Who knew that Tracey Ullman was an American citizen? And if she
weren't, would we allow her to shamelessly mock us for a half-hour
straight? Probably not, although that would be extremely un-American of
us...
Who's that?: Tracey Ullman came onto the American
prime-time TV scene in the late ’80s with "The Tracey Ullman Show,"
which, aside from being a classic sketch comedy, also showcased a
little show called "The Simpsons" (ever heard of it?). Now, with more
weighty subject matter, the mistress of disguise writes,
executive-produces and stars in "State of the Union," collaborating
with director Troy Miller ("Flight of the Conchords," "Mr. Show,"
"Tenacious D") and producer Allan McKeown.
Buzzed about:
Many of the recurring characters Ullman portrays are based on real
people, including Dina Lohan (Lindsay's “momager”), Arianna Huffington
and David Beckham.
The “ooh” factor: Ullman confirms her
virtuosity (if we ever doubted it) as she shape-shifts from character
to character, slipping in and out of accents and personas with a skill
rivaled only by 2007-era Britney Spears. Among the highlights are her
Bollywood sequences as Padma Perkish, and Chanel Monticello, an airport
security agent who x-rays the uninsured.
The “eh” factor:
The structure of the show is unnecessarily rigid, and some of the
recurring jokes that are hilarious at first become redundant after a
few episodes. There’s also a strange omniscient male narrator that
gives the show a bizarre moral authority, and calls even more attention
to how polished and planned everything is.
The verdict:
Ullman’s talents are irresistible. But with "SNL," "MADtv" and half the
Comedy Central lineup, can American TV handle another sketch comedy
show?
"Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union” premieres Sunday, March 30 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime.
