"Tracey Ullman's
Visible Panty Lines"
Episode Guide,
Review and Commentary
Compiled by Roger Reini (contact info)
Last revised April 20, 2008
This is a brief guide to Tracey Ullman's Visible Panty Lines (VPL),
her half-hour devoted to a light-hearted look at fashion.
GENERAL COMMENTS
Episodes are listed in the order of their original airdate on the Oxygen
channel.
1. Sept. 20 2001
Guests: Cindy Crawford, Nell Campbell
This episode was originally to have aired one week earlier, on September
13. However, due to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon two days earlier, Oxygen had suspended normal programming and was
carrying the NY1 news channel. This episode first aired on Sunday,
September 16, in what would have been a repeat slot
2. Sept. 27 2001
Guests: Rhea Perlman
3. October 11 2001
Guests: Nell Campbell, Dame Edna
4. October 18 2001
Guest: Belinda Carlisle
5. October 25 2001
Guest: Kathy Najimy
6. November 1 2001
Guest: Gloria Allred
7. November 8 2001
Guest: Mo Gaffney
8. November 15 2001
Guest: Carol Kane
9. November 29 2001
Guests: Jackie Collins, Nell Campbell
10. December 9 2001
Guest: Allee Willis
At the end of this episode, Tracey received a painting
from Bubbles the Artist
(Willis is her manager) depicting Allan, Tracey and their dog Stella.
11. December 16 2001
Guest: Rita Wilson
1. June 13 2002
Guests: Charlize Theron and her mother Gerda
Along with a new season comes a new opening sequence and a new theme, as
well as a tweaked format. Gone is the first season theme "Girls
Talk"; replacing it is a portion of the first season theme from Tracey
Takes On.... Also gone is the makeover segment; replacing it this week
is a segment in which Tracey goes to work at a Korean spa for a day.
There is also a short segment where Tracey talks about some of her favorite
pairs of shoes.
2. June 20 2002
Guest: Laila Ali
This week, Tracey visits Laila Ali at her Las Vegas gym and receives some
boxing lessons from her.
3. June 27 2002
Guest: Madeline Meyerowitz
This week, Tracey interviews the designer Koos, and she and vintage
clothing specialist Madeline Meyerowitz put in some time at the Salvation
Army store.
4. July 11 2002
Guest: Rosanna Arquette
This week, Tracey talks about aging, talks with Rosanna Arquette (who
models some of her personal wardrobe) and tries on some clerical garb.
5. July 18 2002
Guest: Arianna Huffington
This week, Tracey talks about voices and notes the resemblance of Arianna
Huffington's voice to Eva Gabor's. Later on, Tracey goes postal (no,
it's not what you think).
6. July 25 2002
Guest: Rick Owens, Hollywood-based fashion designer
This week, Tracey compares LA fashion circa 1983 and today, visits the
Hollywood studio of designer Rick Owens, and goes to work at the French cafe
across the street.
7. August 1 2002
Guest: Angie Dickinson
This week, Tracey interviews Angie Dickinson and takes another trip to
Las Vegas, this time to work at Caesar's Palace as a desk clerk and as
Cleopatra.
8. August 8 2002
Guest: Amy Alcott
We see golf fashion through the ages as Tracey joins Amy on the links.
9. August 15 2002
Guest: Christina Applegate
Tracey goes to the dogs (and cats) as she puts in time at a pet washing
service.
10. August 22 2002
Guest: Helen Fielding
Tracey goes to preschool.
11. August 29 2002
Guest: Julia Fordham
Julia sings a song, and Tracey does a stint at a 1940's gas station.
Review and Comment
Visible Panty Lines (VPL) is a light-hearted look at the world of
fashion and personal style. Each week a well-known guest will appear
and discuss aspects of their personal style decisions with Tracey. By
way of photographs, they'll comment on style decisions of theirs from the
past as well as those taken by other famous women, such as Babe Paley, Golda
Meir, etc. Most episodes will include a makeover segment, performed on
a Purple Skirt customer.
The format is not particularly comedic, but there are some humorous
drop-in segments: for instance, in the episode featuring Rhea Perlman, a
lengthy inteview segment is interrupted by the sight of Tracey on a tree
branch, wearing her infamous dress from the 1988 Golden Globes, saying
something like "Come on Tracey, Jeffrey; hurry up and bring on
Rhea", after which Rhea comes on. And it's rather common for us
to see Tracey asking if "Management" (her husband) is in yet,
followed immediately by a shot of him on the golf course. And for you fans of Tracey's
musical talents, you'll be treated to her rendition of the theme song,
"Girls Talk" by Elvis Costello.
Admittedly, I am not in the target audience for this program. The
only reason I am watching is because it's Tracey's program. But it's
clear she and everyone else are having a good time doing it. During
the interview segments, you feel like you're a fly on the wall listening
in. And if you are among the target audience, you just might learn
something.
Given the choice between seeing Tracey in this and in another comedy
series, I would naturally pick the comedy series. But if the choice
is between this and nothing at all, then I'll choose this.
Guide written by Roger
Reini
©2001-2 R. W. Reini
Last modified: April 20, 2008 |