Tracey Ullman's State of the Union
| Tracey Ullman's State of the Union | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | Tracey Ullman |
| Starring | Tracey Ullman |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 5 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Tracey Ullman, Allan McKeown |
| Running time | 25 min. |
| Original release | |
| Network | Showtime |
| Release | March 30 2008 |
Tracey Ullman's State of The Union is an American sketch-comedy series, starring comedian, Tracey Ullman. The series takes a satirical view of the day in the life of America, lampooning political, social, and pop culture[1], with Ullman impersonating and portraying, famous, and non-famous characters, and celebrities. The series is written by Ullman, along with Hollywood satirist, Bruce Wagner, Gail Parent, and Craig DiGregorio.
The series began airing on March 30, 2008[2], on premium cable network, Showtime.
Show direction
The first season of the series is directed by, Troy Miller. The show is shot in cinematic fashion.[3]
"It's her kind of sketch show, where she plays many, many characters. No sketch is longer than a minute and a half. Each episode is a day in the life of the United States. You pop in on people all over the country, really quick visits. You'll go to some famous people. You'll see some recognizable faces and some regular Americans. You revisit characters from episode to episode. You'll go in and out, like the Google map of the U.S., in and out from the outer atmosphere. You'll go to Iowa and visit two women on a farm and then you'll pull out and go to Los Angeles and see Arianna Huffington, played by Tracey, in her boudoir, and then pull out and go to Washington, D.C. and see a woman who's an anchor for the evening news. Tracey will play 90 percent of the characters, men and women," as described by Showtime network executive, Robert Greenblatt.[4]
From the Showtime press release, " Tracey tackles the country's celebrity-obsessed, 24- hour news culture by portraying a variety of characters from celebrities such as, Cameron Diaz, Renee Zellweger, Dina Lohan, Tony Sirico, David Beckham, Nancy Pelosi and Arianna Huffington. Additionally, Ullman has created a new line-up of original characters that reflect a cross-section of American society from an Indian pharmacist to a homeless woman without health insurance to a soldier on temporary leave from Iraq." [5]
The show's main theme is taken from Symphony No. 9 (Dvořák), by Antonín Dvořák.
Each sketch lasts from a few seconds, to a few minutes, much like a Youtube clip, a style Ullman was looking to achieve.[6] The series is narrated throughout by, Peter Strauss.
Characters
Season one
Original
Note: This list is not yet complete.
- Sindra Mataal - New York, New York. Undocumented Bangladesh worker.
- Marion Churchhill - New York, New York. Jamaican caregiver.
- Linda Alvarez - Buffalo, New York. Local news reporter.
- Lacy Harris - Greenville, North Carolina. A farmer, along with her husband, Brett. The couple continuously tries to come up with a fuel substitute to break America's dependence on foreign oil. Husband, Brett, is also soldier in, Iraq.
- Irma Billings - Plainsville, Nebraska. Average citizen who converses with her neighbor, Betsey Jean.
- Padma Perkesh - Oakridge, Tennessee. Indian pharmacist, who warns customers of medication side effects, Bollywood style.
- Gretchen Pincus - Huntsville, Texas. Married the "Wetwipe Killer", who's on death row. She later marries, "The Tasty Freeze Rapist". Gretchen is currently having a shadow writer document her married life with the "Wetwipe Killer"; in a book entitled White Widow.
- Sally Knocks - Investment banker, who has an ongoing affair with her boss, Chris Fullbright.
- Carmen Vogue - East Coast. Homeless woman, who is without health care.
- Chanel Monticello - Airport security agent.
- Sgt. Lisa Penning - Macon, Georgia. On leave from Iraq. She is part of a PBS special entitled, Moms At War.
- Mother Superior Rose Pannatella - St. Mary's, Pennsylvania. Always in deep meditation.
- Chandra Perkett - Coshocton, Ohio. Public access yoga instructor.
- Rosa Batista - Housekeeper to Arianna Huffington.
- Asmaa Kaseem - The most famous star in Malawi, who comes to adopt an American child.
- Sherilynne O'Dale - Colorado. Parishioner who is participating in her church's, "Walk A Mile In Their Shoes" program.
- Sandra Stevens - Mustang, Oklahoma. WNBA coach.
- Import/Export Pier worker - Long Beach, California.
- Jetblue airline steward
- Mary Ann LeFrank - Columbus, Mississippi. Woman in her 70s, who is an expectant mother.
- Annette Thomas - Regional theater actress, who returns to the stage after having a hip replacement.
- Ronnie Rooney - Older brother to Andy Rooney.
- Doris Basham - Elderly woman who gets busted for smuggling Canadian prescription drugs.
Celebrity impersonations
- Laurie David; Seen in her Gulf Stream Jet. Environmental activist.
- Arianna Huffington; Los Angeles, CA. Political commentator, blogger.
- Nancy Pelosi; Washington D.C. Speaker of the House of Representatives.
- Tony Sirico; Los Angeles, CA. Actor.
- Rita Cosby; Seen in Huntsville, TX. News reporter.
- David Beckham; Beverly Hills, CA. Star player for the LA Galaxy.
- Victoria Beckham; Beverly Hills, CA. Wife of David Backham.
- Campbell Brown; Washington D.C. News reporter.
- Dina Lohan; Las Vegas, NV. Mother of Lindsay Lohan.
- Renée Zellweger; The Hamptons, NY. Actress.
- Dame Judi Dench; Sundance Film Festival, UT. Actress
- Andy Rooney
- Cameron Diaz
- Suzanne Sommers
- Helen Mirren
Episodes
Season One (2008)
| # | Airdate | Overview |
|---|---|---|
| Sindra wakes up for work. Marion checks in on her patient. Linda gives the morning news. Stacey Harris discusses her and her husband's farm, and their quest to find an alternative fuel, to get America off foreign oil. Laurie David talks to her publicist about Al Gore. Arianna discusses Rudy Giuliani's hair, and takes a phone call with her agent, about the Zsa Zsa and Eva Gabor movie script. Nancy Pelosi gets Botox injections. Irma discusses restless leg syndrome, with her neighbor. Padma gets held up. Tony Sirico interviews at a press junket for his new film, "I Married This Inuit". Gretchen Pincus gives her story to a ghost writer who's writing her autobiography. Rita Cosby reports from the gas chamber where Gretchen Pincus' fiancé, "The Wetwipe Killer", is to be executed. David Beckham talks to his agent. News reporter Campbell Brown gives the public it's nightly terror report. Salley Noggs has an affair with her boss. Dina Lohan learns of Lindsay Lohan's engagement in a club with other parents of young Hollywood celebrities. Sindra returns home. | ||
| County hospital ambulance dumps woman out into the street. Linda wants to follow the "patient dumping" story and reads report on Angelina Jolie. Chanel does medical body scans. Laurie David discusses her eco-friendly private plane. Staff Sgt. Lisa Penning returns home from Iraq to visit her son. Arianna chooses dress for the Worldwide Blog Awards. Padma adds a Bollywood twist on erectile dysfunction. Renée Zellwegger is on a press junket for her new movie, "Home Frontal Lobe". Irma talks about the "Super Bug". David Beckham has a press conference. Campbell Brown has a nightly news report of terror. Arianna is at the "Bloggies". Dina Lohan discusses Joy Fanning, mother of Dakota. Carmen gets interviewed by news crew. | ||
| Mother Superior Rose Pannatella meditates. Linda reports on the alarm clock recall. Chandra talks yoga unions. Arianna's housekeeper gets stranded, leaving Arianna to do housework. Malawian star, Asmaa Kaseem, comes to America to adopt a child. Laurie has her pilot dump their jet fuel over Nebraska. Irma gets hit by Laurie's jet fuel. Padma sings about Bipolar disorder medication. Sherilynne participates in the "Walk A Mile In Their Shoes" program, dressing as a Muslim. Dame Judi Dench talks about her new film. Campbell Brown reports. Sandra rallies her team. Salley Knox and her boss discuss their lives. David Beckham gets ready for a dinner party, with the creator of, Lost. Dina Lohan is informed that her daughter has died. Arianna blogs about her day. Dale and Asmaa head to Malawi. | ||
| America's imports/exports for the day. "Mutiny" on JetBlue plane. Chanel confiscates "pilot killers". Mary Ann LeFrank, gets her ultrasound. Laurie David. David Beckham returns from a child's birthday party. Andy Rooney delivers his piece on pencils. Cameron Diaz in, "That Terrible Time Of The Month". Marianne goes into labor. Campbell Brown reports. Annette Thomas returns to the stage -- almost. Ronnie Rooney dies during, "Chicago". Sally Noggs and her boss decide to leave their spouses. Mary Ann gives birth. Arianna blogs. The fate of Mary Ann's offspring. | ||
References
- ^ [1]. Yahoo TV. "State of the Union - OVERVIEW". Retrieved November 4 2007.
- ^ [2]. PressRelease News. " Red, White and Tracey". Showtime Networks Inc.. January 16 2008.
- ^ [3]. Variety. "Showtime's 'Tudors' continues reign, Network gives show an early renewal". Josef Adalian. April 12 2007. Retrieved November 4 2007.
- ^ [4]. MediaVillage.com. "Ed Martin's Watercooler TV: Showtime's Robert Greenblatt on the Return of Dexter, Weeds and Brotherhood -- and the Future of Sleeper Cell". Ed Martin. June 27 2007. Retrieved November 4 2007.
- ^ [5]. PressRelease News. " Red, White and Tracey". Showtime Networks Inc.. January 16 2007.
- ^ [6]. USA Today. "Tracey Ullman creates a more humorous 'Union'". Bill Keveney. March 27 2008.