Visiting Wisconsin couple Penny and Gordon Johnson get separated in the Big Apple. After actress Linda Granger is hit by a bus, Penny takes over her role in Finian's Rainbow playing on Broadway.
Family Reunion
Fashion magazine editor, Janie Pillsworth is reunited with the parents she disowned thanks to a colleague who is vying for her job.
The Rosenthal Affair
Harry and Fern Rosenthal welcome their daughter's future in-laws to the city. Fern becomes jealous and suspicious of her future son-in-law's mother.
After ending her eponymousFox show in 1990, Ullman chose to take a break from television and concentrate on motherhood, having given birth to her second child in 1991. That same year, her husband, independent British television producer, Allan McKeown placed a bid a television franchise in the South of England. Along with his bid he included a potential television programming lineup which included a Tracey Ullman special.[1] When his bid was successful, Ullman created the ITV comedy special, Tracey Ullman: A Class Act, which lampooned the British class system.[2] After its success, the American cable network HBO became interested in her doing a special for them. The one caveat was that the show focus on an "American" subject.[3] Ullman chose New York. The special entitled Tracey Ullman Takes on New York was filmed on location in Manhattan over a period of three weeks.[4] Three new characters were created for her to portray, along with Janie Pillsworth, and Janie's mother, Jacqueline; both characters were created and appeared in the previous British Class Act special. Weeks after the special's broadcast, HBO aired A Class Act on November 23, 1993, the special that initially sparked their interest.[5] After the success of both specials, HBO became interested in Ullman doing a "takes on" series. Ullman and her husband agreed, and the pair set up production in Los Angeles in 1995 to begin work on Tracey Takes On....[6]
Format
The special is split into three acts with one bit (Linda Granger being hit by a bus) shown from the point-of-view of two different characters: Penny Johnson and Fern Rosenthal (who causes the accident).
Reception
Critical response
The special received generally favorable reviews from critics. Tony Scott of Variety wrote, "Ullman lends depth and insight to all her characterizations ... Ullman and the first-class cast surrounding her, the superior writing and direction give TV comedy a much-needed lift."[7]
^Butler, Robert (3 January 1993). "Television / How to Get Away From the Class System, or Not: Tracey Ullman is Big in America and Back in Britain. Robert Butler Met Her". The Independent. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
tracey, ullman, takes, york, television, special, starring, tracey, ullman, show, ullman, first, project, network, creation, sketch, comedy, series, tracey, takes, written, bydick, clementmark, flanaganian, frenaisstephen, nathantony, sheehandirected, bydon, s. Tracey Ullman Takes on New York is an HBO television special starring Tracey Ullman The show was Ullman s first project for network it led to the creation of the sketch comedy series Tracey Takes On Tracey Ullman Takes on New YorkWritten byDick ClementMark FlanaganIan La FrenaisStephen NathanTony SheehanDirected byDon ScardinoStarringTracey UllmanDan CastellanetaBlythe DannerJill EikenberryMichael TuckerDan FuttermanJim FyfeTodd OldhamParker PoseyJerry StillerMichael YorkComposersSimon BrintSimon WallaceCountry of originUnited StatesProductionExecutive producerAllan McKeownProducersMark Flanagan supervising producer David WimburyCinematographyConstantine MakrisEditorMichael HuntRunning time50 minutesProduction companiesWitzend ProductionsCarlton SelectSelecTVReleaseOriginal networkHBOOriginal releaseOctober 9 1993 1993 10 09 RelatedTracey Ullman A Class Act Tracey Takes On Contents 1 Premise 1 1 The Johnsons 1 2 Family Reunion 1 3 The Rosenthal Affair 2 Cast 3 Production 3 1 Format 4 Reception 4 1 Critical response 4 2 Awards and nominations 5 Home media 6 References 7 Sources 8 External linksPremise EditThe Johnsons Edit Visiting Wisconsin couple Penny and Gordon Johnson get separated in the Big Apple After actress Linda Granger is hit by a bus Penny takes over her role in Finian s Rainbow playing on Broadway Family Reunion Edit Fashion magazine editor Janie Pillsworth is reunited with the parents she disowned thanks to a colleague who is vying for her job The Rosenthal Affair Edit Harry and Fern Rosenthal welcome their daughter s future in laws to the city Fern becomes jealous and suspicious of her future son in law s mother Cast EditTracey Ullman as Penny Johnson Janie Pillsworth Jackie Pillsworth Fern Rosenthal Paul Butler as Jay Levine Dan Castellaneta as Gordon Johnson Bryan Lynn Nell Campbell Maddie Corman as Sheila Rosenthal Blythe Danner as Eleanor Levine Jill Eikenberry as Jessica Stern Joe Franklin as himself K Todd Freeman as Byron Dan Futterman as Peter Levine Jim Fyfe as Drug Dealer Robert Joy as Disgruntled Ex Employee Josh Mostel Todd Oldham as himself Parker Posey as Libby Jerry Stiller as Theatrical producer Michael Tucker as Harry Rosenthal Michael York as Central Park AcquaintanceProduction EditAfter ending her eponymous Fox show in 1990 Ullman chose to take a break from television and concentrate on motherhood having given birth to her second child in 1991 That same year her husband independent British television producer Allan McKeown placed a bid a television franchise in the South of England Along with his bid he included a potential television programming lineup which included a Tracey Ullman special 1 When his bid was successful Ullman created the ITV comedy special Tracey Ullman A Class Act which lampooned the British class system 2 After its success the American cable network HBO became interested in her doing a special for them The one caveat was that the show focus on an American subject 3 Ullman chose New York The special entitled Tracey Ullman Takes on New York was filmed on location in Manhattan over a period of three weeks 4 Three new characters were created for her to portray along with Janie Pillsworth and Janie s mother Jacqueline both characters were created and appeared in the previous British Class Act special Weeks after the special s broadcast HBO aired A Class Act on November 23 1993 the special that initially sparked their interest 5 After the success of both specials HBO became interested in Ullman doing a takes on series Ullman and her husband agreed and the pair set up production in Los Angeles in 1995 to begin work on Tracey Takes On 6 Format Edit The special is split into three acts with one bit Linda Granger being hit by a bus shown from the point of view of two different characters Penny Johnson and Fern Rosenthal who causes the accident Reception EditCritical response Edit The special received generally favorable reviews from critics Tony Scott of Variety wrote Ullman lends depth and insight to all her characterizations Ullman and the first class cast surrounding her the superior writing and direction give TV comedy a much needed lift 7 Awards and nominations Edit Year Award Category Recipient s Nominee s Result Ref s 1994 American Comedy Awards Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special Leading or Supporting Network Cable or Syndication Tracey Ullman Won 8 CableACE Awards Performance in a Comedy Special Tracey Ullman Won 9 Writing an Entertainment Special Dick Clement Marc Flanagan Ian La Frenais Stephen Nathan Tony Sheehan Nominated 9 Directing a Comedy Special Don Scardino Nominated 9 Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety Don Scardino Nominated 10 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Variety or Music Program Jane Ruhm Won 11 Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program Tracey Ullman Won 11 Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Variety or Music Program Don Scardino Nominated 11 Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Miniseries or a Special Multi Camera Production Michael Hunt Nominated 11 Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Miniseries or a Special Sally Sutton Ms Ullman s makeup Bari Dreiband Burman makeup effects design Thomas R Burman makeup effects design Nominated 11 Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program Dick Clement Marc Flanagan Ian La Frenais Stephen Nathan Tony Sheehan Nominated 11 Outstanding Variety Music or Comedy Special Allan McKeown executive producer Marc Flanagan supervising producer David Wimbury producer John H Starke line producer Nominated 11 1995 Writers Guild of America Variety Musical Award Tribute Special Event Tony Sheehan Dick Clement Ian La Frenais Stephen Nathan Marc Flanagan Won 12 Home media EditThe special acts as a bonus feature on the DVD set Tracey Takes On Complete Season 1 13 It became available on Hulu in the United States in 2012 References Edit Ullman 1998 p xi Butler Robert 3 January 1993 Television How to Get Away From the Class System or Not Tracey Ullman is Big in America and Back in Britain Robert Butler Met Her The Independent Retrieved 27 June 2019 Ullman 1998 p xiii Ullman 1998 p xiv O Connor John J 23 November 1993 Review Television Two Antic Evenings Of Comedy and Tributes The New York Times Retrieved 27 June 2019 Ullman 1998 p xv Scott Tony 11 October 1993 Tracey Ullman Takes on New York Hbo Sat Oct 9 10 p m Variety Retrieved 27 June 2019 Comedy Awards List Top Laughers Variety Retrieved 27 June 2019 a b c HBO Takes Bulk of Prizes at the CableACE Awards Los Angeles Times Retrieved 27 June 2019 Cox Dan January 31 1994 NYPD scores DGA hat trick Variety Retrieved September 10 2020 a b c d e f g Tracey Ullman Takes On New York Emmys com Retrieved 27 June 2019 Four Weddings Forrest Gump Screenplays Honored Los Angeles Times Retrieved 27 June 2019 Miller III Randy 26 December 2005 Tracey Takes On The Complete First Season DVD Talk Retrieved 27 June 2019 Sources EditUllman Tracey 1998 Tracey Takes On Hyperion ISBN 978 0 786 86340 2 External links EditTracey Ullman Takes on New York at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tracey Ullman Takes on New York amp oldid 1170849277, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
