The Tracey Legacy

Normally a series needs to have been off the air longer than a year to qualify for Retro. But this week’s featured program was a classic--at least by critical standards--from almost its premiere episode.

The fledgling Fox Network took a huge gamble when it gave British comedian/actress/singer Tracey Ullman her own series back in April, 1987.

Enormously popular in her homeland, Ullman had very little exposure stateside. She was an occasional guest on “Late Night with David Letterman,” nearly stole the 1985 movie “Plenty” from Meryl Streep and had a song (“My Heart Was Broken in 17 Places”) in the Top 40.

“The Tracey Ullman Show” boasted Emmy-winner and Oscar-nominated writer/director James L. Brooks (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Taxi,” “Terms of Endearment”) as one of the creators and producers. It was a perfect showcase for Ullman’s limitless talents. Every week, she got the opportunity to play a unique range of characters, among them the spinster Kay; Francesca, a bright teen-ager living with her gay father and his lover, and South African golf pro Kiki Howard-Smith.

Ullman was surrounded by an equally versatile, adept repertory company of performers including Emmy-winner Julie Kavner (“Rhoda”), Dan Castellaneta, Joe Malone and Sam McMurray. The series also attracted such high-profile guest stars as Steve Martin, Glenn Close and Isabella Rossellini.

Lest one forget, the series also introduced “The Simpsons” before they were sitcom stars. (Kavner and Castellaneta supply the voices for Marge and Homer Simpson).

Though never a hit in the ratings, Ullman and her band of funsters were the critics’ darlings during its four seasons. In its final season last year, the series walked away with several Emmy Awards, including best individual performer in a variety or musical program for Ullman.

Reruns of “The Tracey Ullman Show” air Monday-Saturday on Lifetime. This Wednesday, Lifetime will present “The Best of Tracey Ullman Show,” featuring six of her most memorable sketches.

“The Tracey Ullman Show” airs Monday-Friday at 11 p.m. and Saturday at 10 p.m. on Lifetime.

“The Best of the Tracey Ullman Show” airs Wednesday at 10 p.m. on Lifetime.