Who were the RV people supposed to be mocking? I thought it was rural Americans at first, but then they still had English accents.
The Angela Merkel singing bit was so outlandish and over the top that it worked. That statement could probably summarize Tracey's career actually.
The running sketch about the couple in the motor home/RV was mocking English/British attitudes to everything that is foreign. Britain is of course part of Europe but most British people don't consider themselves European, as they will tell you whilst they eat their bowl of muesli and drink their espresso coffee, it is that contradiction that is nicely played upon here.
Colin and his wife have just returned from a vacation in continental Europe and are glad to be back home to their familiar surroundings in England. The couple make some disparaging comments about Europe whilst she is eating some spicy potato chips and has purchased a large bar of Toblerone Swiss chocolate. When they arrive home and discover the illegal immigrant hiding under their camper van they are initially hostile, threatening to set their "guard" dog on him, filming him on their camera phone for "evidence" etc. but once they have overcome their initial shock they go a little bit overboard in welcoming him into their home - virtually adopting him (and locking him in their son's room!). There is also a small jibe at the portrayal of immigrants in some sections of the British press - when the illegal immigrant tells them that he has come to Britain so that he will be given a house, money and a job, the couple say that he has been reading too many stories in The Daily Mail - which indeed he has!
That sketch aside, this was another good episode. The Angela Merkel and Judie Dench sketches again stood out. Hats off to the make-up and prosthetics team for turning Tracey into a very convincing Dominic, and of course her vocal skills. Best sketch was the silver surfers internet class with the teacher explaining to the class all the bad things they can do on the internet. The Camilla Parker-Bowles sketch was ok but not great, the tennis line judge and the lady in the stately home were a bit weak.
7/10 = a few weaker sketches prevent this episode hitting an 8.
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Sparks Moran: "It was dusk. I could tell 'cause the sun had gone down"
Mark, thank you for that response! As people who go on the IMDB forums know I am American but I love British television. Even with all the shows I watch and the online stories/blogs I read there are some aspects I can't pick up by not living there, so thanks for clearing that up for me.
shareIt was lovely seeing Kay again -- Tracey's longest-running character (thirty years). It's the first time we've ever seen Mummy on camera. She was either on the phone or you heard her in another room beeping on a machine. She was actually killed off in the final episode of "Tracey Takes On." Kay has been reinvented a bit from show to show (her career, background, and where she's living). I'm a bit surprised that Tracey decided to wear makeup for her this time, not to mention age Kay a bit. The character was always in her early 40s. In this episode of "Tracey Ullman's Show" they mention that Kay was one at the time of George VI's coronation. That would make Kay 79-years-old! I know Mother is 103 now, but she could have had Kay in her 30s; they could have made Kay a 60-something year old, a Baby Boomer. They could have even made Kay a "change of life baby," making her even younger. They didn't have to age her THAT much. Tracey never wore makeup for Kay before -- one of the perks of doing the character. The fact that she's chosen to wear it is peculiar. At any rate, it's still the same lovable Kay -- still a spinster, still a virgin as we learn in episode 3, poor thing. Kay returns in episode 5. The actress they've chosen to play Mother is perfect, and I can't believe it's the same actress seen in the Silver Surfers sketch sans teeth!
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