The Trouble with Tracy

The Trouble with Tracy was a Canadian television series produced by CTV for the 1971–1972 television season. It is widely considered to be one of the worst situation comedies ever produced.

Related Topics:
Canadian - Television - CTV - 1971 - 1972 - Situation comedies

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The show was produced as a daily show, and aired weekday afternoons at 3:30 pm. The economic and time pressures of producing 130 episodes in a single season meant cheap, wobbly sets, no outdoor filming, a laugh track instead of a live studio audience, the use of single takes, the reuse of 25-year-old radio scripts, and other shortcuts that ensured a poor-quality product. Even fluffed lines and bloopers sometimes ended up airing, because the show couldn't afford retakes.

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Shot in Toronto at the studios of CFTO, the show was set in New York City and featured a newlywed couple. Tracy Young (played by Diane Nyland in a miniskirt) was the ditzy wife to Doug Young (played by Steve Weston), a young advertising executive and exasperated husband. Other regular characters were Doug's hippie brother-in-law Paul, who was constantly asking Steve for money and a nagging mother-in-law, Mrs. Sherwood.

Related Topics:
Toronto - CFTO - New York City - Diane Nyland - Miniskirt - Steve Weston - Hippie

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The show was based on scripts written by Goodman Ace for the 1930 to 1945 American radio comedy Easy Aces, though the story was updated by making Tracy's brother a hippie and the addition of other topical references.

Related Topics:
Goodman Ace - 1930 - 1945

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The show aired Monday to Friday, with 130 episodes produced for its original run. These episodes were repeated in the afternoon time slot until late into the 1970s.

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