tavis: od evening. frolos angeles, i am tavis smiley. first up tonightaonversation with ard winning actress and comedienne trace ullman. she is ba wh new episodes of her acclaimedseries, "tracey ullm's sta of the union." also, a eview o what is coming up next week including a rare coersationith music icon prince. he isut now with a uniue 3 cd set called "lotus flower." hank you for joining us tonight. there e some in a things

that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, likeelping ople live better, but moly building içó)ong committeesnd relationships. with your help, e best is yet toome. >> nationwidensurance proudly supports "tavis smiley. ñitis and nationwide, working together to impve financial literacand the economic empowerment thacomes with it. >>♪ nationwide on your side ♪ >> and by contributions to your pbs station froviewers like you. thankou. captioning made possible by kcet public tevision] tavis: i am lghing already. look who isere. loowho is re, traceyllman is ck on therogram.

e seven-time emmy-winnin actrs and comedian is back wita new set of episodes of proclaimed andruly hilaris sers, "tracey ullman's state of the union," wch ai this sday nights at 10:00 on showtime. >> sisters, let's pr. degod,re husband and a profit was arrested this morning for consummation with twee. we pray that hemakes bail. we're just for humblwoman who between us have gin birth to five and 17 children, hav had 619 see secons, and pumped over 7,000 gallons of breast milk. there a hundreds of ds to be made. oh, lord, how are we goio complete the housework chor without the chiren?

is so easy, look. i could do it right now. that quick. tavis: did you have fun doin that scene? t was so relaxing and i became so subrvient. therew could bary believe it. we had our dressesade. they werbeautifully made. did you see my friends, wanda and julia for helpinge. wonderful. i joyed it. tavis:çó what did you make othat real stor > it was sh an imageñ&r of last year in america. i said i wt to try to be one of those ladies i was trying to write the show st year to ancipate what wou be haening this yearnd america. it was rd because of the ection going on.

i wanted the compound wes and develment this year. it is classic. you ar never going to lose that. i usedo do that with the big switch dn the side. tavis: you are writing a head to your point, trying to see if ths will be relevant if you mont down the road when it airs. when you see stuff, do you immediatelynow the is nny there, you e going to do this? or you get talk into certain thgs? re you just know wh you see it, im definitely spoofing this? >> somimes it is a linor a sound. you really capred the fun and the gaiety of thsandbox. marie osmond when -- and then it was his face, what is going on?

i want to do that. it is he quiet composer of everybody is a hero. -- the qui composer of evybody is a hero. i could just seehe step for a white thing. a he changed so dramatical. she had just been inaugurated. the one thing i knew for sure if she would be bk. year later, 113 grees. all the doodads they had clected over the years,ike dolls, angelaerkle. some things i knew what happened. i wanted to be sh rogan and jonah ll for some reason.

i he the last. -- i hear the laugh. my son is embarrassed, but i do it. suing on a lemon. jut a look or a sounor something. ñithat is across arica, famous people. t famous pele. the celebrity obsession. tavis: what do you make of this? it is an obsessi. >> is ridiculous. even npr, i heard a report, my secret npr, reported on a stival, theyçó said, "celebrity sightis were paris hilton, reese witherspoon-" what about the people who were laying the music. please, npr, do't you start.

we will be talking about lindsay lohan's loneliness aer the break. it is like, no,x

you think l'orealay give me some money? sorry just trying to get my haiadvertisement. i haveo make so money as well. cry-on. q tavis. -- cue tis. tas: w celebrated r 1,000th ow, and we got tonsof clips. the one tt brouht the hous down -- then sell washiton was hilarious, but e cliof you imitating may, my chops ge busted about that all t time. i traled around the country, "tracey ullman, she nailed yu." >> i have seen you, "i am sorry, he is onhe campaign trail, he is not available tonight, but we ve one of the foundingembers of the o. --" he said that o night. that was the ory. tavis: it was funny.

>> you come an early now. tavis: twice a night re in l.a. tavis: we are at disney coert hall and theun is shing. >> u would be in that sa hour. the is such a dichomy. i cann believe it! i am with tavis smiley! you are sounny. vis: i am justso glad that you are spoofing him now a not me. tais: calif. -- >> californi it has been so qick getting hereoday. the was nobody on the road. i amoving the recessio there wanobody on thereeway comi here. calmed right down.

tavi i must confess,t really is ea getting into reaurants now. >> i n't have to worry about getting onto jets anymore. i just got back fromlondon, it is bithere. tavis: i laughed when i saw this somebody has been married to yo 25 years? god, who is this m? >> which justelebrated our 25th wedding anniveary in paris. tavis: conatulations. >> hes the funny one and the house. i quite quiet at home. i just listeto him being fun. he is almost like michael cne. he is thator me. he ireally funny. work togher. he is from london.

25 years. tas: andhe secret? >> actually, our marriage isn the rock t we're staying together. that is my admiion. it's terrible, really. vis: i like it. aside from the shoddy care,he good conditioni, what makes a marriage last 25 yrs? >> h longave you been mared? tavs: zero. >> such a catc ,my god! i he a friend for you. the like step aerobics itructors? your own age, young made? co on, it is l.a what is going on? ce on, tell me, aewish matchmer. i want to make it work f you. seriouy, no, what makes it

work, i diske him. he makes me lugh. he is my soul mate. -- i ju like him. it he makes me lgh. he is my soul mate. i got lucky. i was pain in the ass. tavis: i think youre funny. >> i w the want to put in the back of the carith my friend, ey would get my frid. let's take tracy alonand she might sa somethingunny. if she don't, we will just chalk her out of the car. i was that kind of person. tavi and your kids, with two parents, ifhe is a funnierhan you, i'trying to figure o how wel adjusted yo kids are. y kids are funny. it really makeme laugh. my daughter worksor the british government, 23 years ol mabel. i used to talk about her en she was 2 yearold. people always rember her na, mabel. she works for the government

and sh was 3, somebo said to her, "bee want to be an actss like your momm" she said, "no, i want to be someing useful like aurse." she was a menausal 2-year-old. my son, johnn he was like a drunk midt. you are working with a drunk midget. different kids, but both very funny. tavis: where does sheork? >> short for the geral sectary and the labor party, and s also works for a female m.p. she is very determined, wom's issues. we are so proud of her. she is inotal control of the country. could we check on that? coulde check on that? it was wonderful tsee the obamas come to england. it is nicto see everybody go,

"america is ba, wlike ameri again!" evenhe queen, she cannot keep her hands off mhelle. tav: did you see that? >> or did she fall over? he is a senior. what about this sweater that he gotfrom j. crew? wh is thi you ve come to meet me! tavis: what about the controversyf michelleouching her. >> nobody toues the queen,but she likeit. i remember a couple of years ago that there was this wondful black womain washington, d.c., "i lov you, the f a big hug. she liked it. s justilts her head back d ys, "oh, mygoodness." tavis: when tracey shows up,

just lose ntrol. >> and i have not even got my espresso. tis: i am gl it did not. >> i would benbearable. tas: you ever just sa? >> i do, i knitnd watch pbs. tavis: i doubt that? >> i could not use some wonderful socks a a tie. tavis: mching? >> fe the suit. is this quality. you are a quality y. tas: how do you -- i am ying touxtaposed the tracy ullman that we see with what you said eaier. you reallyre a news junkie. >> a ibm. that is what is in my show. i love being funny. i love to laug

as a ltle girl, i hathese wonderful uncles, my mother' brothers, who were just relentless teasers, made me augh. i lovto them. -- love them. within the shs i am doing now, i thinkhere are politic, it's prett -- it is political. i just love . i have been here a long time. like it. i get toote. psychologically, i a free to say whenever i want to s about this country. tavis: let me explain, as lo as you have been living here, you did not feel a freedom to express yourself because you are not a citizen? >> it was that. was a psychologial barer. there was an era of mccarthyism n the country.

i said maybe th will ask for myreen card back one day. let me make acommitment here in my life. helped. i have enn at swtime, 10:00 sday night. they have given me an enoous freedom. cable fantastic. there are no advertisements. you get 30 minutes to write whatever you want twrite. the criterias to make the sho procative and hest. i write th a wderful auth, bruce wagner. we get total freedom. and the celebrity impssions that i have done, peopl y, you did that-- i never did that before. it was aonscious decisiono attract more attention. ople love celebrities. i have never impersonated anybody, but that had to be part of the showecause it helps. tavis: plusou are an american?

>> yes, i love her voe so much. [imitates zsa zsa gvbor] -- gabor] everybody was like, tracey, oh, my d, i am loong forloves. shes curiousnd interesting. isn't great? tavis: i'm just laughing, because that is what she says when she is sittingere. >> that is right shes greek, you know. tavis: i wastrying to ask, talking about americand our celeity oession, how would yr comedy, beingere all

ese years, how would your comedy be diffent if you were dng this in england? hmm. tavis: i don't mean owtime. >> it is interesng. i am about to be gen a back to lifete achievement awar charlie chaplin award. tavis: there y go. >you cannot do that i england. in england, we are so self- deprecating. aritish comedy is still based on that. he is a loser. famous comedians, i is always about somebody whois pompous who do not realize he is an iot. you rember the wonderful pts that benny hl used do. it was wonderful roles for women.

it is more self-depcating and cynic. but still go back and foh. i do not know. perhapi would be writing about a girl. i do t know. i am so eectic. i like to try to do som diffent things, travel, get out, do stuff. being aerican and british sts me perfectly cause i have both sensibities. i cannot stick with one thing or play just one characte i'always curious. i d't know. th is brliant comedy and eland, there a. but i feel just as at homehen i go there. i am constantly askwhat is the dierence beten thewo. i di not know, funny is funy. they alwa interchange shows.

sanford and son came from a british sitco we have always exchanged shows. tavi what can you tell me about the showtime show we saw one clip. the you have other characters you can tell us aut? >> there are seven shows. i think i anticipated the financial crisis a frly well. the is a piece about that. it wasgreat fun. i expanded the show mo, more productiovalue. ñii actually let a couple of actors into it. i't that amazing? tavis: that was kind of you, with the bad econom >> jodie foster, i had go at her seth rogan, jona hill. i had a fantastic time

i got politicalomments, hum. i am ing what i want to dos an englis girl at 49 ars old. that i could have relevancand still do it, it is grt fun. tavis: i am glad you are here and i'm glad you have another season. >> i am writing now. bce moff, -- bernie madoff, watch out. tavs: tracey ullman, showte, "state of the union." >> it is lovely to see yo you are charmg. tis: back in mont with a few prramming notes abo next week. stay with us. [phone rings] >> hello? well, wellscotty mcclellan. big man. e bush family's favorite pressed secretary. -- favorite press secrary.

george is sleeping soundly. yes, well, he is aleep 16 hours a day when heas a prident. now he isp to 20. but i admite would he my head if he knew you when i started talking again. i am all right. tavis: quick notes about upcoming programs. my next week guts include one ofhe biggest selling author of all time, suspense novelt mary higgi clark. so, tony wiing broadway starruce jenner with. on monday and tuesday, i hope that you will join us for where explosive conversation withne of music's biggest superstars prints. e iconic artt has released a new 3-d set called "tus flower." here's a sneak previewof our conversatn with prince. as a kid being teasedso much,

how did you grow out that into not just confidence but just excellence. bibb epithet in the wrong orr. how did you grow out of that? maybe i put that in the wrong order. how did you gw out of that? >>ood question. the first thing i did, i taught myself music. my fatherleft his piano at the house when he left, and was no allowed to py it when he was there bause i was not as good as him. sowhen he left, i was determinedo get as good as him. i taught myself how to play muic, and just stuck with it and did a the time. soon or ler, peop in the ighborhood heard about me,

then they start to talk about . it w not in a teasing fashion, it was more like, wow, look what he can do. i have never spokenbout this befor tavis:what is it? tu in on monday to nd out. til then, good night, los ngeles. tha you for watching. aslways, keethe faith. >> for more informatio on the showvisit tavis smiley at p.org. tavis: join me next time f air where anxclusive conversation with one of mus's biggest perstars, prince. >> there arso many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live tter. but mostly, helping build stronger communities and relationships. with your help, the best is y to come. >>nationwide insurance oudly supports "vis smiley." tavis and nationwide, working

together to impve financial literacynd the economic mpowerment that comes with i >> ♪ nationwide is your side ♪ ñi>> and by contributions to yor s station from viewers like you. thank you. [captiong made possible by kcet public tevision]ñi captioned by the national captioning instite --www.ncicaorg--