TVSquad

Do you love Tracey Ullman? Yeah, who doesn't? The lady's a riot. Showtime is so enamored of the Brit-com-queen that they've ordered a second season -- seven fresh episodes -- of Tracey Ullman's State of the Union. The network has also lined up another English artist for 2009. Comedy star Marc Wootton is locked in for six episodes.

"I won't hold it against them that both are from the U.K.," laughed Showtime prez Robert Greenblatt. "Tracey Ullman is the veteran genius who continues to impress us with her versatility, while Marc Wootton is the up-and-comer who will surprise our audience with his own unique voice. This is an embarrassment of riches for us in the comedy department."

Wootton's humor has been compared to Sacha Baron Cohen -- like Da Ali G Show perhaps -- with Wootton taking on a variety of oddball characters and passing them off as real people. For now the show is being referred to as The Mark Wootton Project, but it's just a working title. According to Showtime's release, Wootton's most memorable character is "an overly theatrical psychic named Shirley Ghostman who performs for an unsuspecting audience who think he's real on the BBC series High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman."

In addition to Tracey and Marc, Showtime also claims Weeds in its comedy lineup, as well as Californication. Three other new comedies are coming to the cable net, too: another British product, Secret Diary of a Call Girl; The United States of Tara with Toni Collette and John Corbett; and the Edie Falco project about a New York City nurse.