NEW YORK - JULY 19: Author Jonathan Ames and actress Tracey Ullman attend the after party for the premiere of 'The Extra Man' at Vapiano on July 19, 2010 in New York City.

Source: DayLife

Labels: Bits, Events, Photos

NEW YORK - JULY 19: Tracey Ullman attends the premiere of 'The Extra Man' at the Village East Cinema on July 19, 2010 in New York City.

Outstanding Hairstyling For A Single-Camera Series
Castle · Vampire Weekend · ABC
Glee · The Power Of Madonna · FOX
Glee · Hairography · FOX
Mad Men · Souvenir · AMC
Tracey Ullman's State Of The Union · 301 · Showtime
The Tudors · Episode 407 · Showtime

Labels: Awards, Bits, News, Series, Showtime

"That was a scary moment for me... I had gotten used to the picture of me revealing my ear, looking like Spock's sister."

-- Tracey Ullman on finally giving up her green card after becoming a U.S. citizen in 2006 -- a little bit of in-joke for fellow immigrants, required to show their right ears in the photos for their work papers. The British-born comic spoke July 4 at a naturalization ceremony for new citizens at Monticello.

Washington Post

Labels: Articles, Quotes

Red, white and blue bunting, federal justices and Tracey Ullman are on the scene at Monticello for its 48th naturalization ceremony. Straw hats optional.
PHOTO BY LISA PROVENCE

One of this country’s cherished ideals is that anyone can grow up to be president. “I couldn’t grow up to be a member of the royal family, and that always rankled me,” said British-born comedienne Tracey Ullman at Monticello on July 4. Ullman became a U.S. citizen in 2006 after living in the country 25 years.

The perception of Americans abroad, said Ullman, is one of “white teeth and confidence.” She reminded the 71 newly sworn-in citizens that they’re earned the right to be Americans and exhorted them to go forth with confidence.


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CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Swearing away allegiance to "any foreign prince, potentate state or sovereign," 71 people from 31 countries became Americans at Monticello yesterday morning.

"Never forget where you are from," said keynote speaker Tracey Ullman. "You're not supposed to."

Ullman, the comedian and actress, is herself a naturalized citizen, having been born in Slough, England.

She recalled the terrifying promise that America offered.

"America seemed to say, 'You want it? Come and get it. But you're on your own,'" she said.

Growing up in England, she remembered thinking of Americans as people with "white teeth and confidence."

Ullman had lived and worked in America for years before she took the final step of becoming a citizen. (She jokingly described her career: "And let's face it: If I hadn't headed west and created 'The 'Tracey Ullman Show,' 'The Simpsons' might never have existed.")

"I'd become an American minus the paperwork," said Ullman, whose TV show featured the debut of the Matt Groening cartoon.

After the ceremony, Ullman said having the paperwork out of the way did change the way she viewed herself and her adopted country.

"Old cynic that I am, you really belong," she said.

Yesterday was Juan Esteves Dao's chance to belong.

The 2005 University of Virginia graduate and Charlottesville resident has an attachment to Thomas Jefferson, he said.

"I was a tour guide at U.Va.," the Venezuela native said. "And, as all tour guides at U.Va., I was obsessed with Thomas Jefferson."

He said, "Being able to be here on his property on July Fourth is so incredible."

The ceremony was the 48th at Jefferson's mountaintop home. It featured an earlier start time, 9 a.m., to beat the summer heat, and a new opening -- the ringing of Jefferson's gong, said Leslie Greene Bowman, president of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which owns and operates Monticello.

Mentioned by two speakers was Jefferson's owning of slaves, even as he wrote that "all men are created equal."

Bowman said Jefferson had "the courage to put in pen what he couldn't live in life." Ullman imagined herself asking the president questions, ending with one about his owning slaves. "That's a tricky one, that," she pictured him saying, before shooing her to the garden.

The new citizens were also urged to strongly participate in their new country.

"Jefferson's vision for those words was more than the American Revolution which ensued," Bowman said.

Some of the inductees who spoke also addressed America's government.

"I have come to appreciate what a truly remarkable system of government the Founding Fathers left us," said Rich Keffert, a native of Sussex, England, who has lived in America for 21 years.

Speakers noticed that the ceremony was being conducted with both sun and moon in the sky.

"My grandfather always used to say that when the moon is face down, it's pouring good fortune on all those below," remarked Chief Judge Glen E. Conrad of the U.S. District Court for Western Virginia, who oversaw the swearing in.


Ted Strong is a staff writer for The Daily Progress in Charlottesville.

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Confidence, Tracey Ullman said. That's what Americans exude. She learned this watching the telly during her childhood in a small English village, and she exhorted the 71 naturalized citizens assembled atop Jefferson's mountain this morning to believe in themselves and, as new Americans, to exude some confidence of their own. The comedic actress and Emmy winner (seven times, as she good-naturedly pointed out to Monticello board chair Alice W. Handy, who, in her introduction, robbed Ullman of one statuette) was the keynote speaker for the 48th annual naturalization ceremony at Monticello. As has been tradition, the 70-minute event took place under a beating sun and before a full audience of flag-waving patriots and friends.

Ullman became a naturalized American in 2006, she said, because "I realized how much I loved this country" and because she wanted to vote. She recounted her first look at the New York skyline and how inspired she became after intensive study at the Museum of Broadcasting by comediennes like Lucille Ball, Carol Burnet and Gracie Allen—all women, she pointed out, who had their own TV shows.

And while her comments highlighted the affection for the U.S. that should be evident to anyone who has watched her on her own television shows over the past two decades, she allowed as to how "it's now perfect here."

"It can be puritanical and extreme," she said, adding that with a national penchant for over-analyzing, "it's like the whole nation is in perpetual group therapy."

Ullman revealed that, given the auspiciousness of the occasion and the mighty setting for the event, she wondered if she were worthy of the honor bestowed on her to address the new citizens. But then she counseled herself to be confident. She's earned it, she said, pointing to her achievement in introducing Americans to Bart and Homer Simpson, who debuted on her Fox program "The Tracey Ullman Show" in 1987. "I have made an indelible mark on the cultural heritage of this land," she announced—a declaration that earned more than a few salutes from amongst the crowd.

C-Ville

Labels: Articles, Events

At the 48th annual Independence Day naturalization ceremony at Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello on July 4, the featured speaker was actress and comedienne Tracey Ullman, who has won seven Emmy Awards® for her work in television. Her self-named Fox-TV show of the 1980s introduced the world interstitially to The Simpsons.

Ullman is a dual British-American citizen. Born and raised in Slough, England, she has lived and worked in the United States for 25 years and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2006.

In her remarks to the 71 immigrants from more than two dozen countries (from Afghanistan and Armenia to Uzbekistan and Vietnam), Ullman emphasized how her early impressions of America were those of “confidence,” that the American attitude was one of “if you want it, come and get it.”

After the ceremony, Ullman sat down for a one-on-one interview with the Charlottesville Libertarian Examiner, answering questions about citizenship, the American dream, and what she finds valuable in the American founding.

Subjects and Citizens
Noting that it was recently revealed that, in his draft of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote the word “subjects” and smudged it out so he could replace it with “citizens,” Ullman talked about the difference between “subject” and “citizen,” because she has been both.

She said she was pleased to learn about Jefferson’s editing, that “he changed it, that he moved on, that he made the change.”

“Yes,” she said, “I have been a subject and now a citizen and it’s interesting. I just think that we are equal. There’s no one better than us. We’re not paying people millions of pounds to be better than us,” as the British pay their royal family.

“I’ve never been a royalist,” Ullman explained, “and that [equality] is something that really appealed to me about America.”

Image of Confidence
When she was growing up as a girl in England, Ullman absorbed many images of America that she saw on television. What most impressed her, she said, “was the Olympics,” not only because American athletes won so many gold medals, but “it was the confidence,” they exhibited.

In addition, she said, “it was that ‘you can be anyone you want to be’” attitude and “kindness,” as well as “inspirational people like Lily Tomlin. I impersonated her at my school when I was like 10. I said, ‘I want to be Lily Tomlin. I want to be Gilda Radner.’”

Ullman joked that “our images of America were like Dallas, when I was a kid, like soap operas and things” but even so, when she first arrived in the United States at the age of 20, she was “very inspired.”

Citizenship Test
Since Ullman so recently went through the naturalization process, she spoke about the most surprising things she learned as she prepared for the citizenship test.

One was, she laughed, a question about two forms used by the immigration authorities, the N-200 and the N-400. That’s “a real question,” she said, and applicants had to know the difference between those forms. “I think they’ve dropped that one now, it’s a little obscure.”

She was most impressed, however, by the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence, which is why, she said, it is so inspiring “to be here, where Thomas Jefferson” lived. He was “so forward thinking,” for his time, Ullman remarked, and that is why she remembers “really being impressed with the words of the Founding Fathers, in particular Thomas Jefferson, who was just so enlightened and so brave and so incredible at that time and still holds up” today.

If you're there, send us reports, take pictures!!! Happy 4th!

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Great interview!

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The Show Girl on Renaming 'Cougar Town,' 'Pretty Little Liars' & Hot Topics with Tracey Ullman (VIDEO)
by Maggie Furlong, posted Jun 4th 2010 9:00AM

Have you heard the rumor about 'Cougar Town' possibly getting a new name? It's looking like it might actually happen, but what do the stars want to call it? Ian Gomez and Brian Van Holt share their awesomely horrible suggestions with me.

I also catch up with funny lady Tracey Ullman to get her take on celebrity plastic surgery, reality TV, Twitter and ... Justin Bieber? (Sorry -- couldn't resist.) Then I sit down with the hot stars of 'Pretty Little Liars' to hear all about the scandals, seduction and secrets on their new show.

Want more? E-mail me TV questions at TheTVShowGirl@aol.com and I'll try to get you answers on the show. -- By Maggie Furlong

Labels: Bits, Interviews, Video

by Cathy Harding, May 31st 05:27pm

Monticello has announced that comedienne Tracey Ullman will be the featured speaker at its annual naturalization ceremony on July 4. Those hoping for her dead-on impersonation of Arianna Huffington, David Beckham or Rachel Maddow, will likely have to wait. Ullman became a naturalized citizen in 2006, in order to be able to vote, after 25 years of living in the United States. Expect in her speech something lively, affectionate, and comparatively straightforward.

As Monticello’s speaker, on a day that will see scores of new Americans take the oath of citizenship, Ullman joins a long list of naturalization ceremony speakers from the arts and politics. They include Madeleine Albright, Andrew Young, I.M. Pei, and, two years ago to mild protest, President George W. Bush.

Since 1963, more than 3,000 people from all over the world have been sworn in as new American citizens at Monticello. The morning event is free and open to the public.


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No joke: Emmys place Tracey Ullman in race for best comedy actress
May 18, 2010 | 3:59 pm

Even though Tracey Ullman's Showtime variety program "State of the Union" doesn't compete for best comedy series, its star might nonetheless be nominated for, and win, best comedy actress at the upcoming Emmys.



It's one of the quirky results of the TV academy tinkering with categories. Last year, when the Emmys squashed a category that Tracey Ullman had won twice (1990, '94) — best performance in the variety program — its contenders were pushed into either the guest or supporting races for comedy acting. Ullman was defined as a supporting comedy star. That's a laugh, of course, since she doesn't support anyone on "State of the Union," so now she's been reclassified as a contender for comedy actress this year.

Since the Emmys have six nominees per category instead of five, that increases Ullman's chance to get in, which isn't a far-fetched possibility. She's a longtime Emmy darling. She's been nominated 24 times for producing, writing and performing in her variety TV shows at Fox and HBO before arriving at Showtime, plus acting in guest roles on sitcoms. She's won guest comedy actress twice ("Ally McBeal" in 1999, "Love and War" in 1993) and variety program twice (1989, 1997). Add an Emmy for writing (1990) plus the two aforementioned trophies for variety performances, and her tally of Emmy victories comes to an impressive seven.

If Ullman breaks into the race for comedy actress, she could be battling many network rivals. It's possible that Showtime could have four of the six nominations. The other three: Edie Falco ("Nurse Jackie"), Mary-Louise Parker ("Weeds") and last year's winner, Toni Collette ("United States of Tara").

"It's really an embarrassment of comedic riches having these four women vying for the same statuette," Showtime PR chief Richard Licata tells Gold Derby. "Each of them brings something very unique and wonderful to the category. Edie’s acerbic, captivating Jackie, master of the double life, Toni Collette's five-character tour-de-force, Mary Louise Parker's turn of ballsy humor and confrontation, and Tracey's take-no-prisoners look at America."

Photo: Showtime

Labels: News, Series, Showtime

Allan McKeown and Tracey have sent out this note to all of the crew and suppliers that worked with them on State of the Union.

dear all,

after three great years, working on our STATE of the UNION , we think that the series has run its course. Its been really exciting and great fun. the first years reviews and our Emmy winners Sally and Matthew. A solid year two and then we had the pleasure of year three with us directing. We always finished on day 15. A miracle for which I want to thank you all.

Showtime have been very supportive as have Eagle Rock who distribute the dvd versions and Portman who have sold the show internationally.

We will take a little time off and then think of something else we can do to have our friends around us again.

thanks and love,

Tracey & Allan

Labels: News, Series, Showtime

Kids and celebrities RAT OUT PARENTS ON

Nick news with Linda Ellerbee:

So not cool: The MOST annoying STUFF parents say and do

premiering MAY 16 on nickelodeon


A Kids' Countdown of Gripes about Parents

Includes Memories from Famous Former Kids: Tina Fey, Marlon Wayans,

Wendy Williams, Brad Garrett, Howie Mandel, Jenna Elfman, Aisha Tyler,

Maya Rudolph, Fran Drescher and Tracey Ullman


Parents know what kids do that annoys them, and they are quick to say so. But do
parents know what things they say and do that annoy or embarrass their kids?
The truth is revealed in Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: So NOT Cool: The Most
Annoying Stuff Parents Say and Do, premiering Sunday, May 16, at 9:00 p.m.
ET/PT. The half-hour special features a countdown of kids' top 10 gripes about
their parents and commentary from some famous former kids, including: Tina Fey
(30 Rock), Marlon Wayans (actor/comedian), Wendy Williams (The Wendy Williams
Show), Brad Garrett (actor/comedian), Howie Mandel (Deal or No Deal), Jenna
Elfman (Accidentally on Purpose), Aisha Tyler (Bedtime Stories), Maya Rudolph
(Saturday Night Live), Fran Drescher (The Nanny) and Tracey Ullman (Tracey
Ullman's State of the Union).


"If you're a parent, it's probably in your self-interest to watch this show,"
says Ellerbee. "And if you're a kid, and one day become a parent, maybe you'll
remember this show. Because it is in the nature of all parents to embarrass our
kids."

To compile the countdown, kids across the country were polled about what
irritates them the most about their parents. Then kids ranked their gripes
online, "ten" being the least annoying.

It's so annoying when parents...


10) ...say, "Go ask your mom!" or "Go ask your dad!"

9) ...obsess about things that don't matter.

8) ...say, "Because I said so, that's why!"

7) ...say, "When I was your age..."

6) ...say, "When you're older, you'll understand."

5) ...tell old and really corny jokes to my friends.

4) ...treat me like a little kid.

3) ...nag me.

2) ...say, "Act your age!"

And, finally, the number-one MOST annoying thing kids say parents do is when
parents

...don't act their age!!!!

In addition to kids' stories about their parents' quirks, So NOT Cool features
Tina Fey's claim that her family called her "Baby" until she was 29; Brad
Garrett's insistence that his parents used to tell him, "When you're taller,
you'll understand," and Tracey Ullman's tales of her mother embarrassing her by
dancing and singing in front of her friends.


Nick News, produced by Lucky Duck Productions, is now in its 19th year and is
the longest-running kids' news show in television history. It has built its
reputation on the respectful and direct way it speaks to kids about the
important issues of the day. Nick News recently was honored with its first ever
Edward R. Murrow Award for "Network News Documentary" for the documentary
special, "Coming Home: When Parents Return from War," marking the first-ever
kids television program to receive the prestigious award. Over the years, Nick
News has received more than 20 Emmy nominations and recently won its seventh
Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Children's Nonfiction Program for
"Coming Home: When Parents Return from War." Additional Emmy wins for
Outstanding Children's Programming include: "The Untouchable Kids of India"
(2008); "Private Worlds: Kids and Autism" (2007); "Never Again: From the
Holocaust to the Sudan" (2005); "Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan" (2002);
"What Are You Staring At?" (1998). In addition, in 1994, the entire series won
the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Programming. Nick News has also received
three Peabody Awards, including a personal award given to Ellerbee for
explaining the impeachment of President Clinton to kids, as well as a Columbia
duPont Award and more than a dozen Parents' Choice Awards.


Nickelodeon, now in its 31st year, is the number-one entertainment brand for
kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in
everything it does. The company includes television programming and production
in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online,
recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is in
more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable
network for 15 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters
and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).


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This coming Tuesday, the second fantastic season of "State of the Union" gets its release. Pre-order it now at Amazon.com!

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What does this mean for the future of "State of the Union"?

Stone, Wagner pact with Epix on drama
Helmer, author cut deal to develop new series

Oliver Stone and author Bruce Wagner have cut a deal with pay cabler Epix to develop a drama skein set in Los Angeles.

Project, dubbed "Still Holding," will explore the disparate worlds of three people living in L.A. It's based on Wagner's novel of the same name. Wagner most recently was a writer and producer on Tracey Ullman's Showtime series "State of the Union."

There's still no word yet from Epix on a series greenlight for its first original drama pilot, "Tough Trade," revolving around a musical family dynasty in Nashville.

Variety

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Publicity Release Posted: April 26, 2010 07:00:04 EST

Allan McKeown Presents Turns to Point360 West for Start to Finish Post Production.

LOS ANGELES, April 26, 2010 | SHOOT Publicity Wire | --- Point360 WEST, a leading provider of creative and integrated media management services company to the entertainment industries, provided 100% post-production for Showtime TV's series "Tracey Ullman's State of the Union." Emmy-award winner Tracey Ullman returns in this sketch comedy impersonating and portraying, famous, and non-famous characters, and celebrities.

AMP (Allan McKeown Presents) producer Melanie Patterson looked for a solution to encompass all of her post production needs within one facility. This series has multiple facets to manage on a tight delivery deadline. Point360 West had the ability to handle all of her post requirements under one roof. The show required many of West's services which include editorial conform, color correction, ADR, audio mixing, graphics, visual effects, QC, and all broadcast and file based deliverables including closed captioning.

"This work-flow was the main incentive why they [AMP] chose us", says Jeff Hixon, General Manager of West. "As with many episodic shows, their deadlines were fast and firm. They needed to work on all aspects of finishing on more than just one episode at a time. Often, we would have various episodes in all bays at different stages of their process. Ms. Patterson was able to navigate quickly among the bays and talent to supervise this complicated show."

"Working with Point360 West was beneficial not only to the workflow demands on this show, but when revisions were requested by creative we had all the elements in one place ready to go," adds Ms. Patterson.

ABOUT Allan McKeown Presents
Owned and operated by Emmy Award winner Allan McKeown and is known for his original production of the 8 time Emmy award winning HBO series Tracey Takes on...

ABOUT POINT.360 WEST (NASDAQ,PTSX):
Point.360 (PTSX) is a multifaceted post production solution with multiple facilities on both West and East Coast. For more information please visit: www.point360.com

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The real story for us is here: "Robin's [Larson, the director of Four Places]
screenwriting credits include the recent Women Project, for Imagine/Universal,
which is set to star Diane Keaton, Catherine O'Hara, Tracey Ullman, and Rita
Wilson."

link

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Tracey and Meryl Streep were spotted seeing the Broadway show "Red", starring Alfred Molina. Alfred starred in the episode "Tracey Takes On... Royalty" with Kay, you'll remember.

http://twitter.com/RedonBroadway

Labels: Bits, News, Stage

I have a great suggestion for a new American Idol judge: Tracey Ullman. She knows music, she's judgmental, she's funny. The present panel is pretty lame. The poor kids are told to put their own spins on songs, and when they do, they judges carp at them for changing songs too much. Ellen is great on her own show and lousy on Idol. Simon doesn't even know what "cabaret" is. Randy and Kara are not dope. ( Ryan Seacrest is infuriating as Idol host, but he was terrific at interviewing celebs on Sunday's E! pre-Oscars show.)

Story

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The "State of the Union" star talks about smoking pot for the second time in her life, and does a spot-on impression of Snooki from "Jersey Shore." And because her son is obsessed with Olympic medalist Julia Mancuso, George have her the "kiss my tiara" panties made by Julia herself.

Labels: Interview, Series, Showtime, Video

Tracey Ullman’s HBO show takes a stab at Spartanburg County and South Carolina’s health issues.

In her State of the Union segment we’re featured in a way that may tick some of you off.

Trey Evans pointed it out on my Facebook page. Thanks! It hits about 4 minutes and 35 seconds into the video.

Interested in your comments on this one. Does she go too far? Do we deserve it? You can login to post comments with your Twitter or Facebook account.

Visit page.

Labels: Reviews, Series, Showtime

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X17 caught up with Tracey outside a restaurant. Let's just say she doesn't look too pleased. What would Dina Lohan do in a time like this?