Watching the first clip, "Good Night," which premiered on The Tracey Ullman Show 25 years ago today, it's hard to believe that the crudely drawn, kind of lackluster sketch would become something that would have such a profound influence on modern pop-culture. The dysfunctional family from Springfield holds records for longest-running American sitcom, animated program, and primetime scripted TV series. It's won 27 Emmy Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The rickety appearance on the TU Show is because Matt Groening submitted basic sketches to the animators assuming they'd be cleaned up, but they were simply traced over. In 1989, the show was brought to FOX with major critical and viewer success, one critic called it"the most irreverent and unapologetic show on the air." 23 seasons and 504 episodes later, it's still going strong (though long-past it's 'golden era'). You may now hum the theme song.
It’s Thursday, April 19
The Civil War Singers will present a concert of songs of the 1960s on Saturday evening. The concert starts at 6:30 at the Fort Donelson Memorial United Methodist Church in Dover, Tennessee. Donations will be accepted for Relay for Life.
Getting Sara Married opens tonight at 7:30 at Market House Theatre in Paducah. The comedy’s title character is a successful career woman in her thirties who gets some unsolicited matchmaking help from her Aunt Martha. The show runs through next weekend with performances Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday matinees at 2:30. Learn more at mhtplay.com.
The second annual Martin Rotary Sing-A-Like contest will be held Saturday night. Local musicians will offer impersonations of The Temptations, Shania Twain, the Drifters, and many more. The show starts at 7 at the Boling Center Watkins Auditorium on the University of Tennessee at Martin campus. $5 tickets benefit local charities.
Find details about these and other community events at wkms.org.
