I've been collecting the various television appearances of Tracey Ullman for several years, dating back to 1985 (when I got my first VCR). Since then, I've amassed a significant collection. But it is missing a few items. Perhaps you can help me locate them. To those of you who have helped me in the past, I say "Thank you very much."  Since I live in North America, it follows that most of the clips and videos I have come from North America. My collection is weak in European content.

OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO EUROPEANS: I can view PAL and MESECAM tapes and DVD's.

Top Items

1. Guest VJ stint on MTV, February 1984

When Tracey first came to this country in support of "They Don't Know", she was a guest VJ for a week on MTV. I had read about this before, but I was never sure about it until she confirmed it in some radio interviews in Jan. 1998. And, according to an MTV promo ad, she was the channel's first fill-in VJ.  Since I was living in a cable-less college dorm at the time, I never saw this. I'd like to; it'd be a great hysterical document :) .

"Beatnick67" did see this (but didn't record it) and recalls the following:  Tracey doing an impression of Cyndi Lauper, doing a humorous ad for Twix candy bars -- the chocolate candy with the cookie crunch, doing a funny accent said to be that of "Miss Chicago", and mates Allison and Mandy (her backing singers on stage and video) singing "Da Doo Run Run" into their hairbrushes.

2. A Kick Up the Eighties episodes

I've acquired ten episodes of this series but am looking for the remainder.  "ophelia93" thinks this was a better series than Three Of A Kind; I don't really agree with that. 

3. "Jackie Collins' Hollywood", August 3 1998

At the time of broadcast, this series was airing in only three cities:  New York, Los Angeles and Phoenix.  Since I live in the Detroit area, I was thus unable to see Tracey being interviewed.

4. "Sh! It's Saturday!"

I seem to recall that this was some Scandinavian or Dutch music program (Danish, actually). Tracey mentioned it once in an interview long ago (Letterman, in Jan. 1985), that she'd appeared on it. I figure any program with a name like that has gotta be worth a look!

5. "Musik-Laden" (Germany), 1985

Thanks to Udo Massolle in Germany for telling me about this. In this installment of the program, Tracey performed three songs -- "My Guy" (a.k.a. "My Guy's Mad at Me"), "Sunglasses" and "Breakaway". (UPDATE: I have one of these now)

6. "Aspel and Co." from July 1984

I have parts of this appearance -- specifically, Paul McCartney's interview (which Tracey sat in on) and the performance of "That'll Be the Day" which closed the show. What I don't have is Tracey's own interview.

7. TODAY, Jan. 12, 1998

Due to my accidentally sticking a 30-minute tape into the VCR instead of a standard 2-hour tape, I missed Tracey's interview. Aargh!  Fortunately, I have a transcript, but I'd like the actual clip.

8.  Interview on KTVU-TV (San Francisco/Oakland), Jan. 29 1998

I saw this interview and recorded the audio via KTVU's Web site, but I'd like to have it in broadcast-quality.

9.  Morning Becomes Eclectic -- KCRW (radio), Jan. 27 1998

The KCRW Web site has the majority of these programs available in RealAudio format.  Unfortunately, this appearance of Tracey's is not one of them.

10. Today Show, Mar. 22 1999

Tracey appeared along with Jon Stewart and Rosie O'Donnell and commented on the Academy Awards, which had just been awarded.  I have a transcript of this, but I'd like to see it, anyway.


Other Items

HBO Promos

In 1995, HBO ran a short (5-minute or so) feature about their Little Lulu cartoon series. It featured Tracey talking about the character of Lulu, how she's been given some 90's sensibilities, and how Mabel liked it (a lot).

There is one promo for the first season of Tracey Takes On... that I know I'm missing. It featured Mrs. Noh Nang Ning in her donut shop, talking about the HBO stars who stop in occasionally, and who have their pictures on the wall -- stars like Garry Shandling (who's getting a "big rear" from the donuts), Dennis Miller (who uses big words she can't understand), and Tracey (the donuts give her a sugar rush and make her schizophrenic).

There is at least one promo for the third season of TTO which I know I've missed. It featured Tracey as a former teacher of hers, with scraggly hair, bad teeth, and a weary monotone voice. The character appeared in some of the other promos, but this one focused totally on her. It also featured Tracey as herself at 7 years old, being asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. She said she wanted to be a Middle Eastern cab driver with hair all over (sound familiar?).

Larry King Live

On Sept. 19, 1985 (or thereabouts), Tracey was one of Larry's guests. However, this appearance was disrupted by the breaking news of a major earthquake in Mexico City.

Other stuff

"Ophelia_93" recalls seeing Tracey on the British game show Blankety Blank (similar to the American Match Game); she didn't remember many details.  She also remembers seeing Tracey perform "My Guy" at the Montreux Festival (presumably in 1984); Frankie Goes To Hollywood was also on the bill (I think I have part of this clip).  She also recalls seeing her interviewed in the studio during Live Aid in 1985.

"Beatnick67" recalls seeing Tracey in New Orleans on an MTV Mardi Gras special from 1984 or 1985 (1984 seems more likely to me -- RR).  She recalls Tracey having difficulty eating a crawfish and throwing beads to the waiting crowd.  She also remembers seeing the Montreux Festival with Tracey airing on one of the US premium movie channels (HBO, Showtime or Cinemax)