Sweetie, dahling, I think it’s a horrible idea to try to remake Absolutely Fabulous as an American, ready-for-primetime TV show. Read the full post.
Oct 8
2008
12:00 PM ET
Will 'Absolutely Fabulous' work as an American sitcom?
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The only way an Americanized version of Ab Fab would work is if it found it’s way to either HBO or Showtime. The beauty of the series was not only in the comic ability of it’s leads, but how far they pushed the boundaries.
It should, however, be pointed out that NBC did try an Americanized version of Ab Fab, starring Jean Smart and Mary McDonnell, “High Society,” back in 1995. It made it to 13 episodes, and then yanked. That should tell you something, even with an Emmy nomination for Jayne Meadows as Best Supporting Actress in 1996.
if they get megan mullally to star in it i might watch the first couple of episodes…
if they get megan mullally to star in it i might watch the first couple of episodes…
I clicked no to this remake, but that was before I realized Mitch Hurwitz was involved. I Have complete and utter faith in him.
Americans have a hard time watching “their own” women stagger around being completely hedonistic. I know a lot of American men have a hard time watching AbFab–kind of their worst nightmare. Our desire to make likeable, sympathetic TV characters works against us. Even on cable we want our women to have hidden hearts of gold. Eddy and Patsy have to be unapologetically their drug-addled, narcissistic selves. I don’t think we can pull it off.
Didn’t they sort of try this already with “High Society” (Which I thought was a riot) back in ’97?
If it can’t be done with Jennifer Saunders & Joanna Lumley as Patsy & Eddie visiting L.A. – then don’t bother.
Even at their current ages, anything less would be a pale imitation.
Seriously, can no American TV writer come up with an original thought anymore? Obviously we’ve had several shows cross the pond as remakes over the years (Three’s Company, etc.), but it seems like the last season or two they’ve been taking every BBC show and Americanizing it. We’ve got Life on Mars, Top Gear and several others coming out this season alone, and now they want to revamp Ab Fab? Come up with something new already!
I would have loved to see Roseanne’s version of this, when it was floating around ten years ago. But I am not sure if even that would have worked. Patsy and Edina are such established characters that it is going to be an uphill battle to do them justice. Best of luck though, Mr. Hurwitz!
So, the fact that Jennifer Saunders is involved MAY make it at least not be Absolutely Suck-tastic.. but.. it’ll certainly never be Absolutely Fabulous by any stretch of the imagination.
We have all of the real housewife shows now to show us drunk people with too much money and too little taste. Those shows aren’t intentionally funny (no where near the wit of AbFab), but they are hilarious. Maybe recasting the comedy of AbFab in a real housewives world…wannabe real housewives, etc.
Saunders & Lumley ARE Eddie & Pats.
Why try to recreate something already perfect ?
Talk about running out of original ideas…
Isn’t The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency already the American version of AbFab?
This is going to suck so hard. It’s like AbFab producer John Plowman has said: an American version will have Eddie and Saffy hugging at the end of an episode and Patsy giving up drugs and booze. No, no, no, no one hundred times no!
It’s been done w/ High Society, Cybil, and Will and Grace with Jack and Karen. Besides It would not be funny without French and Saunders.