tavis: good evening. from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. first up tonight, a conversation with award winning actress and comedienne tracey ullman. she is back with new episodes of her acclaimed series, "tracey ullman's state of the union." also, a preview of what is coming up next week, including a rare conversation with music icon prince. he is out now with a unique 3 cd set called "lotus flower." thank you for joining us tonight.

>> there are some in a things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better, but mostly building içóáu)ong committees and relationships. with your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance proudly supports "tavis smiley." ñitavis and nationwide, working together to improve financial literacy and the economic empowerment that comes with it. >> ♪ nationwide is on your side ♪ >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: i am laughing already. look who is here. look who is here, tracey ullman

is back on the program. the seven-time emmy-winning actress and comedian is back with a new set of episodes of proclaimed and truly hilarious series, "tracey ullman's state of the union," which airs this sunday nights at 10:00 on showtime. >> sisters, let's pray. dear god, are husband and a profit was arrested this morning for consummation with tweens. we pray that he makes bail. we're just for humble woman who between us have given birth to five and 1 children, have had 619 see sections, and pumped over 7,000 gallons of breast milk. there are hundreds of beds to be made. oh, lord, how are we going to

complete the housework chores without the children? >> is so easy, look. i could do it right now. that quick. tavis: did you have fun doing that scene? >> it was so relaxing and i became so subservient. the crew could barely believe it. we had our dresses made. they were beautifully made. did you see my friends, wanda and julia for helping me. wonderful. i enjoyed it. tavis:çó what did you make of tt real story? >> it was such an imageñ&r of lt year in america. i said i want to try to be one of those ladies. i was trying to write the show last year to anticipate what would be happening this year and

america. it was hard because of the election going on. i wanted the compound wives and development this year. it is classic. you are never going to lose that. i used to do that with the big switch down the side. tavis: you are writing a head to your point, trying to see if this will be relevant if you months down the road when it airs. when you see stuff, do you immediatelynow there is funny there, you are going to do this? or you get talked into certain things? were you just know when you see it, i am definitely spoofing this? >> sometimes it is a line or a sound. you really captured the fun and the gaiety of the sandbox. marie osmond when --

and then it was his face, what is going on? i want to do that. it is the quiet composer of everybody is a hero. -- the quiet composer of everybody is a hero. i could just see the step for a white thing. and he changed so dramatically. she had just been inaugurated. the one thing i knew for sure if she would be back. a year later, 113 degrees. all the doodads they had collected over the years, like dolls, angela merkle. some things i knew what happened. i wanted to be seth rogan and jonah hill for some reason.

i hear the last. -- i hear the laugh. my son is embarrassed, but i do it. sucking on a lemon. just a look or a sound or something. ñithat is across america, famous people. not famous people. the celebrity obsession. tavis: what do you make of this? it is an obsession. >> is ridiculous. even npr, i heard a report, my secret npr, reported on a festival, theyçó said, "celebriy sightings were paris hilton, reese witherspoon --" what about the people who were playing the music.

please,ñr npr, don't you start. we will be talking about lindsay lohan's loneliness after the break. it is like, no,x

isn't it shiny? i used such good conditioner. look at that. you think l'oreal may give me some money? sorry, just trying to get my hair advertisement. i have to make some money as well. carry-on. q tavis. -- cue tavis. tavis: we celebrated our 1,000th show, and we got tons of clips. the one that brought the house down -- then sell washington was hilarious, but the clip of you imitating may, my chops get busted about that all the time. i traveled around the country, "tracey ullman, she nailed you." >> i have seen you, "i am sorry, he is on the campaign trail, he is not available tonight, but we have one of the founding members of the o.j. --" he said that one night.

that was the story. tavis: it was funny. >> you come on an early now. tavis: twice a night here in l.a. tavis: we are at disney concert hall and the sun is shining. >> you would be in that same hour. there is such a dichotomy. i cannot believe it! i am with tavis smiley! you are so funny. tavis: i am just so glad that you are spoofing him now and not me. tavis: calif. -- >> california. it has been so quick getting here today. there was nobody on the road. i am loving the recession. there was nobody on the freeway

coming here. it calmed right down. tavis: i must confess, it really is easy getting into restaurants now. >> i don't have to worry about getting onto jets anymore. i just got back from london, it is big there. tavis: i laughed when i saw this. somebody has been married to you 25 years? god, who is this man? >> which just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in paris. tavis: congratulations. >> he is the funny one and the house. i am quite quiet at home. i just listen to him being funny. he is almost like michael caine. he is that for me.

he is really funny. we work together. he is from london. 25 years. tavis: and the secret? >> actually, our marriage is on the rocks, but we're staying together. that is my admission. it's terrible, really. tavis: i like it. aside from the shoddy care, the good conditioning, what makes a marriage last 25 years? >> how long have you been married? tavis: zero. >> such a catch! oh, my god! i have a friend for you. the like step aerobics instructors? your own age, young made? come on, it is l.a., what is going on? come on, tell me, a jewish matchmaker. i want to make it work for you.

seriously, no, what makes it work, i dislike him. he makes me laugh. he is my soul mate. -- i just like him. it he makes me laugh. he is my soul mate. i got lucky. i was a pain in the ass. tavis: i think you are funny. >> i was the want to put in the back of the car with my friend, they would get my friend. let's take tracy along and she might say something funny. if she doesn't, we will just chalk her out of the car. i was that kind of person. tavis: and your kids, with two parents, if he is a funnier than you, i'm trying to figure out how well adjusted your kids are. >> my kids are funny. it really make me laugh. my daughter works for the british government, 23 years old, mabel. i used to talk about her when she was 2 years old.

people always remember her name, mabel. she works for the government. and she was 3, somebody said to her, "bee want to be an actress like your mommy?" she said, "no, i want to be something useful like a nurse." she was a menopausal 2-year-old. my son, johnny, he was like a drunk midget. you are working with a drunk midget. different kids, but both very funny. tavis: where does she work? >> a short for the general secretary and the labor party, and she also works for a female m.p. she is very determined, women's issues. we are so proud of her. she is in total control of the country. could we check on that? could we check on that? it was wonderful to see the

obamas come to england. it is nice to see everybody go, "america is back, we like america again!" even the queen, she cannot keep her hands off michelle. tavis: did you see that? >> or did she fall over? she is a senior. what about this sweater that he got from j. crew? what is this. you have come to meet me! tavis: what about the controversy of michelle touching her. >> nobody touches the queen, but she liked it. i remember a couple of years ago that there was this wonderful black woman in washington, d.c., "i love you," the for a big hug. she liked it. she just tilts her head back and says, "oh, my goodness."

tavis: when tracey shows up, i just lose control. >> and i have not even got my espresso. tavis: i am glad it did not. >> i would be unbearable. tavis: you ever just said? >> i do, i knit and watch pbs. tavis: i doubt that? >> i could not use some wonderful socks and a tie. tavis: matching? >> feel the suit. is this quality. you are a quality guy. tavis: how do you -- i am trying to juxtaposed the tracy ullman that we see with what you said earlier. you really are a news junkie. >> a ibm. that is what is in my show.

i love being funny. i love to laugh. as a little girl, i had these wonderful uncles, my mother's brothers, who were just relentless teasers, made me laugh. i love to them. -- i love them. within the shows i am doing now, i think there are political, it's pretty -- it is political. i just love it. i have been here a long time. i like it. i get to vote. psychologically, i am free to say whenever i want to say about this country. tavis: let me explain, as long as you have been living here, you did not feel a freedom to express yourself because you are not a citizen? >> it was that. it was a psychological barrier.

there was an era of mccarthyism in the country. i said maybe they will ask for my green card back one day. let me make a commitment here in my life. it helped. i have been on at showtime, 10:00 sunday night. they have given me an enormous freedom. cable is fantastic. there are no advertisements. you get 30 minutes to write whatever you want to write. the criteria is to make the show provocative and honest. i write with a wonderful author, bruce wagner. we get total freedom. and the celebrity impressions that i have done, people say, you did that -- i never did that before. it was a conscious decision to attract more attention. people love celebrities. i have never impersonated anybody, but that had to be part of the show because it helps.

tavis: plus you are an american? >> yes, i love her voice so much. [imitates zsa zsa gvbor] -- gabor] everybody was like, tracey, oh, my god, i am looking for gloves. she is curious and interesting. isn't it great? tavis: i'm just laughing, because that is what she says when she is sitting here. >> that is right. she is greek, you know. tavis: i was trying to ask, talking about america and our

celebrity obsession, how would your comedy, being here all these years, how would your comedy be different if you were doing this in england? >> hmm. tavis: i don't mean showtime. >> it is interesting. i am about to be given a back to lifetime achievement award, charlie chaplin award. tavis: there you go. >> you cannot do that in england. in england, we are so self- deprecating. a british comedy is still based on that. he is a loser. famous comedians, it is always about somebody who is pompous who does not realize he is an idiot. you remember the wonderful parts that benny hill used to do.

it was wonderful roles for women. it is more self-deprecating and cynical. but i still go back and forth. i do not know. perhaps i would be writing about a girl. i do not know. i am so eclectic. i like to try to do some different things, travel, get out, do stuff. being american and british suits me perfectly because i have both sensibilities. i cannot stick with one thing or play just one character. i'm always curious. i don't know. that is brilliant comedy and england, there are. but i feel just as at home when i go there. i am constantly ask, what is the difference between the two. i did not know, funny is funny.

they always interchange shows. sanford and son came from a british sitcom. we have always exchanged shows. tavis: what can you tell me about the showtime show? we saw one clip. the you have other characters you can tell us about? >> there are seven shows. i think i anticipated the financial crisis a fairly well. there is a piece about that. it was great fun. i expanded the show more, more production value. ñii actually let a couple of actors into it. isn't that amazing? tavis: that was kind of you, with the bad economy. >> jodie foster, i had a go at her. seth rogan, jonah hill.

i had a fantastic time. i got political comments, humor. i am doing what i want to do as an english girl at 49 years old. that i could have relevance and still do it, it is great fun. tavis: i am glad you are here and i'm glad you have another season. >> i am writing now. bruce madoff, -- bernie madoff, watch out. tavis: tracey ullman, showtime, "state of the union." >> it is lovely to see you. you are charming. tavis: back in a moment with a few programming notes about next week. stay with us. [phone rings] >> hello? well, well, scotty mcclellan. big man. the bush family's favorite

pressed secretary. -- favorite press secretary. george is sleeping soundly. yes, well, he is asleep 16 hours a day when he was a president. now he is up to 20. but i admit he would have my head if he knew you when i started talking again. i am all right. tavis: quick notes about upcoming programs. my next week guests include one of the biggest selling authors of all time, suspense novelist mary higgins clark. also, tony winning broadway star bruce jenner with. on monday and tuesday, i hope that you will join us for where explosive conversation with one of music's biggest superstars, prints. the iconic artist has released a new 3-d set called "lotus flower." here's a sneak preview of our conversation with prince.

as a kid being teased so much, how did you grow out of that into not just confidence but just excellence. bibby epithet in the wrong order. how did you grow out of that? -- maybe i put that in the wrong order. how did you grow out of that? >> good question. the first thing i did, i taught myself music. my father left his piano at the house when he left, and i was not allowed to play it when he was there because i was not as good as him. so when he left, i was determined to get as good as him. i taught myself how to play music, and i just stuck with it and did all the time. sooner or later, people in the

neighborhood heard about me, then they started to talk about me. it was not in a teasing fashion, it was more like, wow, look what he can do. i have never spoken about this before. tavis: what is it? tune in on monday to find out. until then, good night, los angeles. thank you for watching. as always, keep the faith. >> for more information on the show, visit tavis smiley at pbs.org. tavis: join me next time for air where an exclusive conversation with one of music's biggest superstars, prince. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better. but mostly, helping build stronger communities and relationships. with your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance proudly

supports "tavis smiley." tavis and nationwide, working together to improve financial literacy and the economic empowerment that comes with it. >> ♪ nationwide is on your side ♪ ñi>> and by contributions to yor pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television]ñi captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--