Ep 3. Season 1, Episode 3
- April 13, 2008
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(8)
Tracey Ullman's State of the Union is a comedy sketch show that takes a satirical look at current events and politics in America. In season 1, episode 3, Tracey Ullman brings her unique brand of humor to a wide range of topics, from presidential campaign ads to the controversy over NFL players kneeling during the national anthem.
The episode begins with a sketch in which Ullman plays a fictional presidential candidate named Deirdre McSwain. McSwain is a no-nonsense politician who has a plan for everything - except for how to handle a wardrobe malfunction during a televised debate. The sketch pokes fun at the scripted and rehearsed nature of political campaign ads and the way that politicians are often more concerned with their image than with the issues.
Next, Ullman takes on the controversy over NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. In one sketch, she plays a stadium announcer who is attempting to get the crowd to stand and sing along to the anthem. As the crowd begins to murmur and boo, the announcer tries to keep the peace by offering a compromise: instead of kneeling, he suggests, maybe the players could just squat? The sketch highlights the absurdity of the outrage over the protests and the way that some people have tried to diminish their significance.
In another sketch, Ullman plays a woman who is interviewing for a job at a conservative think tank. The interviewer asks her if she is able to toe the party line and support the president no matter what - even if he were to shoot someone on Fifth Avenue. The sketch plays on the idea that some Republicans have become so loyal to Trump that they will blindly support him no matter what he does.
Throughout the episode, Ullman also takes on issues like gun control, immigration, and the #MeToo movement. In a sketch about gun control, she plays a mother who is sending her child off to school with a bulletproof backpack. The sketch is both funny and poignant, highlighting the absurdity of the fact that parents have to worry about their children being shot at school.
Overall, Tracey Ullman's State of the Union season 1 episode 3 is a smart and funny look at some of the most pressing issues facing America today. Ullman's ability to embody a wide range of characters - from politicians to everyday citizens - allows her to offer a broad perspective on these issues while keeping the tone light and entertaining. If you're looking for a political comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously, Tracey Ullman's State of the Union is definitely worth checking out.