Last revised April 20, 2008

This is a brief guide to Tracey Ullman's Visible Panty Lines (VPL), her half-hour devoted to a light-hearted look at fashion.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Episodes are listed in the order of their original airdate on the Oxygen channel. 

NOTES FOR 1ST SEASON

1. Sept. 20 2001

Guests:  Cindy Crawford, Nell Campbell

This episode was originally to have aired one week earlier, on September 13.  However, due to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon two days earlier, Oxygen had suspended normal programming and was carrying the NY1 news channel.  This episode first aired on Sunday, September 16, in what would have been a repeat slot

2.  Sept. 27 2001

Guests:  Rhea Perlman

3.  October 11 2001

Guests:  Nell Campbell, Dame Edna

4.  October 18 2001

Guest:  Belinda Carlisle

5.  October 25 2001

Guest:  Kathy Najimy

6.  November 1 2001

Guest:  Gloria Allred

7.  November 8 2001

Guest:  Mo Gaffney

8.  November 15 2001

Guest:  Carol Kane

9.  November 29 2001

Guests:  Jackie Collins, Nell Campbell

10.  December 9 2001

Guest:  Allee Willis

At the end of this episode, Tracey received a painting from Bubbles the Artist (Willis is her manager) depicting Allan, Tracey and their dog Stella.

11.  December 16 2001

Guest:  Rita Wilson

NOTES FOR 2ND SEASON

1. June 13 2002

Guests: Charlize Theron and her mother Gerda

Along with a new season comes a new opening sequence and a new theme, as well as a tweaked format.  Gone is the first season theme "Girls Talk"; replacing it is a portion of the first season theme from Tracey Takes On....  Also gone is the makeover segment; replacing it this week is a segment in which Tracey goes to work at a Korean spa for a day.  There is also a short segment where Tracey talks about some of her favorite pairs of shoes.

2. June 20 2002

Guest:  Laila Ali

This week, Tracey visits Laila Ali at her Las Vegas gym and receives some boxing lessons from her.

3.  June 27 2002

Guest:  Madeline Meyerowitz

This week, Tracey interviews the designer Koos, and she and vintage clothing specialist Madeline Meyerowitz put in some time at the Salvation Army store.

4.  July 11 2002

Guest: Rosanna Arquette

This week, Tracey talks about aging, talks with Rosanna Arquette (who models some of her personal wardrobe) and tries on some clerical garb.

5.  July 18 2002

Guest:  Arianna Huffington

This week, Tracey talks about voices and notes the resemblance of Arianna Huffington's voice to Eva Gabor's.  Later on, Tracey goes postal (no, it's not what you think).

6.  July 25 2002

Guest: Rick Owens, Hollywood-based fashion designer

This week, Tracey compares LA fashion circa 1983 and today, visits the Hollywood studio of designer Rick Owens, and goes to work at the French cafe across the street.

7.  August 1 2002

Guest: Angie Dickinson

This week, Tracey interviews Angie Dickinson and takes another trip to Las Vegas, this time to work at Caesar's Palace as a desk clerk and as Cleopatra.

8.  August 8 2002

Guest: Amy Alcott

We see golf fashion through the ages as Tracey joins Amy on the links.

9.  August 15 2002

Guest: Christina Applegate

Tracey goes to the dogs (and cats) as she puts in time at a pet washing service.

10.  August 22 2002

Guest: Helen Fielding

Tracey goes to preschool.

11.  August 29 2002

Guest: Julia Fordham

Julia sings a song, and Tracey does a stint at a 1940's gas station.

Review and Comment

Visible Panty Lines (VPL) is a light-hearted look at the world of fashion and personal style.  Each week a well-known guest will appear and discuss aspects of their personal style decisions with Tracey.  By way of photographs, they'll comment on style decisions of theirs from the past as well as those taken by other famous women, such as Babe Paley, Golda Meir, etc.  Most episodes will include a makeover segment, performed on a Purple Skirt customer.

The format is not particularly comedic, but there are some humorous drop-in segments: for instance, in the episode featuring Rhea Perlman, a lengthy inteview segment is interrupted by the sight of Tracey on a tree branch, wearing her infamous dress from the 1988 Golden Globes, saying something like "Come on Tracey, Jeffrey; hurry up and bring on Rhea", after which Rhea comes on.  And it's rather common for us to see Tracey asking if "Management" (her husband) is in yet, followed immediately by a shot of him on the golf course.  And for you fans of Tracey's musical talents, you'll be treated to her rendition of the theme song, "Girls Talk" by Elvis Costello.

Admittedly, I am not in the target audience for this program.  The only reason I am watching is because it's Tracey's program.  But it's clear she and everyone else are having a good time doing it.  During the interview segments, you feel like you're a fly on the wall listening in.  And if you are among the target audience, you just might learn something.

Given the choice between seeing Tracey in this and in another comedy series, I would naturally pick the comedy series.  But if the choice is between this and nothing at all, then I'll choose this.