Chanel Monticello

[ILuvEthnicGuys]

I agree that Shaneesha Turner is a much funnier character. However, due to copyright issues, she had to portray a "new" character. Although, the similarities between Shaneesha and Chanel are undeniable.

[fflybz]

@ILuvEthnicGuys Tracey owns the original character. It's her creation. There was no copyright issue.

[ILuvEthnicGuys]

@fflybz ... Not true. You need to brush up on the rules of the WGA (Writers Guild). A writer from TRACY TAKES ON... created Shaneesha (with TA's input). On STATE OF THE UNION, she could have continued to play Shaneesha but the producers would have had to pay the creator of the character a fee. It's simply cheaper (free) to create a similiar character. The ONLY chacter that she has ever owned outright is Kay, whom TA created before she ever got into TV.

[fflybz]

@ILuvEthnicGuys Just checked with one of the writers of the show, also the one who wrote every Sheneesha sketch, and while Tracey created each character of the "Takes On" series, the issue was that some of the characters are in part owned by HBO. It's shocking since Tracey and her husband own all the series they produced. I would love to see a couple of contracts!

[ILuvEthnicGuys]

Who is the "writer" you spoke to? Around the time that TRACY TAKES ON... was cancelled by HBO, there was a big write-up about the series and she was asked if she'd continue playing any of the characters in the future. From her own mouth Tracy stated that the only character she owned outright was Kay (whom she originally played on her Fox series). All the other characters were co-created with various writers. While she could use them in another project, she would have to pay the co-creator a fee.

[fflybz]

@ILuvEthnicGuys You are referring to "The Tracey Ullman Show", not "Tracey Takes On...". The only character Tracey owned from "The Tracey Ullman Show" was "Kay". All the others were created by the show's team of writers.

[ILuvEthnicGuys]

@fflybz Uh, that's what I've been trying to say all along. The only character she owns outright is Kay Clark. That's the only reason she was able to play the character on both "The Tracy Ulman Show" and "Tracy Takes On..." All of the other characters she has played she has co-created with other writers, thus the reason why when she does a new show, she plays different characters.

[fflybz]

@ILuvEthnicGuys She created all the "Tracey Takes On..." characters, not "The Tracey Ullman Show" characters. "The Tracey Ullman Show" characters were created in total, except for "Kay", but the show's team of writers. This was not so in regards to "Tracey Takes On..." Tracey was very upfront about how she created each of the "Takes On" characters. I even know how the writing process for "Takes On" worked. Trust me, I've followed her career for decades now, and know people who work with her.

[amberfwn]

I love Tracy playing this role. I think she should have a weekly show on this character or Shaneesha Turner. I'm black and love it and I know most would. Tracy, you go on girl!

[bighotrod]

what group of people seem disgusted with me (it's only happened a couple of times) or give me a look as though i am horrifying them? white women 30-60 yrs old. i don't really get that but whateve. i love doing the character and i got her down too. i was the only white boy in my neighborhood as a kid and i have absolutely no color issues. no one race is any better than another (except in bed, then there are some differences,lol)

[amberfwn]

@bighotrod You so crazy, I'm black and see you do comedy also. I bet when you do a black woman it's funnier than hell. I'm black so correctify me if I'm wrong. Shaneesha Turner knows I'm right.

[bighotrod]

i'm a white guy and i dress up as "erport sekerity" or the "T&A" , oops, i mean TSA every halloween and go to west hollywood (the biggest 1 night outdoor festival in the world). i do black face, a ghetto wig (shiny confetti curls, or an asymmetrical straight) a gold tooth, gold shell hoop errings, gray pants with a big stuffed ass, and my favorite part, 5 inch long curly hot pink fingernails. what group of people love it scream with laughter and run towards me to get a picture? black women

[CalifaJohn]

@molecularqw That's alright. I used to laugh at the Wayans doing "Men on Film" and I am gay. I still do a "two snaps up" now and then. The only problem with that is that I am dating myself because that sketch is pretty old now.... like me. I figure that the sketch is done in fun and we all know it is an exaggeration (well, in most cases it's an exaggeration.)

[CalifaJohn]

@molecularqw Yes.

[zeLitchi]

this is comedy people, stop being so serious!

[Bonafyde8]

I think their is a thin line when dealing with race. I think that this particular comedianne does this well, but I would understand if other Black ppl are offended because it is still a form of "Black face" for the lack of the better word.... I think that Black ppl, like myself, still have the right to be offended and its okay to be...

[aharper12]

I love me some Tracy she is a lifelong supporter of black folk and whats funny!!!

[ca1houn]

people love to here that shit too funny

[craziestbxboy]

"take ya shoes off"

[jameskdean]

Chanel is ok, but honey - she's no Shaneesha Turner!

RIP Tony Turner....miss you.

[Homoholic]

Tracey's awesome as always! I miss Shaneesha Turner but this character is wonderful too!

I want more Linda Granger, Ruby Romaine and the unforgettable Birdie Godsen!

[thejuneapples]

i think i have contributed a thousand of the views of this masterpiece

[sexywifeys]

lol i love her she is so funny

[killahkoreah]

If we cant laugh at ourselves than who? Shaneesha is way funnier tho lol

[tigersaregreat99]

@killahkoreah  Shaneesha is funny too!

Being able to laugh at ourselves is a gift.

:-)

[fubucole]

C'mon laugh wit me, laugh wit meh.... lol

iPods away iPods away...... BAG CHECK

YOU CANNOT TAKE THESE PILOT KILLERS ON DA PLANE......

[craziestbxboy]

"what do you do with all this stuff?" LOL

[fubucole]

LMAO! I dont know about y'all but i absolutly love Tracey; she is so hilarious and dead on. I especially love her impersonations of shaneesha and chanel. Im black and its not offensive to me at all. I love all her characters. She is truly a legend and an original "Queen of Comedy"....... In the words of Shaneesha and Chanel, "You Go Gurl"! LOL

[sndantzler]

I'm a person of color, and I find this character HILARIOUS!!! I always have! I've never been offended it's just comedy!

[myfilmblog]

very funny. Tracey is great!

how is this racist. she laughs at everybody, especially the British

[ca1houn]

people love to hear that shit, that the best part as fuck

[inaj27]

laff wiff me! laff wiff MEEHH! LOL

[draxx77]

She's in blackface! The original intent of BF was to persecute Black people and justify second class treatment of them. It is always racist when whites do BF. Nonwhite groups like say the Japanese have no racist history in BF thus when they do it as in Ganguro, it is done to pay HOMAGE to Hip Hop culture, not to demonize Blacks. Is Tracey Ullman racist? Probably not, BUT what she is doing is welcoming back blackface and that is evil.

[fflybz]

Dear, Asians were also impersonated by squinting eyes, and yellow teeth by non-Asians, even in cartoons. "Breakfast At Tiffany's". Gays have been mocked since the beginning of time. Blacks have assimilated into society. You cannot continue the victimization routine. Satire and political correctness do not mix.

Gays and lesbians have no rights in the United States, no protection, and were still able to get arrested pre-2003 in the country. Tracey must be persecuting them too.

[craziestbxboy]

lighten up its comedy!!!!!! please im a puerto rican/italian/spanish and boy there are so many stereotypes with multi ethnics like me i dont get offended by any jokes there jokes!!!!!

[rerite]

Hi,can you tell me, what is the name of this show? Is it available?

[draxx77]

This from Tracy Ullman's State of the Union.

Still racist though.

[fflybz]

Based on what? Give me a break.

[craziestbxboy]

you uploaded this video with tracey in it and your all tits up about this genius english woman impersonating a black woman WOW when can people just take comedy for comedy and move on its just a show it doesnt kill or prosecute anyone or stop life from going on!!!! now let me go talk to shaneesha about getting me cheap tickets and stop by the local donut shop LMAO

[cajreyes1]

this is hilarious =] lol

[craziestbxboy]

i liked shaneesha turner more! but this one is ok she is more mellow character! wheres the other one when she has all the fluids behind the computer? she collected some eyecream and its hilarious!

[cateliper0114]

I actually like her better than Shaneesha. Mellower indeed, and not trying as hard.

[gladysmurphy]

I love her i am black and she is soooo real you go girl.. Come back to us LOL

[guaranagrl]

doo-uh-dee-um she says

[guaranagrl]

ROFLCOPTER

[erikrsosa]

You commin thru now..you commin tru!

[firenze6]

Hahahahaha!!! Brilliant!

[achvoy]

I don't like this version of Shaneesha Turner as much as the earlier one.

[martiniisgood]

It's a different character.

[achvoy]

Any fan can see the similarity. This is a poor evolution.

[CalifaJohn]

I figured this was her first attempt at this accent/character. She is less "ON" with this version than she is with Shaneesha Turner. Tracy is a magician with impersonations, but she doesn't quite have this one down.

[pomomatthew]

I can't think of many American white women who could do it as well... the only reason someone might think she doesn't have it down is because Shaneesha was unbeatable.

[CalifaJohn]

I know several white American women and men who can do it more accurately than Tracy but won't do it often b/c of not wanting to offend people. It is understandably more taboo and sensitive than doing gay or other impersonations. I love Tracy and am surprised how dead-on her American accents are (Ruby Romaine, Linda Granger, etc.) but her African-American accent is just a little off. (but still surprising considering she is English.)

[fflybz]

It's not taboo anymore. People wish it to be, but it just isn't. We've progressed beyond it. Millions are doing black impersonations and they aren't white. They do everybody. It's all stereotypes. That's the point. It's based on America, and black people live in it. Tracey does a black Jamaican care-giver in the series, and an Malawi actress.

Black people have not been the only ones mimicked or mocked in history.

Equal opportunity. If you don't like it, don't watch it.

[TASconfidential]

@CalifaJohn I think Tracey Ullman tones down her African American Accents in order to be PC and not to offent black folks... They even changed the name of this character to Chanel Monticello... It used to be Shaneesha Turner, and her impression was much better and more "Ghetto" but I'm sure it probably offended some over sensitive people even though it's funny and all stereotypes are represented on the show. and I'm black BTW and I think Tracey is phenominal.

[CalifaJohn]

@TASconfidential I did not know which came first in the sequence, Shaneesha or Chanel. I think the main attraction to doing this type of character is simply the musicality and expressiveness of ebonics and not to make some negative statement about African Americans in general. In fact, I don't really see any negativity being represented in either of these characters. "Realness" is what makes comedy funny and Tracy usually captures it.

[dimestarr91]

@TASconfidential no shaneesha was a terrible black impression. chanel seems a lot more realistic.

[thediamondgoddess4L]

Some parts the accent wasn't rly ghetto enough. She kinda sounded like a hillbilly at some parts.

[simpollyves]

the mannerisms, speech...brilliant. LOL @ 2:17

Sun. nite's episode was the best yet (Andy Rooney, pregnant woman in her 70s)!

Tracey rox! Thanx for sharing.