From atop a London tour bus, we are introduced to this week's episode of "Tracey Takes On...": Culture.

In tonight's long sketches, Hope is enthralled by Scottish poet Rory Sinclair (Billy Connolly) and wants to lose her virginity to him -- if her mentor (Helen Mirren) doesn't get to him first; Sydney discovers a way to reduce tension -- "Riverdance"; Linda does her bit to save the arts; and Sheneesha uses her position and influence to get a book publisher (Rene Auberjonois) to consider her book idea, "The Body Search Zone".

In the short bits, Ruby tells about the time Buddy and she saw "Miss Saigon"; Birdie describes the "benefits" of her home school; Fern talks about cultured pearls; Chic shows us some of his artwork; Trevor talks about the various international flight crews; Rayleen complains about the lack of appreciation of Australian culture; and Kay mentions the medical interest in one of Mother's cultures.

The episode started off very strongly with Tracey's opening (shot on the aforementioned tour bus), kept on going with Hope's sketch and cruised into high gear with Sydney's dueling Riverdancers before easing back with Sheneesha's handling of "The Body Search Zone" and the final short bits. There were laughs galore throughout the episode tonight -- too many to recount.

Allow me a moment to talk about Birdie Godsen. I find her to be a very disturbing character. She may call herself a Christian, but I personally think Christ would be ashamed of her. Unlike the rest of Tracey's characters, I haven't found any redeeming qualities in Birdie. When she is describing her home school and what she's shielding her children from (multicultural activities, Holocaust awareness,etc.), and when she says the school's colors are white and white, my jaw was dropping to the floor in disbelief and disgust! How can anyone seriously believe this stuff? Now Ruby has some bigoted opinions, too, but she does have her good qualities that help one to forgive her more readily. Not so with Birdie; she scares me.