Tracy Ann Newman (born December 12, 1942) is an American

television producer A television producer is a person who oversees one or more aspects of a television show, television program. Some producers take more of an executive role, in that they conceive new programs and pitch them to the television networks, but upon acce ...

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles, genres and techniques to communicate ideas, to inspire feelings and emotions, or to entertain. Writers may develop different forms of writing such as novels, short sto ...

, comedian and

musician A musician is someone who Composer, composes, Conducting, conducts, or Performing arts#Performers, performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general Terminology, term used to designate a person who fol ...

. Newman is a founding member of the improvisational theater troupe

The Groundlings The Groundlings is an American improvisational and sketch comedy troupe and school based in Los Angeles, California. The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin, whose improv techniques we ...

(as is her sister,

Laraine Newman Laraine Newman (born March 2, 1952) is an American actress, comedian, and writer. Newman was part of the original cast of NBC's sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' from its inception in 1975 until her departure in 1980. Newman took an ...

). She was co-creator and executive producer of the sitcom ''

According to Jim ''According to Jim'' is an American sitcom television series starring Jim Belushi in the title role as a suburban father of three children (and then five children, starting with the seventh season finale). It originally ran on American Broadcas ...

'' (2001–2009). She is also a singer-songwriter, as well as an early member of

The New Christy Minstrels The New Christy Minstrels are an American large-ensemble folk music group founded by Randy Sparks in 1961. The group has recorded more than 20 albums and scored several hits, including "Green, Green (song), Green, Green", "Saturday Night", "Tod ...

and lead singer of Tracy Newman and The Reinforcements. She is the mother of artist/writer Charlotte Dean, with whom she co-directs the live comedy show ''

Charlotte's Shorts ''Charlotte's Shorts'' is a 90 minute live performance of Charlotte Dean's short stories. The show has traditionally been cast with current and past Groundlings, such as Tim Bagley, Jim Rash, Jillian Bell, Jordan Black (actor), Jordan Black, G ...

''.

TV career

Newman appeared on the PBS series for children called ''

What's New? "What's New?" is a 1939 popular song composed by Bob Haggart, with lyrics by Johnny Burke. It was originally an instrumental tune titled "I'm Free" by Haggart in 1938, when Haggart was a member of Bob Crosby and His Orchestra. The tune was writ ...

'' in 1965. With writing partner Jonathan Stark, Newman's credits include ''

Cheers ''Cheers'' is an American television sitcom, created by Glen and Les Charles, Glen Charles & Les Charles and James Burrows, that aired on NBC for eleven seasons from September 30, 1982, to May 20, 1993. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/C ...

'', ''

The Nanny ''The Nanny'' is an American sitcom that originally aired on CBS from November 3, 1993, to June 23, 1999, starring Fran Drescher as Fran Fine, a Jewish wikt:fashionista, fashionista from Flushing, Queens, who becomes the nanny of three children ...

'', ''

The Drew Carey Show ''The Drew Carey Show'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from September 13, 1995, to September 8, 2004. Set in Cleveland, Ohio, the series revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionaliz ...

'' and ''

Ellen Ellen is a female given name, a diminutive of Elizabeth (given name), Elizabeth, Eleanor, Elena, and Helen (given name), Helen. Ellen was the 609th most popular name in the U.S. and the 17th in Sweden in 2004. People named Ellen include: * Elle ...

'' for which she won a

Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Owned and operated by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the P ...

for co-writing "

The Puppy Episode "The Puppy Episode" is a two-part episode of the American television sitcom ''Ellen''. The episode details lead character Ellen Morgan's realization that she is a lesbian and her coming out. It was the 22nd and 23rd episode of the series's 4th ...

". and a

Peabody Award The George Foster Peabody Awards (or simply Peabody Awards or the Peabodys) program, named for the American businessman and philanthropist George Foster Peabody, George Peabody, honor what are described as the most powerful, enlightening, and in ...

. In 2001, Newman and Stark created the sitcom ''

'' starring Jim Belushi.

Music career

Newman is the lead singer/songwriter of the folk music band Tracy Newman and the Reinforcements. In 2007, she released the album ''A Place in the Sun''. Her second album, ''I Just See You'', was released in 2012.''I Just See You'', Tracy Newman and the Reinforcements
/ref> Her third album, ''I Can Swing Forever'', was released in 2014. It is for children and was released with a coloring book done by her daughter, Charlotte Dean.

Radio and podcast appearances

Newman appeared on Ken Reid's ''TV Guidance Counselor'' podcast on October 11, 2016. On August 15, 2019, Newman guested on Mark Malkoff's ''The Carson Podcast''.

Filmography

*''What’s New'' (1965) (TV, Filmed at

Brooklyn College Brooklyn College is a public university in Brooklyn in New York City, United States. It is part of the City University of New York system and enrolls nearly 14,000 students on a campus in the Midwood and Flatbush sections of Brooklyn as of fall ...

) (

WNET WNET (channel 13), branded on-air as Thirteen (stylized as THIRTEEN), is a primary PBS member television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey, United States, serving the New York City area. Owned by The WNET Group (formerly known as the Educ ...

) *'' They Came from Outer Space'' (1990) (TV) *''

'' (1991–1992) (TV) *'' Bob'' (1992–1993) (TV) *''

'' (1994) (TV) *''

The Barefoot Executive ''The Barefoot Executive'' (also known as ''The Rating Game'') is a 1971 American comedy film starring Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn (American actor), Joe Flynn, Wally Cox, Heather North, Harry Morgan and John Ritter (in his film debut). The plot conce ...

'' (with Jonathan Stark and Tim Doyle) (1995) (TV) *''

'' (1995–1997) (TV) *'' Hiller and Diller'' (1998) (TV) *''

'' (1999) (TV) *''

'' (2001–2009) (TV) (Creator)

Discography

*''A Place in the Sun'' (2007) *''I Just See You'' (2012) *''I Can Swing Forever'' (2014) *''Shoebox Town'' (2018) *''That's What Love Can Do to Your Heart'' (2018) *''Sing With Me'' (2019)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Newman, Tracy Living people Place of birth missing (living people) Singers from Los Angeles Screenwriters from Arizona Singer-songwriters from California Television producers from California Television writers from California American women television producers American women television writers Jewish American screenwriters Jewish American songwriters Primetime Emmy Award winners University of Arizona alumni The New Christy Minstrels members 21st-century American Jews 21st-century American women 1942 births American women comedians Comedians from Los Angeles Jewish American comedians Jewish women comedians