The Tracey Ullman Show

Lore & Background

The show was conceived by executive producer James L. Brooks, who was determined to create a format that suited the multitalented British star Tracey Ullman. Brooks likened the show to producing three television pilots a week. Ullman, already a household name in Britain, was encouraged to break into American television by her husband, producer Allan McKeown. After a failed pilot deal at CBS, Brooks convinced her to wait until after her pregnancy to develop a show together. The series was produced by Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox Television and featured choreography by Paula Abdul.

Reader's Guide

The Tracey Ullman Show blended sketch comedy with musical numbers, dance routines, and animated shorts. It featured Ullman playing an array of original comedic characters, often rendered unrecognizable through extensive makeup, wigs, and body padding. The show's significance lies in its role as the birthplace of The Simpsons, which began as a series of shorts on this program. It also marked the first Fox primetime series to win an Emmy, and Ullman became the first British woman to have her own television sketch show in the United States. Rolling Stone ranked it the 25th-best sketch comedy show of all time.

Did You Know?

• The show was Fox's second original primetime series, following Married... with Children.
• Choreography for the dance routines was done by Paula Abdul.
• The Simpsons shorts originated on this show before being spun off into their own series.