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

Directors:

Ted Bessell
Art Wolff

Writers:

Matt Groening (Simpsons shorts)
Holly Holmberg Brooks
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

5 April 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Plot Keywords:

Dysfunctional Family | Variety Show | Cult TV | Sketch Comedy | The Simpsons

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 / ... (63 episodes, 1987-1990)
Joseph Malone	...	Various Characters / ... (58 episodes, 1987-1990)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson / ... (43 episodes, 1987-1990)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson (28 episodes, 1987-1989)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (28 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)
Manny Basanese		(2 episodes, 1988-1989)
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
Jerry Belson	....	executive producer (80 episodes, 1987-1990)
James L. Brooks	....	executive producer (80 episodes, 1987-1990)
Heide Perlman	....	executive producer (80 episodes, 1987-1990)
Richard Sakai	....	producer (80 episodes, 1987-1990)
Marc Flanagan	....	co-producer / supervising producer (67 episodes, 1987-1990)
Ted Bessell	....	producer (57 episodes, 1987-1990)
Ken Estin	....	executive producer (57 episodes, 1987-1989)
Sam Simon	....	executive producer (45 episodes, 1988-1990)
Dick Blasucci	....	co-producer (35 episodes, 1987-1988)
Dinah Kirgo	....	producer (23 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jay Kogen	....	co-producer (23 episodes, 1989-1990)
Marilyn Suzanne Miller	....	senior producer (23 episodes, 1989-1990)
Wallace Wolodarsky	....	co-producer (23 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)
Marcy Levitas Hamilton	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Jeffrey Townsend	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Gregg Heschong		(19 episodes, 1987-1989)

Series Film Editing by
Steve Shultz		(9 episodes, 1987)
M. Pam Blumenthal		(3 episodes, 1988-1989)
Douglas Hines		(3 episodes, 1988-1989)
Brian K. Roberts		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Portia Iversen		(1 episode, 1989)

Series Makeup Department
Thomas R. Burman	....	makeup artist / special makeup effects artist (2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Bari Dreiband-Burman	....	makeup artist / special makeup effects artist (2 episodes, 1989-1990)

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)
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 A. 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
Mark Soucie	....	best boy electric (55 episodes, 1987-1989)
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 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 (41 episodes, 1987-1990)

Series Other crew
Catherine Pittman	....	animal coordinator (80 episodes, 1987-1990)
Joseph A. Boucher	....	production assistant (22 episodes, 1988-1989)
Jason Roberts	....	production assistant/audience coordinator (13 episodes, 1987)
Smith Wordes	....	assistant choreographer (5 episodes, 1987)
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 (1987-1990) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Klasky-Csupo  animation production
• Performing Animal Troupe  animals provided by

Runtime:

30 min (79 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Stage 17, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

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: The Day the Violence Died (#7.18)" (1996)

Go Home!!!

This was one of Fox's flagship shows that aired along with Married With Children opening night on Fox. Before this, Tracey was known to a few in America that either saw one of her britcoms via someone in England or owned a copy of her 1983 album, You Broke My Heart In 17 Places. This showed got her launched and it was too funny. My favorite character was Franchesca. It was amusing seeing her transform into a teenager. She was also backed up by a great supporting cast with Julie Kavner, Dan Castelleneta, Sam McMurray, Joseph Malone, and later, Anne Levine. I miss this show and the Sunday nights it was on. It's too bad comedy like this doesn't work on TV anymore. She was talented and many of the skits were downright hilarious. Especially from the first episode where a busy couple spends all but five minutes with their child until they run off again, and a woman who gets pulled over for drunk driving (who really isn't) and is asked to perform odd tests. Truly comic genius.