TTO

Archive of Material
Go Home!

Episode Guides and Reviews
Series
The Tracey Ullman Show (Fox)
Tracey Takes On (HBO) 
Visible Panty Lines (Oxygen)
Three Of A Kind (BBC)
Girls On Top (ITV)
Commentaries on Three Of A Kind and Girls On Top
Specials
Tracey Ullman: A Class Act (ITV)
Tracey Ullman Takes On New York (HBO) (draft)

Other Reviews
Tracey Takes On - the book
Tracey Takes On - the first two videos
TTO Fern & Kay video 
The Big Love (play from 1991) 

Talk Show Appearances

The Music

Video Archive
What I have
What I want

Miscellaneous
including Musings, the guestbook, character tallies, etc.

Other Sites
Official
Tracey Takes On (her own) (inactive)
HBO's TTO site (inactive)
Purple Skirt
Unofficial
Andrew Mitchell's Tracey Ullman "Go Home" Page
Yahoo Group: Totally Tracey Ullman

  

I've been collecting the various television appearances of Tracey Ullman for several years, dating back to 1985 (when I got my first VCR). Since then, I've amassed a significant collection. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Every episode of The Tracey Ullman Show as originally aired on Fox, with original commercials and uncut Simpson shorts
  • Every episode to date of Tracey Takes On...
  • Several talk show appearances, from Johnny Carson and David Letterman to Larry King and Rosie O'Donnell, and even a few international ones (UK and Canada)
  • Several of her first American TV appearances including SOLID GOLD from March 1984 (the first time I ever saw her) and The Tonight Show from Feb. 17, 1984 (as rerun April 22, 1985)

I'm now in the process of transferring my tapes to MiniDV format for eventual conversion to video CD's and DVD's.  Some of them are starting to show their age.  Too bad that DVD releases of TTUS aren't on the horizon any time soon....

Multiple Tapes

The Tracey Ullman Show (Fox, 1987-1990)

This collection extends over 20 tapes. It includes the original broadcast, including commercials and unedited Simpsons shorts, of every episode, including the "Backstage" special at the beginning of the third season and the "best of" specials for the third and fourth seasons. Most of these were recorded off of WKBD-50, which was then Detroit's Fox affiliate (it was UPN and is now CW). Several were recorded off of stations in Houston and Washington, as it was common practice for ch. 50 to pre-empt TTUS for hockey and basketball games.  In June and July 2003, I transferred these tapes to DVD (22 discs in all).

Tracey Takes On... (HBO, 1996-1999)

This collection  extends over 13 tapes. It includes every episode (47 through March 1999) and every "best of" special (3 through June 1999). Most of these are from the original airing, though the distinction between original and repeat airings is unimportant in this situation, with the exception of the Royalty episode (repeats after the death of Princess Diana no longer contain the sketch where Sydney offers to be Diana's divorce lawyer).  In early 2003, I converted them to DVD.

In addition to those personal tapes, I have these commercially released videos:

  • Sex/Romance/Fantasy
  • Movies/Vanity/Fame
  • Fern & Kay

... as well as a "For Your Consideration" tape for the fourth season, requesting votes for Emmy nominations.  It worked:  eight nominations.

Official DVD's:  I am also acquiring the official DVD releases.  As of July 2006, I have the season 1 and season 2 sets.

The Little Lulu Show (animated - HBO, 1995)

This is a cute cartoon series; my nieces enjoyed it when I taped it for them. This extends over 2 tapes, and it is for the first season only, as Jane Woods did the voice of Lulu in subsequent seasons.

Three Of A Kind (BBC, 1981, 1983)

Thanks to its being recently repeated in the UK on UK Gold, and to some friends over there and in Australia, I now have all 17 full-length episodes (but I am missing a short Christmas special).  When I first saw it via the US video in 1988, it struck me as being very similar to the old "Laugh-In" show, with its rapid-fire gags and quick cuts.  In 2002, I converted these to DVD.  In 2006, I bought the legitimate UK DVD releases.

Girls On Top (Central (UK), 1985)

From various sources (commercial tapes and tapes provided by friends), I have the entire first season of the series.  These are the episodes featuring Tracey. I also have a boxed set containing four episodes from the first season (the one with Tracey) ["Four-Play/Staying Alive", "Ident. Candy Time/Hark"] and two from the second (the one without her) ["Who's Ya Uncle, Shelley"/"Lower the Donkey"].

I now have the two 2-DVD sets that were released in North America in early February 2003.  These sets contain all 13 episodes of the series, and each set contains episodes from both seasons. 

Tracey Ullman's 'Visible Panty Lines' (Oxygen (US), 2001-2)

This show takes a light-hearted look at fashion and style.  22 episodes through August 2002.

Mackenzie (BBC, 1980)

Tracey appeared in five episodes of this 12-episode drama; it had to have been one of her earliest TV roles.  I've obtained 2 complete episodes and most of 2 other episodes from a vintage tape of a 1985 broadcast on A&E.

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Individual Tapes or Discs

  • GIRLS ON TOP (commercially available video) - "Ident. Candy Time/Hark"
  • THREE OF A KIND (commercially available video)
  • ASPEL & COMPANY, 1984 -- from UK; interview; also featured Paul McCartney and a duet on "That'll Be The Day". The clip I have does not contain her solo interview, but she was present for Paul's interview. The duet is also included.
  • A CLASS ACT, 1993; commercially available video from UK
  • PUSS IN BOOTS (1992?); Rabbit Ears video, from the "We All Have Tales" series
  • GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROAD STREET (1984); taped off of cable
  • PLENTY, 1985; on laserdisc (pan-and-scan) and 2 DVD versions (both widescreen, but one has a director's commentary)
  • I LOVE YOU TO DEATH, 1990; widescreen laserdisc
  • VH1 FLIX special on I LOVE YOU TO DEATH, Mar.31 1990
  • The Simpsons, Mar. 7 1991 -- "Bart's Dog Gets an F"; Tracey has 2 roles, Emily Winthrop and Mrs. Winfield (have in both edited and full versions)
  • FUNNY WOMEN ON TELEVISION, 1991; Tracey in a brief (but Comedy award-winning) performance
  • HAPPILY EVER AFTER (1988/1993) -- does two roles, Thunderella and Moonbeam
  • ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS (1993) -- laserdisc; she plays Latrine
  • HOUSEHOLD SAINTS (1993); taped over-the-air from PBS
  • I'LL DO ANYTHING (1994) -- laserdisc
  • BULLETS OVER BROADWAY (1994) -- laserdisc (damaged and unviewable), DVD
  • READY TO WEAR (Pret-a-Porter) (1994) -- laserdisc and DVD
  • TODAY, Jan. 3, 1997 -- Bryant Gumbel's last day as host; features Tracey giving him a new golf club bag and tacky golf shirt (this is the entire show; the segment with Tracey is also on Grab Bag #9)
  • TTO 4th season "For Your Consideration" tape; contains the episodes "Drugs", "America" and "End Of The World", along with unique packaging
  • THE YOUNG VISITORS (sic) -- tape is a Canadian release from 1987; the film is actually called The Young Visiters, as that's the way the 9-year-old author of the original story spelled it
  • Ally McBeal Box Set #1 (DVD) -- two of the episodes feature Tracey as the unorthodox Dr. Tracy Clark
  • Video Music #3 (UK, 1994) -- a music video compilation prepared for the W.H. Smith chain in the UK; includes the video for "Sunglasses"
  • Panic (2000) -- recorded off of Cinemax in Aug. 2000; the film never went into general theatrical release
  • Interview at Banff TV Festival, June 12 2000; aired on CPAC, the Canadian equivalent of C-Span
  • Small Time Crooks (2000) -- DVD
  • Parkinson (BBC) (Feb. 17 2001) -- British talk show; Tracey appeared along with British track star Denise Lewis and Dolly Parton.  This is the complete episode; Tracey's interview can also be found on Grab Bag 13.
  • Happy Since I Met You (Granada, 1981) -- UK video release from 1986
  • Top Of The Pops compilation, 1982-3 (UK) -- features Tracey doing "Breakaway" and "They Don't Know", miming to the records
  • A Dirty Shame (2004) -- DVD, NC-17 version
  • Corpse Bride (2005) -- DVD
  • Three Of A Kind (1981) -- Series 1 DVD from UK

Special laserdiscs

In 2001, I acquired two laserdiscs via eBay.  These recordable laserdiscs contained the raw footage from two TTUS sketches from the first season, "Vive La Different" and "Kay On Vacation".  From the documentation that came with them, they may have been for viewing the dailies or possibly for editing into the finished episode.  It was quite interesting to watch these and compare them to the finished versions which actually aired.  During one take, when Kay was writing out a postcard to her mother and we were hearing a voiceover of what she was writing, the tape of the voiceover had an audible glitch, prompting Tracey to say "Excuse me" or words to that effect while remaining in character as Kay.

Of special interest was a closing monologue recorded at the same time as "Vive La Different."  It and the sketch were shot April 16, 1987, but while the sketch aired on May 17, the monologue did not air until November 1.  What aired was a significantly edited version of what was recorded.  What aired:  Tracey said she could go home in her new car, an SUV.  It was her first new car and she was all excited, especially about the vinyl smell.  She then questioned the need for SUV's in Hollywood; must be for the rough terrain on Hollywood Boulevard.  Still, she likes being high up in a vehicle like that.  What didn't air: Being high up enables you to avoid seeing what people do with their fingers when they are in close proximity to their noses (she demonstrates for us).  She then described the "'orrible old bangers" she used to drive and how they would break down a lot.  She remembers her first car costing $300 and how she and her mother went out to buy it from a really sleazy and creepy-looking dealer.  They noted such things as the nice and full water bottle, the genuine imitation sheepskin covers and the fuzzy dice.  Afterwards, she takes it to her mechanic friend Tony, who pronounces it a "bloody deathtrap".  He pointed out that two vehicles had been welded together to create this one and that the floorboard was rusted through -- a Flintstone car, in other words.  Anyway, she was going to go home in her nice new car, so -- go home!

Update:  I got more of those laserdiscs.  Now to go through them...

General Tapes

On the same tape

  • I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood (HBO), June 6 1989; Tracey plays Tina Wise
  • SESAME STREET, June 7 1989; she appears in all of the spots featuring humans

On the same tape

  • "Making of ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS", 1993 HBO special
  • TRACEY ULLMAN TAKES ON NEW YORK, 1993; as taped off HBO

On the same tape

  • CELEBRATE STORYTELLING, Dec 18 1994 (PBS airdate in Detroit); introducing and telling stories (aimed at the young set)
  • WOMEN OF THE NIGHT IV, May 27 1995 (HBO special); hosting a special showcasing 6 female standup comics, plus doing a brief opening sketch (definitely *not* aimed at the young set) (she was nominated for an Emmy and won an American Comedy Award for this)

On the same tape

  • Ally McBeal (Fox), Mar 9 1998; features Tracey as Dr. Tracy Clark, psychologist and "smile therapist", engaging in some unusual therapy with Ally
  • Ally McBeal, Mar 16 1998; more fun with the good doctor (note: a very brief clip from this episode appeared in the May 18 1998 season finale)

On the same tape

  • Ally McBeal, Aug. 31 1998 (OAD May 11 1998) -- no Tracey appearance in this episode
  • Ally McBeal, Sept. 14 1998; second season premiere, with Ally paying another visit to our favorite smile theapist

On the same tape

  • Ally McBeal, Nov. 22 1999; Ally and her parents have an emergency session with Dr. Tracy (Tracey)
  • Ally McBeal, Apr. 10 2000 (OAD Mar. 27 2000); no Tracey appearance in this episode, which featured the death of Billy Thomas (widescreen broadcast)

On the same tape

  • Five episodes of Fantasy World Cup Live (ITV [UK], June 1998), including the June 18th episode featuring Tracey

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Tape "Grab Bag #4"

  • Emmy Awards and associated bits, Sep 17-18 1989
  • Late Night with David Letterman, Mar 21 1990
  • "They Don't Know" music video, taped from VH1 Mar 25 1990
  • TODAY, Apr 5 1990 plugging I LOVE YOU TO DEATH
  • SHOWBIZ TODAY on CNN, Apr 9 1990, also plugging I LOVE YOU TO DEATH
  • CBS THIS MORNING, Apr 11 1990, plugging I LOVE YOU TO DEATH
  • SHOWBIZ TODAY on CNN, Jul 13 1990, plugging TAMING OF THE SHREW
  • MTV HOUSE OF STYLE, Aug 18 1990, modeling fashions with Cindy Crawford (hilarious)
  • Emmy Awards, Sep 16 1990, winning writing and performing awards
  • Late Night with David Letterman, Dec 4 1990 (rerun of Dec 19 1989)
  • ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, Mar 5 1991, on opening night of THE BIG LOVE
  • SHOWBIZ TODAY on CNN, Mar 7 1991, plugging THE BIG LOVE
  • AMERICAN COMEDY AWARDS, Apr 3 1991; on the day this aired, I saw her in the matinee performance of THE BIG LOVE; it closed the next Sunday

Tape "Grab Bag #6"

  • WOMEN IN ROCK, 1984/85 documentary; bits featuring Tracey, interviews and a clip from a Swedish TV performance of "They Don't Know" (taped from Lifetime TV, Jun 1991)
  • Late Night with David Letterman, Feb 3 1992 (rerun of Feb 13 1991)
  • AMERICAN COMEDY AWARDS, May 20 1992; winning for the FUNNY WOMEN OF TELEVISION appearance
  • ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, Oct 21 1992; on set of HOUSEHOLD SAINTS
  • LOVE AND WAR, Jan 4 1993; Tracey in Emmy award-winning guest appearance
  • CNN HEADLINE NEWS, Jul 9 1993; interview on the set of TRACEY ULLMAN TAKES ON NEW YORK
  • COMING ATTRACTIONS on E!, Sep 11 1993; trailer for HOUSEHOLD SAINTS
  • ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, Oct 7 1993; promoting TRACEY ULLMAN TAKES ON NEW YORK
  • AMERICAN COMEDY AWARDS, May 23 1994; winning award for LOVE AND WAR appearance
  • TODAY, Jun 22 1994; interviewed by Bryant Gumbel from Rockefeller Plaza, talking about 2 upcoming movies, "Scottish suntans" and the kids
  • EMMYS, Sept. 11 1994; winning for best performance for TRACEY ULLMAN TAKES ON NEW YORK
  • E! EMMY WRAP-UP, Sept. 12 1994; brief interview bits after winning
  • ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, Sept. 12 1994; interview after winning; features the Collapsing Emmy
  • US opening to A CLASS ACT, taped from HBO Sept. 16 1994; a MASTERPIECE THEATER-type intro, setting the program up for us Yanks
  • FYE, Oct. 9 1994; segment on BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, with some interview clips
  • TODAY, Oct. 19 1994; talking with Katie Couric about BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, perkiness, Woody Allen, movies vs. TV, etc.

Tape "Safety Grab Bag #1"

These clips were originally recorded in EP mode, then duped to an SP tape for safety.

  • THE DICK CAVETT SHOW on USA, Oct 14 1985; plugging PLENTY
  • ENTERTAINMENT THIS WEEK, Oct. 19, 1985; a general interview (she loves LA)
  • MAX HEADROOM from Cinemax, Sep 12 1986; features whacked out interview, some clips from "Breakaway" music video
  • Late Night with David Letterman, June 1 1987 (rerun from Jan. 8, 1985)
  • Late Night with David Letterman, Jul 29 1987
  • GOOD MORNING AMERICA, Jan 21 1988
  • Late Night with David Letterman, Apr 2 1987, plugging her soon-to-debut series
  • TONIGHT SHOW, Apr 29 1987
  • Late Night with David Letterman, Jan 22 1988
  • Late Night with David Letterman, Mar 30 1988 (rerun from Oct. 8 1986)
  • TONIGHT SHOW, Aug 11 1988

Tape "Safety Grab Bag #2/Grab Bag #7"

Clips prior to 1994 were originally recorded in EP, then duped to an SP tape for safety.

  • TONIGHT SHOW, Nov 23 1988; Johnny's there, this time
  • WEST 57TH on CBS, Jan 28 1989
  • Late Night with David Letterman, Feb 24 1989
  • GOOD MORNING AMERICA, Feb 27 1989
  • TODAY, Dec 12 1994; talking with Bryant Gumbel about READY TO WEAR
  • LSWDL (Letterman), Dec 12 1994; talking with Dave about READY TO WEAR, Paris, and the Gaultier coat with "willy wear"
  • LIVE WITH REGIS & KATHIE LEE, Dec 14 1994; talking about READY TO WEAR (again)
  • ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, Dec ??, 1994; story on READY TO WEAR, includes a Tracey bit (talking about improvisation and actors who gotta have a script)
  • CABLE ACE AWARDS, TNT, Jan 15 1995; Tracey presenting award for Best Host, talking about cable coming to England (the royals can appear on Home Shopping) (she also won for TRACEY ULLMAN TAKES ON NEW YORK, but this had been awarded 2 days earlier, off camera)
  • The "Lost Monologue" -- aired with on-network reruns of the June 24 1987 episode of The Tracey Ullman Show (the Dr. N!Godatu cartoon had been removed); she told the story of her friend Mandy meeting her great aunt, who used to be a unicyclist in the circus
  • Several promo clips for TRACEY TAKES ON (1996) - in one, she's Janie Pillsworth (another promo clip is on the first LITTLE LULU tape)
  • TODAY, Jan 16 1996 - discussing new series with Bryant Gumbel
  • LIVE - REGIS & KATHIE LEE, Jan 17 1996; Joe Piscopo was filling in for Regis; talking about TRACEY TAKES ON... (TTO), the new HBO series
  • CHARLIE ROSE, Jan 16 1996; an excellent 15-20 minute interview
  • TOTALLY TRACEY MARATHON, Comedy Central, Jan. 19 1996; brief interview bits talking about the new series, TTO, as well as different promo spots for it.
  • Couple more HBO promo spots for TTO
  • SHOWBIZ TODAY, Jan. 23 1996; plugging TTO. Includes several clips from TTO

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Tape "Grab Bag #8"

  • TONIGHT SHOW (NBC), Jan. 23 1996; plugging TTO, trying not to talk about the kids (not completely successful) [good one]
  • Most of a 4 minute promo feature for TTO on HBO (Jan. 1996)
  • More promos for TTO, including what the critics were saying
  • AMERICAN COMEDY AWARDS, March 6 1996, winning for "Women of the Night IV" in 1995
  • LARRY KING LIVE (CNN), March 15 1996; great interview (20-25 min. long)
  • DENNIS MILLER LIVE (HBO), April 26 1996; entire episode on royalty; featured Tracey in an interview and call-in segment
  • HOLIDAY (Travel Channel), aired May 11 1996; British show; segment with Tracey and Mabel on holiday in India (suspect segment dates from late '94 or early '95)
  • EMMY NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCEMENT on E! (July 18 1996) -- she announces some of the nominations for the 95-96 Emmys, and receives a few to boot.
  • EMMY AWARDS (ABC), Sept. 8 1996; presenting the Emmy for best directing in a variety or musical special, and advising directors to stop wearing their caps backwards (unfortunately, she didn't win any of her own)
  • Promo for 2nd season of TTO (HBO) featuring Ruby Romaine (Nov. 14 1996)
  • CableACE Awards, Nov. 17 1996 (TNT) -- TTO winning for Best Variety Series or Special, and Tracey presenting the Best Movie or Miniseries
  • A second promo for TTO featuring Ruby (Dec. 2 1996)
  • Promo for TTO featuring Chic (Dec. 5 1996)
  • Promo for TTO Marathon on New Year's Day 1997

Tape "Grab Bag #9"

  • LATE SHOW (Letterman), Jan. 6 1997 -- plugging TTO, talking about Vegas, Tickle-Me-Dave, and some of the difficulties of being Chic
  • ROSIE O'DONNELL, Jan. 8 1997 -- talking about the kids, making popcorn in the pan, Beck, etc. (great appearance!)
  • Promo for TTO featuring Linda Granger (Jan. 12 1997)
  • TONIGHT, Aug. 8 1996 (rerun Jan. 13 1997) -- talking about being a golf widow, complaining about John Tesh (Very good appearance)
  • SHOWBIZ TODAY, Jan. 15 1997 -- behind the scenes at TTO (filming an Erin McCall sketch)
  • TONIGHT, Feb. 6 1997 -- from Las Vegas; plugging TTO in Vegas, talking about Caesar's Palace girls, Grand Canyon, etc.
  • SHOWBIZ TODAY, Mar. 17 1997 -- GLAAD Awards wrapup; features a very short interview
  • SOLID GOLD, March 1984 (Mar. 24, 1984 in Detroit) -- performing "They Don't Know" (lipsynched); clip appears twice on tape (this was the first time I ever saw or heard of Tracey)
  • TODAY, Jan. 3, 1997 -- Bryant Gumbel's last day as host; features Tracey giving him a new golf club bag and tacky golf shirt
  • 1997 Emmy coverage -- interviewed by Joan Rivers on E's pre-show; winning the Emmy for Best Variety, Music or Comedy Series; post-win interviews on CBS THIS MORNING, SHOWBIZ TODAY, and ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT (Sept. 14 and 15, 1997)
  • German TV, 1984 -- performing "My Guy" (lipsynched) (talk about dancing on the ceiling)
  • Promo for TTO season 3, HBO, Nov. 15 1997
  • CableAce awards, Nov. 15 1997; Tracey teamed up with Carol Burnett to present the first award ("two sophisticated, dignified women" -- ?!? <g>)
  • Another promo for TTO season 3, HBO, Dec. 10 1997; just who is Tracey? We hear from "Mum", "a teacher", "a school friend" and "Dad"
  • Another promo for TTO season 3, Dec. 25 1997; similar to the Dec. 10 promo
  • General promo for HBO in January 1998 (Dec. 28 1997); features TTO
  • Longer (2 min.) promo for TTO, HBO Dec. 28 1997; this features Tracey talking about Linda, Fern, Trevor, Sydney and Chic, along with some clips from upcoming sketches
  • Specific promo for TTO Marriage
  • TONIGHT, Jan. 8, 1998 -- Robin Williams was also a guest this evening, and Jay almost lost control of the show
  • ROSIE O'DONNELL, Jan. 12, 1998 -- plugging the TTO book and videos, but slamming the Tap-Teaser hair care system (tap, tap tap? More like crap, crap, crap!). This was a fantastic appearance, by the way!
  • LIVE WITH REGIS & KATHIE LEE, Jan. 13, 1998 -- plugging the TTO book and videos

Tape "Grab Bag 9A -- Radio"

  • FRESH AIR , Jan. 14 1998 -- this is an excellent interview, covering all aspects of her career (45-50 minutes long)
  • DEREK McGINTY, Jan. 15, 1998 -- another excellent interview and call-in program (one hour long)

Tape "Grab Bag -- Radio #2" (in progress)

  • THIS MORNING, CBC (Canada), Feb. 20 1998 -- a good 25-minute interview where Tracey talks about the inspiration for Kay, the Olympics, and "international artistes," among other things
  • THE TREATMENT, KCRW Santa Monica CA, Mar. 7 1997 -- 30-minute interview (recorded from the Web)
  • audio portion of an interview on KTVU San Francisco's MORNINGS ON 2, Jan. 29 1998 -- 5 minute interview plugging the TTO book and 2 booksigning appearances in San Francisco (recorded from the Web)

Tape "Grab Bag -- Radio #3" (in progress)

  • Audio portion of 20-minute interview with Sam Donaldson on ABCNews.com, May 15 2000 (recorded from Web)
  • Morning Becomes Eclectic (KCRW Santa Monica), May 10 2000; 53-minute guest appearance where she plugs SMALL TIME CROOKS and plays a few of her favorite songs of the moment (Shelby Lynne, Aimee Mann, the Clash, etc.) (recorded from Web)
  • Fresh Air (NPR), May 22 2000; 20-minute interview discussing SMALL TIME CROOKS and her plans for her next HBO series

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Tape "Special Grab Bag"

  • TONIGHT SHOW, Feb. 17 1984 (as rerun Apr. 22 1985) -- the complete episode, which featured Tracey doing "Move Over Darling" and "They Don't Know" live, not lipsynched; Madeline Kahn was the other guest that evening.
  • Late Night with David Letterman, Apr. 30 1984
  • Late Night with David Letterman, June 20 1985
  • Late Night with David Letterman, Sept. 19 1985

Tape "Grab Bag 10"

  • THE DAILY SHOW (Comedy Central), Jan. 14 1988 -- brief interview, plugging the book, and answering the Five Questions (she was 3 for 5)
  • HBO, Feb. 10, 1998 -- most of a lengthy (approx. 4 minutes long) promo for the third season of TTO featuring Tracey talking about several of her characters -- it's an expanded version of a promo on tape "Grab Bag 9"
  • Variant of the promo for TTO Religion, HBO Feb. 1998.  The difference between this promo and the one appearing at the end of the episode was that the post-episode one had a male voiceover saying "premiering next Sunday at 10", whereas this one had Tracey saying it. (aside: there is another variant of the promo which has her saying "coming up next, kids")
  • Tonight Show, 2-17-84 (rerun 4-22-85) -- Tracey's first appearance
  • Late Night with David Letterman, Apr. 30 1984
  • Late Night with David Letterman, June 20 1985
  • Late Night with David Letterman, Sept. 19 1985
  • THE VIEW, ABC, Feb. 19 1998; being interviewed by Meredith Viera, complaining about the Monica Lewinsky scandal, etc.
  • Promo for the March 9, 1998 episode of Ally McBeal (Fox), Mar. 2, 1998; Tracey guest stars in this episode
  • Open Mike With Mike Bullard (Canada - The Comedy Network), Feb. 20, 1998; a pretty good interview from Toronto
  • Dini (Canada - CTV), Feb. 23 1998; an even better interview from Toronto

Tape "Grab Bag 10A"

  • Jane Hawtin Live (Canada -- WTN), Feb. 20 1998; a very good interview and call-in program (nearly one hour long)
  • Larry King Live (CNN), Mar. 20 1998 (recorded Mar. 16 1998); Tracey is part of a roundtable (with Fran Drescher, Janeane Garofalo and Joy Behar) discussing the various Clinton sex scandals and other current events

Tape "Canadian Grab Bag"

  • Open Mike With Mike Bullard (Canada - The Comedy Network), Feb. 20, 1998; a pretty good interview from Toronto
  • Dini (Canada - CTV), Feb. 23, 1998 (recorded Feb. 20 1998); an even better interview from Toronto
  • Jane Hawtin Live (Canada -- WTN), Feb. 20 1998; a very good interview and call-in program (nearly one hour long)

Tape "Not Yet Named"

  • SOLID GOLD (VH-1), Mar. 31, 1998; edited from the Mar. 24, 1984 episode (original length, one hour; edited length, 30 minutes) -- includes Tracey's performance of "They Don't Know", Culture Club doing "Miss Me Blind" and Stevie Nicks doing "Stand Back"

Tape "Grab Bag 11"

  • AMERICAN COMEDY AWARDS (Fox), Mar. 17, 1998; Tracey wins one award (funniest actress in a comedy series, for TTO), presents another (funniest actress in a motion picture -- Helen Hunt won for As Good As It Gets), and gives us her thoughts on the origins of the Monica Lewinsky scandal
  • SOLID GOLD (VH-1), Mar. 31, 1998  (repeat of the Mar. 24, 1984 episode); a cleaner and more complete clip of "They Don't Know"
  • Excerpt from a promo for the miniseries FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON (HBO), Apr. 26, 1998; Tracey was one of several actors asked about her memories of the first moon landing.   The full clip is on my personal tape of parts 7 and 8 of the FROM THE EARTH... series.
  • WORLD'S FUNNIEST (Fox), Apr. 26, 1998; Tracey recalls the early days of the Simpsons and congratulates them on their 200th episode
  • Promo for the TTO Best Of III special, HBO, May 18 1998; showed clips from sketches which are likely to appear in the special
  • Fantasy World Cup Live (UK, ITV), June 18 1998; Tracey was one of the guests on this show devoted to a comedic look at the World Cup; topics included her first football match (England vs. Tunisia) and "the fringe" (taped directly from the television in London, so there's a flicker due to standards mismatch; I've since obtained a better copy)
  • 50th ANNUAL EMMY AWARDS (NBC), Sept. 13 1998; Tracey introduces the accountants and presents the award for Best Writing for a Variety/Music/Comedy Program (Dennis Miller Live wins) -- unfortunately, she doesn't win any tonight
  • Promo for season 4 of TTO (HBO), Dec. 8 1998; Tracey tells son Johnny the truth about Uncle Trevor, Aunt Linda, Aunt Ruby, Aunt Fern, etc.
  • A better copy of the same promo, along with a brief "It's not TV, it's HBO" promo (HBO, Dec. 14 1998)
  • HBO Entertainment News item on the 4th season of TTO, Jan 1 1999; Tracey talks about the show while being made up; several scenes feature Sydney at her class reunion and Linda making a music video, with a brief glimpse of Madame Nadja
  • Promo for TTO episodes Dating and Drugs, HBO, Jan. 2 1999
  • AMAZING TAILS (Animal Planet), Dec. 29 1998; clip probably dates from 1996; Tracey shows her spaniel Eloise, who is said to resemble Kate Moss; she can also do imitations, with her "mother's" help
  • Promo for season 4 of TTO (HBO), Jan. 5 1999; Tracey talks to Johnny about "Aunt Sydney"
  • Tonight Show (NBC), Jan. 8 1999; talking about skiing, toupee- and bad facelift-spotting, Hitler and sharks, along with a blooper from TTO; also includes Chris Isaak's performance and interview
  • Promo for season 4 of TTO (HBO), Jan. 9 1999; playing "guess the character" with Chic, Hope and Linda
  • Promo for season 4 of TTO (HBO), Jan. 10 1999; talking about Sheneesha, Kay, Madame Nadja and Janie
  • Today (NBC), Jan. 12 1999; plugging the fourth season of TTO, commenting on the lack of control with network TV, etc.
  • Rosie O'Donnell, Jan. 12 1999; Tap Tap Tap revisited, vacuum sealers, demonstrating teeth, and playing Guess the Celebrity
  • The Daily Show (Comedy Central), Jan 13 1999; makeup, adolescence and the 2 Questions
  • A different "It's not TV, it's HBO" clip, Jan. 22 1999
  • A third "It's not TV, it's HBO" clip, Feb. 12 1999; does HBO really stand for Horrible Body Odor?
  • Screen Actors Guild Awards (TNT), Mar. 7 1999; winning Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series for TTO
  • Showbiz Today (CNN), Mar. 8 1999; story on SAG awards, including a quote from Tracey
  • Entertainment Tonight, Mar. 8 1999; another story on SAG awards, including a different quote from Tracey about the award statue

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Tape "Grab Bag 11A"

  • Ally McBeal, Feb. 22 1999; Ally visits our favorite therapist again, but there's not much smiling this time
  • Leeza (NBC), Feb. 22 1999; Leeza Gibbons interviews Tracey for the entire hour, and we see an amazing lookalike

Tape "Grab Bag 12"

  • Access Hollywood, Mar. 8 1999; a SAG Awards wrap-up, including a lengthy segment showing what a typical winner (Tracey) goes through after winning -- the photos, the press, the interviews, the complaining about how heavy the award is
  • American Comedy Awards behind the scenes special (Comedy Central), Mar. 14 1999; interviews with several attendees, including Tracey and Allan
  • American Comedy Awards (Fox), Mar. 15 1999; winning the first (funniest female in a TV series, for TTO) and the last (funniest female in a guest appearance, for Ally McBeal) awards presented
  • Newsstand (CNN/Entertainment Weekly), May 20 1999; nice profile, with several shots behind the scenes of TTO
  • Where Are They Now: Girl Power, VH1, July 31 1999; a very brief rundown on what Tracey's been doing since "They Don't Know" (as if we didn't know); unlike others who were profiled in this episode, she was not interviewed
  • Roseanne (talk show), Aug. 16 1999 (OAD: Feb. 19 1999); long (20 minute) chat with Tracey, where she talks about her roots, whom she admired, and America's obsession with their rear ends; she also receives advice from Roseanne on raising teenagers (be tough with them)
  • 51st Annual Emmy Awards, Sept. 12 1999; Tracey presents the award for best direction of a comedy series (won by TTO alum Thomas Schlamme); she also thanks the academy for voting her best guest actress in a comedy (for Ally McBeal) and teases David Kelley. Unfortunately, she does not win either of the two other awards she's up for.
  • Today (NBC), Dec. 1 1999; Katie Couric interviews Tracey, who's promoting the grand opening of her online boutique, Purple Skirt (www.purpleskirt.com)
  • Christmas-themed ad for Marshalls, Dec. 2 1999; Tracey provides the voice for Marsha, the store's cartoon character spokesperson
  • The Times Capsule, History Channel, Dec. 5 1999; lengthy segment on Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, featuring a few comments from Tracey
  • Today (NBC), Mar. 27 2000; Tracey, Jon Stewart and Christie Brinkley review the Academy Awards with Katie Couric
  • American Comedy Awards (Fox), Mar. 23 2000; Tracey wins for Funniest Female in a TV Series
  • Oprah Winfrey, May 9 2000; Tracey has a brief segment devoted to Purple Skirt on a show devoted to online shopping
  • ad for SMALL TIME CROOKS, May 15 2000
  • Today (NBC), May 15 2000; Matt Lauer interviews Tracey, who's plugging SMALL TIME CROOKS and complaining about the lime-green leggings she wore in the movie
  • Live with Regis & Kathie Lee, May 15 2000; Tracey plugs SMALL TIME CROOKS, and might we have found Kathie Lee's replacement?
  • The Daily Show (Comedy Central), May 15 2000; more plugs for SMALL TIME CROOKS, more wailing about those horrid-looking leggings, and how Woody Allen's a good kisser
  • Showbiz Today (CNN), May 17 2000; short story on SMALL TIME CROOKS, including brief comments from Tracey, Woody and Hugh Grant
  • Tonight Show (NBC), May 18 2000; taped the HDTV feed; in between discussions about a youthful experiment with pot, the Captain and Tennille, gay bangs, and dot-comming it, Tracey plugs SMALL TIME CROOKS

Tape "Grab Bag 12A" (in progress)

  • Roseanne (talk show), Aug. 16 1999; this is the full program -- Tracey's segment is on Grab Bag 12

Tape "Grab Bag 13"

  • Museum of Television & Radio's Influences (Bravo), Aug. 6 2000; Tracey talks about the people (Gilda Radner, Lily Tomlin, Imogene Coca, etc.) and films (Cathy Come Home, etc.) that have influenced her
  • A Celebration of Television: The Banff Rockie Awards (CBC), Sept. 2 2000; ceremony was taped in June; Tracey is awarded the Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Network award, and during her acceptance speech, she takes Jerry Lewis to task for his comments about female comedians
  • Today (NBC), Oct. 31 2000; promoting a fashion auction to benefit research into ovarian cancer, and showing off a few items from the Purple Skirt and Purple Pants collections
  • Promo for the Rosie O'Donnell show on Nov. 6 2000
  • Rosie O'Donnell, Nov. 6 2000: promoting the OCRF benefit auction, and giving a makeover to show staffer Kevin
  • Tonight Show (NBC), Jan. 10 2001; taped from HDTV broadcast; smelling George Clooney, a Viagra scare, the upcoming Golden Globes, and branching out into interactive TV
  • Parkinson (BBC), Feb. 17 2001; talking about her early days in the business, age and thinness pressures on actresses, and vaginal dryness (a running theme for the second half of the interview)
  • Today (NBC), March 26 2001; the annual review of the Academy Awards; joining her this year are Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Chris Isaak
  • Today (NBC), Sept. 11 2001; chatting with Katie Couric about her new series Visible Panty Lines.  This appeared only in the Eastern time zone; in all other time zones, it was pre-empted by coverage of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Tape "Grab Bag 14" (in progress)

  • Today (NBC), Dec. 13 2001; standing out in the drizzle with Matt Lauer, promoting a charity sale of graffiti T-shirts, and giving a few of them away
  • Daily Show (Comedy Central), Dec. 13 2001; talking about VPL, the Oxygen network and the style of American news coverage
  • "Hollywood Mom" short film that originally aired on Saturday Night Live, May 16 1987; this repeat aired on NBC, March 9/10, 2002
  • Second City Presents (Bravo), Oct. 21 2002; a fantastic hour-long interview covering all of Tracey's career to date
  • Various ads for Marshall Field's 13-Hour Sale and Field Days, Spring 2003.  In one, Tracey is in character as Fern; another one uses "Breakaway" as a soundtrack. 

I'm always interested in adding to this collection. If you can help out, especially those of you in Europe, please contact me. These are the clips I'm especially interested in.

Thanks to J. A. Chamberlain for providing some dates for the Letterman broadcasts.

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Page written by Roger Reini
©1998-2006 R. W. Reini
Last modified: April 20, 2008