Vegas, Hollywood and Road Rage, episodes which were and are among my favorites. The linking narration also helps to tie them together. Some of the vignettes work better than others, so if there’s one you don’t particularly care for, wait a minute or two for the next one.
The same spirit behind her previous series is present for this one, so those who didn’t care for her work in those will probably not care for her in this one, either. Diehard fans, though, will welcome her return, their only disappointment being that there are only five episodes in this first season. Let us hope that Showtime picks it up for a second season and beyond, for it will be worth it.
Labels: Showtime, State of the Union
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
More talk shows - and see SOTU now
Tracey was on The Early Show this morning, but I didn't know about it until after it happened (the Tivo listings didn't flag me). Fortunately, CBS News posted the clip on the Web, so I was able to see her interview. I've already summarized it in my talk show appearances section of the site.
Tomorrow, she's going to be on The View, and then next Monday (24th) she'll be on the Tavis Smiley show on PBS. And SOTU is premiering on the 30th... but if you have video on demand, you can see the first episode now. I have seen it, and I enjoyed it immensely. I'll hold off on further comment until after the episode officially premieres.
Tomorrow, she's going to be on The View, and then next Monday (24th) she'll be on the Tavis Smiley show on PBS. And SOTU is premiering on the 30th... but if you have video on demand, you can see the first episode now. I have seen it, and I enjoyed it immensely. I'll hold off on further comment until after the episode officially premieres.
Labels: State of the Union, Tavis Smiley, The Early Show, The View
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Tracey on The View March 19
As the start date for State of the Union draws ever nearer, it's time to start checking the TV listings for talk shows where Tracey may be appearing to promote the show. The first of these will be The View on March 19. Yippie! -- um, make that Whoopi!
Labels: State of the Union, The View
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
An interview, and a Facebook page
I got a couple of things to mention today. The first is the official Facebook page for SOTU. The second is another clip from Showtime's SOTU page, which happens to be a short interview with Tracey interspersed with some SOTU clips. Here's that interview:
Labels: Facebook, Showtime, State of the Union
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
A Preview of the State of the Union
Here is one of those video clips I mentioned in my previous post -- the President's Day clip (it may have come and gone, but it's still hilarious viewing):
Labels: Showtime, State of the Union
Saturday, February 16, 2008
SOTU Official Site (with promo clips)
For those of us in the US, the official site for State of the Union is now up and running. What you'll find here now are three promo clips that should be airing on Showtime (I haven't seen them yet, though). The oldest one is a First Look at the series; the second is a short interview with Tracey, and the newest is a President's Day clip. In that one, you'll see her as several different characters, both real (Dina Lohan and Andy Rooney) and created (including an updated Sheneesha, still on airport security detail).
Unfortunately for those outside of the US, Showtime is notorious for blocking all access to its site for anyone not in the US. I'm sure someone has devised means for getting around that, but I won't get into that here.
Unfortunately for those outside of the US, Showtime is notorious for blocking all access to its site for anyone not in the US. I'm sure someone has devised means for getting around that, but I won't get into that here.
Labels: Showtime, State of the Union
Thursday, January 31, 2008
USA Weekend Who's News Blog
Tracey was interviewed today by Lorrie Lynch for the USA Weekend Who's News blog, thereby getting some early promotion for State of the Union. Readers were asked what questions they wanted to ask, and those formed the basis of the interview. We learned why SOTU is on Showtime rather than HBO (executive Bob Greenblatt moved from HBO to Showtime, and Tracey wanted to continue working with him, so she made the move too), why there are only five episodes in this first series (that's all the budget allowed), what it was like to become a US citizen ("mind-blowing", she said) and who her favorite guilty-pleasure cable news personality is (Rita Cosby of Fox News).
Two months and counting....
Two months and counting....
Labels: citizenship, Showtime, State of the Union
Monday, January 28, 2008
9 Weeks and counting...
It's now 9 weeks until the premiere of State of the Union. I know this because Showtime has just started airing a repeat run of the first season of The Tudors. The tenth and final episode is slotted to air March 30, leading into the first episode of its second season, which in turn leads into the debut of SOTU.
This should be a prime time to watch out for SOTU previews. There was a partial preview last night ("partial" because the promo covered all of Showtime's original programs), and I think I saw a familiar character: airport security guard Sheneesha. Same uniform, but different hairstyle. I wonder how many familiar friends we'll be seeing?
This should be a prime time to watch out for SOTU previews. There was a partial preview last night ("partial" because the promo covered all of Showtime's original programs), and I think I saw a familiar character: airport security guard Sheneesha. Same uniform, but different hairstyle. I wonder how many familiar friends we'll be seeing?
Labels: Sheneesha, Showtime, State of the Union
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
State of the Union -- March 30
Mark the date on your calendars: March 30. That's when the first episode of State of the Union (SOTU) premieres on Showtime. It'll premiere at 10 PM Eastern and Pacific, right after the premiere of the second season of The Tudors. To shamelessly rip off NBC's slogan, that'll be some Must See TV for me.
Labels: Showtime, State of the Union
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The State of the Union
I recently came upon an interview with Robert Greenblatt, Showtime's President of Entertainment, in which he talked about the network's upcoming series lineup. He had quite a bit to say about Tracey's new project for Showtime:
- The official title is Tracey Ullman's State of the Union
- The sketches are very short, no longer than a minute and a half
- There will be recurring characters
- A typical sequence might involve a visit with two women on an Iowa farm, then an interlude with Arianna Huffington in her boudoir, followed by a look-in on a Washington, DC, anchorperson (we must qualify that, you know)
Labels: Showtime, State of the Union
