The BEST episodes of The Tracey Ullman Show
Every episode of The Tracey Ullman Show ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Tracey Ullman Show!
A variety/sketch show brought to you by funnywoman Tracey Ullman. The show was one of the first programs on the then-new FOX Network in the U.S. in the mid 1980s. Tracey's show was a sketch comedy show including lots of singing and dancing. The Simpsons appear as short, animated sketches, interspersed between the main, live-action sketches. Spinoffs: The Tracy Ullman Show led to the creation of the hit FOX show, The Simpsons. It began as short skits on Ullman's Show. Overall the Simpsons made appearances in 50 episodes in the show's first three seasons and one additional apppearance in the fourth and final season.
#1 - Francesca's Choice - Gotta Dance - Scandal - Eating Dinner
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 7/12/1987
FRANCESCA'S CHOICE; Francesca must decide whether or not to mention her father's homosexually in a paper about her life story for her school. GOTTA DANCE; Dr. Gibson tires to make Don (Joe Malone), a professional dancer, open up his feelings by playing music to make him dance. SCANDAL; A senior parliament member (Dan Castellaneta) tries to persuade the press and his disbelieving wife (Tracey Ullman) that his alleged affair with a hooker is not true. EATING DINNER; The Simpsons have dinner where their sloppy eating habits are revealed.
#2 - Breakfast - Crisis on Elm Drive - Meg and Tina Get a Pizza - Burp Contest
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/28/1987
BREAKFAST; A middle aged couple (Julie Kavner and Mort Parker) comes face-to-face with the facts about their long lost love for each other during a usual breakfast morning. CRISIS ON ELM DRIVE; After the nanny phones to say she's not available, Sara and Greg reluctantly decide to spend the whole weekend with Max. MEG AND TINA GET PIZZA; While Meg goes into a restaurant to pick up a pizza, Tina waits outside and has a dance fling with a stranger while his friend robs the convenience store next door. BURP CONTEST; Marge tries to tell Bart and Lisa to stop a burp contest they are having.
#3 - Meg's Lucky Night - Making Faces - Skin the Duck
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/1987
MEG'S LUCKY NIGHT; Tina feels her friendship with Meg threatened when Meg starts dating a man that she wants to marry. SKIN THE DUCK; A crafty and ecentric choreographer (special guest star Steve Martin), teaches dancer Denise Ash (Tracey Ullman) various odd steps before an audtiion in front of a Broadway director. MAKING FACES; Bart and Maggie make faces against the orders of Marge who warns them that their faces could remain like that.
#4 - Kay's Old Love - The Funeral - Drugs and Guns
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/4/1987
KAY'S OLD LOVE; Kay meets Derrick, her old high school boyfriend who visits from England with his wife and children. DRUGS AND GUNS; Becky (Julie Kavner), a suicidal pharmacist, decides to kill herself and tries to get a holdup man (Dan Castellaneta), who happens by, to do the deed. THE FUNERAL; The Simpsons go to the funeral of a distant relative while Bart causes trouble as usual.
#5 - Kay on Vacation - The Session - Close to You - Bart Jumps
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/10/1987
KAY ON VACATION; Kay goes away for a week to a Caribbean resort and meets lots of eccentric people that include her oversexed roommate Cindy (Julie Kavner), and a loser tourist friend Barry (Dan Castellaneta). THE SESSION; Psychiatrist Dr. Alexander Gibson (Dan Castellaneta) has a heart attack in his office during a session with Brenda King (Tracey Ullman), an incredibly dumb, nymphomaniac woman. CLOSE TO YOU; A schmaltzy nightclub singer (Tracey Ullman) opens up her rage about her departed boyfriend to the audience during a show. BART JUMPS; Homer tries to persuade Bart to jump off a table and into his arms. But Bart ends up falling onto the floor, several times.
#6 - Trapeze - Smalls' Talk - Last Chance Commercial - Babysitting Maggie
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/31/1987
TRAPEZE; Two Russian trapeze performers called "The Flying Asternovishes," the oversexed Maja (Tracey Ullman) and the plain Anika (Julie Kavner), try to put aside their personal conflicts during a circus performance. SMALLS' TALK; Cynical radio talk show psychiatrist, Dr. Jillian Smalls (Tracey Ullman), ignores all serious calls on her show leaving her call screener Marcy (Julie Kavner), to deal with all of them. LAST CHANCE COMMERCIAL; Sandra Decker (Tracey Ullman), a 70-ish, bitter, over-the-hill Hollywood movie actress that doesn't own a car, gets a chance to come back into the spotlight with a frozen soup commercial. BABYSITTING MAGGIE; Left alone to babysit Maggie, Bart and Lisa watch TV while Maggie chases a butterfly on the roof.
#7 - Ariel's Comeback - Dance Challenge - Sir - The Pacifier
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/21/1987
ARIEL'S COMEBACK; Ariel Faber (Tracey Ullman), an anorexic, formerly bisexual folk singer and ex-junkie, tries a comeback into the public eye and captures the attention of Duane Mason (Sam McMurray), a fireman who proposes marriage in exchange for her to give up her singing career. DANCE CHALLENGE; On a sing-and-dance contest show, the flashy Latino dancer Blanca Valaday (Tracey Ullman), faces a real challenge when she tries to do her dance routine knowing that she is not wearing underwear under her dress. SIR; A callous Englishwoman (Tracey Ullman) tries to become friendly with her long-time restaurant waiter (Dan Castellaneta) during his last day on the job. THE PACIFIER; Bart and Lisa try to make Maggie stop sucking her pacifier, but they can't take it away (she has a drawer full of them), can't play "keep away" with it (she bites Bart), and can't even put hot sauce on it (Maggie just adds more).
#8 - Francesca's First Job - Maggie's Brain - The Little Neurotic From Down Under - City of Strangers
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/11/1987
FRANCESCA'S FIRST JOB; Francesca gets a summer job at a Taco Bell fast-food place to try it out, and must deal with the stern boss and cynic co-workers. THE LITTLE NEUROTIC FROM DOWN UNDER; Kiki Howard-Smith visits Dr. Gibson to talk of her simple problems from Australia. CITY OF STRANGERS; Pickpockets/con artists Cindy and Joe (Tracey Ullman and Dan Castellaneta) try to bring a group of wary people together on their way to work at a bus stop during a rainy day in New York City. MAGGIE'S BRAIN; Bart and Lisa try to imagine what Maggie thinks during a typical day with them.
#9 - The Wave Girls - Maggie in Peril - Chapter One - The Cure - D.U.I.
Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/30/1989
THE WAVE GIRLS; Dreana (Tracey Ullman), a 15-year San Diego Wave Girl veteran, meets with owner Mr. Big (Sam McMurray) to try to convince him to let her continue being a part of the Wave Girls after her final night. THE CURE; Dr. Gibson can't bring himself to let go of Meril (Julie Kavner), a long-time patient of his after he tells her that she is cured of her troubles. D.U.I.; After Brenda is pulled over by two Palm Springs motorcycle cops (Joe Malone and Julie Kavner), she must do odd dance steps to prove that she was not Driving Under the Influence. MAGGIE IN PEARL: CHAPTER ONE; While Marge and Homer go out shopping, Maggie gets out of her crib to chase after her rubber ball and is in pearl when she falls into a sewer and floats down to a waterfall...
#10 - 7W05
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/29/1989
THE CO-OP; Dave and William attend a co-op meeting with three apartment residents who will decide if they will be fit to move into their new apartment. The residents includ: Emily Davis, a blind woman (Julie Kavner); Ann B. Cooper (Tracey Ullman), an elderly, eccentric woman with lots of cats; and Frederick Bolt (Harold Sylvester), a conservative business type. THE MAN WHO GOT AWAY; Dr. Gibson tries not to let go of Raymond Mead (Sam McMurray), an egomanical businessman who is thinking about becoming a patient of his. PARALLEL EXISTENCE (MY BETTER WHOLE); A donut shop waitress (Julie Kavner) meets her wealthy double (Tracey Ullman) from a parallel universe who tells her that her life can be better.
#11 - All About Tammy Lee - Maggie in Peril - The Thrilling Conclusion
Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/7/1989
ALL ABOUT TAMMY LEE; Tammy Lee Didawick (Tracey Ullman) is the personal assistant to Dee Dee Pernell (Julie Kavner), a drunken, washed up, country-western singer who plans to go on a tour despite her drinking problem. When Dee Dee passes out, the crafty Tammy Lee plots to take her place in the spotlight at her first country-western concert. MAGGIE IN PERIL: THE THRILLING CONCLUSION; Maggie gets away from the waterfall and by grabbing some helium balloons, she floats back to her crib unharmed and excited about her adventure.
#12 - Psychiatric Hour - TV Simpsons -Summer Goes Shopping - Who Now, Brown Cow
Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/14/1989
PSYCHIATRIC HOUR; Zizi, Stacy, and June (Tracey Ullman, Ann DeSavo and Andrea Martin) are three unsure-of-themselves women who meet at a psychiatrists office to talk of their life problems unaware who the psychiatrist is. SUMMER GOES SHOPPING; Summer Storm is caught while instinctively trying to steal dog food and spends the time talking to the store clerk (Dan Castellaneta) of her life problems. WHO NOW, BROWN COW?; A unhappily married couple (Tracey Ullman and Joe Malone) are in a cow suit rehearsing to find the perfect dance steps before their appearance at a carnival. TV SIMPSONS; After Bart's kite gets caught on the TV antenna, Homer goes on the roof to get TV picture working again.
#13 - Best of the Tracey Ullman Show Season 3 (1 hour)
Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/21/1989
One hour highlight special. Featured sketches: "D.U.I.", "Mr. Right", "Family Therapy" (Simpsons short), "9 Minutes and 52 Seconds Over Tokyo", "Conjugal Visit", "Special Skills"
#14 - 7W01
Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/10/1989
...AND GOD CREATED TILLMAN; Ginny becomes jealous when she finds out that her ex-husband Lawrence is seeing a younger, more attractive Italian woman named Mae (Isabella Rossellini). A RARE TALENT; Jinx Haber (Tracey Ullman) auditions for the lead part in the Broadway show of Peter Pan for she has the real gift of flying.
#15 - 7W02
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/1/1989
MY DATE WITH IL DUCE; An elderly Italian lady (Isabella Rossellini) tells her about-to-be-married granddaughter (Tracey Ullman) about a time in 1920 Italy when she had a fling with future dictator Benito Mussolini (Dan Castellaneta). THE WRONG MESSAGE; Nervous Faith Dunn (Tracey Ullman) leaves an outrageously silly message on the answering machine of a man she just met. THE THRILL IS GONE; Brenda and her new boyfriend, Brock (Dan Castellaneta), are bungee jumping off a bridge when Brock reveals his decision to break up with her.
#16 - 7W03
Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/8/1989
DA ME LA MANO; At a New York beauty shop, a customer (Tracey Ullman) tells the manicurist (Julie Kavner) about her boyfriend and the manicurist reveals that she had the same boyfriend that jilted her weeks earlier. NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK; Doc (special guest star Martin Short), a die-hard Elvis Presley fan, is on a diner date with his girl (Tracey Ullman) when he shows off his singing talents as Elvis Presley to impress her.
#17 - 7W04
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/22/1989
THE FINAL POLKA; At a traditional Slavic wedding reception, Staush (Dan Castellaneta) thinks about getting an annulment, until his new eccentric wife Maja (Tracey Ullman), shows him that she can be fun. SERMON ON THE MOUND; During a major league baseball game, catcher Louise (Dan Castellaneta) and pitcher George (Sam McMurray) discuss their problems with each other regarding their troubled friendship. MY BABY; While waiting to see a doctor, three overdue pregnant women (Tracey Ullman, Julie Kavner and special guest star Marilu Henner) talk about their babies, sing and dance for excitement and go into labor in the process.
#18 - Francesca A Physical Education Scary Movie - Someone to Watch Over Me
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/12/1989
FRANCESCA: A PHYSICAL EDUCATION; After Francesca is reprimanded by Dave and William for mouthing off to her stern gym instructor Miss Belts (special guest star Betty Thomas), she must overcome her radical ideals to partake and win the girls high school volleyball game. SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME; Dr. Gibson meets with Kay Clark for the first time at the building where she works to talk about her loneliness and of being unable to find a special someone. SCARY MOVIE; Bart, Lisa, and Maggie go to the movie theater to see a scary Sci-Fi/Horror movie.
#19 - Maid Service - Family Therapy - Code of Silence - Clowns D'Amore
Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/23/1989
MAID SERVICE; Maria (Tracey Ullman), an overweight Mexican maid for a smug, wealthy family, realizes that the lady of the house Mrs. Brenna (Anna Levine), has some compassion for her after all. CODE OF SILENCE; In London, Patty (Tracey Ullman) tries to get her old boyfriend Dennis (Sam McMurray), a palace guard, to break the code of silence to talk to her after she breaks up with her other boyfriend Vic (Dan Castellaneta). CLOWNS D'AMORE; Circus clowns Scott and Linda (Dan Castellaneta and Tracey Ullman), meet for the first time without their makeup on to go out on a date. FAMILY THERAPY; The Simpsons visit a family therapist to discuss their problems and end up taking their anger on the therapist.
#20 - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Kay - Bart of the Jungle - Sweet Dreams - Pumping Irony
Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/16/1989
TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, KAY; Kay must decide if she wants to tell Mrs. Leroy (Julie Kavner) about her husband's philandering after she catches him in the act with the delivery girl. SWEET DREAMS; Now two months married, Gary and Joanie talk one night about their marital status after she thinks that he may be losing interest in her. PUMPING IRONY; Sara and Greg Downey hire a fitness instructor (special guest star Jake Steinfield) to keep them in shape, while lazy Greg disavows the routine. BART OF THE JUNGLE; Bart, Lisa and Maggie take all of Homer's neckties and play jungle in their back yard.
#21 - Kay Trapped
Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/9/1989
KAY: TRAPPED; A restropsective episode featuring flashbacks in Kay Clark's life when she's trapped in an elevator with an attractive businessman (Joe Malone).
#22 - Stress Management - Bart's Nightmare - Rudy Visits Omi - Brick House
Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/26/1989
STRESS MANAGEMENT; Sara and Greg attend a class where a professional stress management woman (Julie Kavner) gives group therapy about how to confront stress. RUDY VISITS OMI; Rudy (Dan Castellaneta) visits his frail grandmother, Omi (Tracey Ullman), in a nursing home and tries to make her talk after she has had several strokes. BRICK HOUSE; Lingerie shop owners Candy and Chesty (Julie Kavner and Tracey Ullman) try to show a shy, naive woman (Anna Levine) the fashions of the place. BART'S NIGHTMARE; After Bart eats a whole batch of cookies, he passes out and ventures into a dreamscape where everyone confronts him with his guilt.
#23 - Occupied - Bathtime - Mr. Right
Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/19/1989
OCCUPIED; On a airplane to Australia, Kiki Howard-Smith, devastated by the knowledge of her husband leaving her, meets Antonio Gianelli (Dan Castellaneta), a wealthy Italian businessman who takes an interest in her. MR. RIGHT; Millie and Jack (Anna Levine and Dan Castellaneta) visit their crazy friend Bonnie (Tracey Ullman), who claims that she has met Mr. Right: a ventriloquist's dummy named Lenny. BATHTIME; Bart takes a bath and floods the bathroom after leaving the water on.
#24 - Goodbye, Butchie - Echo Canyon - The Handout - Teamies
Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/12/1989
GOODBYE, BUTCHIE; Summer Storm's favorite dog dies and she asks her ex-husband Jerry (Sam McMurray) to keep her company while her other friends Keith and Freddy plan to cheer her up. THE HANDOUT; Three executive prize winners (Dan Castellaneta, Tracey Ullman and Anna Levine), walking home from an awards dinner, confront a bum in the street looking for a handout. TEAMIES; Three athletic women race walkers (Tracey Ullman, Anna Levine and Fay Burns) in training must face the fact that only one of them will be competing in the coming race. ECHO CANYON; The Simpsons visit Echo Canyon to listen to their echoes.
#25 - Rock on the Block - Shoplifting - The Height of Friendship - The Orange Badge of Courage
Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/26/1989
ROCK ON THE BLOCK; Ian Miles (special guest star Tim Curry) is a past-his-prime rock star who does some soul searching to simplify his life on the day all his personal items will be put up for auction by auctioneer Jacqueline Andrews (Tracey Ullman). THE HEIGHT OF FRIENDSHIP; Two New York City window washers (Dan Castellaneta and Sam McMurray) fight with each other on the side of a building after one of them accuses the other of sleeping with his wife. THE ORANGE BADGE OF COURAGE; Sara and Greg are captured by a rival team during a wargames simulation outing in California. SHOPLIFTING; Bart is arrested for shoplifting and tries to wisecrack himself out of it.