REVIEW OF "TRACEY TAKES ON...": HYPE, Mar. 3 1999

by Roger Reini (rreini@wwnet.net )

Hype -- one of the things that makes America what it is. And it's the topic on this week's "Tracey Takes On...”

In this week's long sketches, HRH is advised to meet with a media consultant to improve the image of the royal family; Ruby enters her son Buddy in a contest to win a brand new pickup truck, with results good and bad; and Linda is encouraged to do some negative publicity for the movie version of "V.I.P. Lounge". Short bits include Madame Nadja's puzzlement over why America talks to itself so much in advertisements, Fern's dealing with three coffins in her condo, and Sheneesha complaining about the ballyhooed new airport terminal.

This week saw the return of HRH, who hasn't been seen all season. Not only that, but it was in a long sketch, the first she's appeared in since the first season. Ruby's sketch had some nice moments, such as when she goaded two contestants into letting go of the truck and thus disqualifying themselves (I'm not entirely sure it was intentional). We met Ruby's uncle and learned a startling secret about him, Ruby and Buddy. And we saw Linda going along with an orchestrated campaign to bash Cindy Crawford and the new "V.I.P. Lounge" movie, but having doubts about it all along and then repudiating it totally on the Leeza show. At heart, Linda's basically a good person, but she doesn't always have the best judgment; yet she's able to recover and put herself back on the right track.

RATING: 2 1/2 bells.

NEXT WEEK: Obsession.
TWO WEEKS: End of the World (and end of the season)

Review Copyright 1999 R. W. Reini

01/18/97 - Roger reviews "Tracey Takes On...": SEX(***1/2)