The Tracey Ullman Show

The Tracey Ullman Show
Genre
Created by
Starring
Theme music composerGeorge Clinton
Opening theme"You're Thinking Right"
performed by George Clinton
Ending theme"You're Thinking Right"
(instrumental)
ComposerRichard Gibbs
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes81 (325 segments) (+ 1 special) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • James L. Brooks
  • Jerry Belson
  • Ken Estin
  • Heide Perlman
  • Sam Simon
Producers
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22–24 minutes (excluding commercials)
Production companies
Original release
NetworkFox
ReleaseApril 5, 1987 (1987-04-05) 
May 26, 1990 (1990-05-26)
Related

The Tracey Ullman Show is an American television sketch comedy variety show starring Tracey Ullman. It debuted on Fox on April 5, 1987, as the network's second original primetime series, following Married... with Children, and ran for four seasons and 81 episodes until May 26, 1990. It was produced by Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox Television. The show blends sketch comedy with musical numbers and dance routines, choreographed by Paula Abdul, along with animated shorts. The show was conceived by executive producer, James L. Brooks. Brooks was determined to come up with a format that best suited his multitalented star. He likened the show to producing three television pilots a week.

The show is responsible for producing a series of shorts featuring the Simpson family, which were later spun-off into the longest-running American scripted primetime television series, The Simpsons. The Tracey Ullman Show was the first Fox primetime show to win an Emmy Award, winning a total of 10 over the course of its run. Ullman was the first British woman to be offered her own television sketch show in the United States.

Rolling Stone ranked The Tracey Ullman Show as the 25th-best sketch comedy show in its "40 Greatest Sketch-Comedy TV Shows of All Time" list.