Tracey Takes On...

I would like to defend Tracey Ullman from a brutally uninformed commentator who slammed Tracey and her show for reinforcing negative stereotypes. I must say, YOU HAVE MISSED THE POINT! Tracey Ullman is a brilliantly talented performer. However, why is that a black comedian can get on stage, slam whites, Jews, Asians, women and police and use the "F" word ad nauseum and we praise them for being masters! Talk about your double-edge sword!

This is one of the funniest shows on TV!! Tracey Ulmann plays a variety of different characters and each week it's given a different theme such a Tracey takes on... fashion, death, age, music, change ...etc... My favourite character is Linda Granger but I love them all. Tracey is amazingly transformed into each character - sometimes you have to check the credits/ Tracey Takes On home page to see if it actually was her - eg. the NYC cab driver. Watch it whenever you get a chance - it's not the type of thing that you love the first time it visits but i becomes the type of thing that you love and pine for the next series!!! Unmissable.

American comedy series in which British-born Ullman `takes on' a particular subject each episode and parodies it through various characters.

Tracey Ullman is, without doubt, a very talented performer. Accomplished actress, singer (with some hit singles to her name), dancer, comedienne, television personality - she can do it all. Assuming countless guises in this show (all convincing and some completely unrecognizable), she proves that if you were casting a film, one only need cast Ullman for ninety percent of the characters.

Unfortunately, it's the material which lets her down. Lame jokes, unfunny skits and poor writing sink what could have been a terrific series. Understandably, it's geared for an American audience, with in-jokes and a very American point of view - most of which fell completely flat in front of this Australian. In addition, her likeable characters seem to feature much less than the loud-mouthed, obnoxious ones.

Had Tracey enlisted some better writers, the show would've been a winner. Still, she performs admirably given what she's got and the show is tolerable, simply to watch Ullman's ability to portray so many characters believably.

Remember back in the mid to late 90's at times in my college dorm room when nothing was on I from time to time to get a good laugh and to see a spin and take on current pop culture would tune into this "HBO" variety show "Tracey Takes On". The parody and skits and comedy of acting featured Ullman was spot on as her performances looked at current times of culture and fashion. Plus the song played at the end credits are fine as the tune "They Don't Know About Us" was a hit in the 80's.

I love this show. If you don't have HBO I suggest you run out and rent a few videos. This is sketch comedy at its best. She takes on any and every character you could imagine. The gay airline steward, Trevor. Then there's a Leslie Abrahamson type attorney, Sydney. Former make-up artist to the stars turned lush Ruby Romaine. The list goes on and on. If you're an Tracy Ullman fan you won't be disappointed. Check it out!