Tracey Takes On... - Character Origins and Development

Character Origins and Development

Ullman was unable to reprise many of Tracey Ullman Show characters due to copyright conflicts. The only character that she had total hand in creating was the British expatriate bank teller, Kay Clark. Ullman first introduced 'Kay' back in 1986 in a sketch for Saturday Live. Kay Clark would return for the HBO series.

Characters Linda Granger and Fern Rosenthal were created and first introduced in the comedy special Tracey Ullman Takes On New York. Characters Trevor Ayliss, Janie Pillsworth, Jacqueline Pillsworth (Janie's mother) and Virginia Bugge were created for and introduced in Tracey Ullman: A Class Act.

Character, Erin McColl's manager, Rusty, was originally portrayed by actress Kate McGregor-Stewart. Erin made her first appearance in "Tracey Takes On... Nostalgia" in season one. Starting with series two, 'Rusty', now renamed Dusty, would be portrayed by actress-comedienne Mo Gaffney. Gaffney would continue to make appearances for an additional two seasons.

Her Royal Highness is described as an amalgamation of numerous royals. Ullman describes Her Royal Highness's voice being inspired by Princess Anne.

Ullman sent the episode "Tracey Takes On... Royalty" to Diana, Princess of Wales, hoping she would enjoy the sketch, A Royal Visit. Her Royal Highness attends a dinner party at Timothy and Virginia Bugge's estate. Over the course of the meal, Her Royal Highness makes some choice remarks about Diana and royal duty. In another sketch, attorney Sydney Kross makes an appeal to Diana via a special video message, hoping to handle her divorce settlement. Diana, through her lady in waiting, contacted Ullman, letting her know that she had enjoyed the episode. In the aftermath of Diana's death, Ullman removed all mentions of Princess, re-dubbing the name "Diana" with "Fergie" in A Royal Visit. The Sydney Kross sketch was removed entirely.

Ullman has admitted that the character, Sydney Kross, is inspired by high-profile attorney, Leslie Abramson, attorney for the Defense in the trial of Lyle and Erik Menendez. The character bears an uncanny resemblance to Ambramson, although the voice originates from Ullman's first Hollywood agent whom she describes as having been "insane". The character was identified with the surname "Kross" and "Cross" in the character's monologues throughout season one. "Kross" was used from season two onward.

Over the course of the series' four seasons, numerous characters were retired for various reasons. The character, Virginia Bugge was no longer part of the character roster post-season two because Ullman kept having to replace the character's husband with different actors - first Hugh Laurie, and later, Tim McInnerny. The character, Mrs. Noh Nang Ning was retired after the third season. No reason was ever stated, however the makeup for the character was excessive. Ullman commented that it felt as though she had been "buried alive", especially in the first season's makeup design for the character. It would be altered starting with the second season. Ullman fainted on more than occasion due to excessive character makeup.

Mrs. Noh Nang Ning was based on a donut shop owner Ullman and her co-writers frequented in Los Angeles.

Actor George Segal took over the role of Fern Rosenthal's husband, Harry Rosenthal in season two. Michael Tucker who originated the role, returned for the third and fourth seasons.

The character Chic was based on a real New York City cab driver who once drove writer, Allen Zipper to Laguardia airport. The line "You want to fuck me or you want to fuck my Mercedes" used in the series was an actual line that the driver used when talking about how woman in LA only cared about money. A prosthetic penis filled with bird seed was worn by Tracey when made up as Chic and air steward Trevor Ayliss. Yak hair was applied for Chic's body hair. The hair continuously bothered Ullman, giving her rashes and making her itch.

Ruby Romaine was such a hit with viewers that Ullman decided to try and create an entire series devoted to the character, Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales. A pilot was commissioned and aired on HBO, but a full series was never ordered and the pilot became a one-off comedy special.

During a 2003 appearance on The View, promoting her Trailer Tales HBO special, panel member, Joy Behar told Ullman that she knew who she based character Ruby Romaine on - Romaine Green, make-up artist to Woody Allen. Ullman appeared in two of Allen's films, Bullets Over Broadway and Small Time Crooks. She was also cast in Everyone Says I Love You, but due to time constraints her scenes were deleted.

In 1991, Ullman portrayed real stage mother, Florence Aadland in a stage adaption of her scandalous Hollywood book, The Big Love. Much of subjects and incidents related in Florence's story are similar to the back story of the Ruby Romaine character. The voice Ullman used to portray Aadland, was very similar to the one she used as Ruby Romaine. Both Florence and Ruby have ties to actor, Errol Flynn.

Ullman contends that Ruby is actually based on all the senior Hollywood makeup union artists she's encountered throughout her career (those who have made done makeup on "Eisenhower").

In 2000, during an appearance on LIVE! Regis and Kathie Lee, Ullman revealed that she wanted to do a new series, but one where she wore minimal makeup and played fewer characters.