Will 'Absolutely Fabulous' work as an American sitcom?

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Mistique Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 11:10 PM EST

I think it would be a horrible failure to redo ab fab like an american sitcom....no one could ever out-do Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley's characters they live off of! Its awful and i don't like it.

TAYLOR LUSH Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 04:00 AM EST

i dont even wanna think about it.
this is just like Kath n Kim and the Bewitched Movie. why ruin perfection?
Eddie and Patsy cant become any greater than they already are. classic characters who mean something to people "WORLD WIDE" cannot be tamperd with like that. why didnt Jennifer make a BIG feature movie of the series? with her writing, her characters and ORIGINAL actors? it would have been HUGE! especially in this day and age! i'll watch the first episod of the remake series, but i know that will be it, and i'll be VERY dissappointed.

Bill C. Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 04:53 PM EST

Here is a list of previous U.S. re-make debacles:
"All in the Family" a castrated version of "Till Death Us Do Part".
"Sanford and Son", unfunny, black, sanitized version of "Steptoe and Son".
...and now they are foing to work their magic on "Ab-Fab"? ... I can already hear the audience going "Aaaaawwww" ... what next, those nice guys from "Black Books"? kindly, sweet-natured but kinda kooky Basil Fawlty?, (sorry, Chuck Fawlty).
"Kath and Kim", the funny Aussie comedy is now a yank disaster without a laugh to be had.
"The Office", not so very bad, but not brilliant like the original.
"Coupling", the less said, the better.

Emily Sat, Jan 24, 2009 at 04:52 PM EST

I don't think it would work. Do we really want another Kath and Kim. Granted, The Office works, but do we really want to take a chance on that.

jeff Kantor Fri, Jan 23, 2009 at 11:19 PM EST

"AbFab" will join a long list of British series that fell flat on their faces on this side of the ocean("Cracker," "Coupling," among others).

Yank Fri, Jan 23, 2009 at 09:15 PM EST

I have friends that love the new Life On Mars. But they never saw the British version. I LOVED the UK Life on Mars and despise the American version.

So, American Ab Fab might fly for those that never saw the original.

Tom Sat, Jan 17, 2009 at 11:42 AM EST

I am excited about the prospect. If the people involved can PLEASE stick to the true idea of the show. Hopefully it will not be an exact recreation because then it ill suck. Nobody can replace all the J's in the British cast. Take a look at Kath & Kim. The US version is pretty good on its own. Yes, I prefer the original Australian, but the American one is really growing on me.

I thought High Society was brilliant. It was like Edina and Patsy meet Lucy and Ethel. But i think it failed because the censors got to it and middle America just did not get it. Maybe the US is ready now.

lori Thu, Oct 23, 2008 at 12:33 AM EST

instead of americanizing it why not keep it british and just add on to the originals with the same cast and stuff.

Craig Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 04:08 PM EST

It will fail on network or cable. You just can't remake a show like this. Can you remake I Love Lucy? You can replicate plots but the magic won't be there.

Blake Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 03:00 PM EST

How are they going to do it like so many years after the show is off the air?
No doubt its going to suck. Jennifer Saunders should be ashamed for doing this. It never got off the ground a decade ago, they think its going to work now?
I agree that the US version can't compare to the original. If its not on cable it will not be able to be as wild and funny.
I hope this doesn't come to light, and if it does maybe it won't last long enough for anyone to notice.

Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 12:59 PM EST

It can only work if they can land Betty White.

Michelle Fri, Oct 10, 2008 at 04:40 PM EST

My question is why the need to Americanize it? We could use a little more exposure to other cultures. AbFab in all its British glory was perfection. If American audiences want to see it, your best bet is to get the original series.

josher Fri, Oct 10, 2008 at 10:33 AM EST

Ab Fab is on my list of the five greatest sitcoms of all time. This is a terrible idea. I enjoyed High Society during its brief run, but it still wasn't Ab Fab. Those characters and situations would never achieve mass appeal in the US. We're far too prudish a country for that.

Maura Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 07:49 PM EST

Absolutely Fabulous without Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley is the worst idea in the world. People don't love Ab Fab because of the concept. They love it because of the characters and the fantastic writing...comedy and writing that is essentially British in colour. Why doesn't JS do another Jam and Jerusalem series instead of wasting her time watching Americans butcher her baby.

smeddy Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 06:46 PM EST

Just give us our sodding Arrested Development movie!!

I'll tune into anything involving Mitch Hurwitz but I really need that movie!

Stephanie T. Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 05:32 PM EST

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.

chriso Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 03:17 PM EST

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!

wg Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 02:50 PM EST

Isn't The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency already the American version of AbFab?

Mike Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 01:58 PM EST

Saunders & Lumley ARE Eddie & Pats.

Why try to recreate something already perfect ?

Talk about running out of original ideas...

Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 01:45 PM EST

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.

Jimi Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 01:19 PM EST

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.

sean Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 12:55 PM EST

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!

Lisa Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 12:30 PM EST

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!

Dubious, skeptical & askance Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 12:22 PM EST

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.

Snarf Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 12:07 PM EST

Didn't they sort of try this already with "High Society" (Which I thought was a riot) back in '97?

Meh Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 12:06 PM EST

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.

Kevin Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 11:07 AM EST

I clicked no to this remake, but that was before I realized Mitch Hurwitz was involved. I Have complete and utter faith in him.

Sweetie Darling Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 10:57 AM EST

if they get megan mullally to star in it i might watch the first couple of episodes...

Sweetie Darling Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 10:57 AM EST

if they get megan mullally to star in it i might watch the first couple of episodes...

mclaar Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 10:51 AM EST

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.

Tim Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 10:40 AM EST

We've been here before. This will never work on network tv.

Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 10:26 AM EST

I am American and I love British comedys. I hate to say it but most americans dont have the sense of humor or intelligence to get british humor. That's why these shows don't translate across the pond. And america's The Office sucks.

Johnny Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 10:18 AM EST

According to the Variety article, Jennifer Saunders is involved with the project as an executive producer, so perhaps there is a possiblity that the remake could work?

CB Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 09:58 AM EST

NO!!!

BrandonK Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 09:49 AM EST

PS, for the Anglophiles/Little Britain lovers, Little Britain USA is awesome! It's almost as good as the original, thanks to a lot of the older characters showing up in the US and some great new characters they've come up with. The first two episodes have ended with naked body suits, and I think that's a trend that should continue. Hilarious!

Mr Kitty's Mom Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 09:35 AM EST

They had some horrible show on, I think ABC, with Jean Smart and Mary McDonnell a few years back which was supposed to be an American version - the drunk mom and pal did not go over well and it was canceled pretty quickly as I remember.

Erin Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 09:23 AM EST

Jennifer Saunders is a genius and it was her scripts along with the amazing cast chemistry that made Ab Fab one of the best shows ever. She created, wrote AND starred in this show and it simply won't be the same without her at the helm.

orville Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 08:50 AM EST

Bad, bad idea. The only way it could possibly work is to put it on HBO or Showtime (maaaaybe FX) where characters are allowed to be as unsympathetic as they need to be.

Nancy Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 08:23 AM EST

Are the original characters crossing the pond, or will there be new copycat characters? If it's the latter, the show will most likely tank.

BrandonK Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 08:22 AM EST

This one is going to be a tough sell, in part because Patsy and Eddie and the whole group are such British characters, and partly because the American version will presumably lack Jennifer Saunders' brilliance. The Office on NBC is great, but for every one of those, there's at least two British adaptations that don't work (such as Coupling and Men Behaving Badly).

Patty Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 08:21 AM EST

Now that nearly everyone with cable or a dish has access to BBC America, why do American producers still feel the need to copy British shows. We don't need this classic or Life on Mars. We don't need a State of Play remake either, watch the originals.

Sara Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 07:51 AM EST

If Mitch Hurwitz is producing, and Jessica Walter is one of the stars, I'll give it a "maybe". TV has changed, though, since AbFab, and I don't know if it's a comedy style that would work here. It's not AbFab if you change the style.

Jim Jenkins Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 07:30 AM EST

AB FAB is now a TV classic and every time America has attempted to replicate it, the project fails miserably. Face it, Saunders and Lumley were priceless and no one can touch their golden seal on comedy. It's sad that American producers have run out of something vital to the art world: CREATIVITY. Instead of repeating themselves, why don't they do something NEW and inventive...like other countries do. You don't see them trying to replicate SEINFELD every year! The Entertainment Industry in America needs a resurgence of talent, not a plethora of pathetic reality show harridans and whores. You give Tyra Banks and Kimora television shows and all you can say is the compass is now set on a course for hell.

canuck1975 Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 07:29 AM EST

Considering the 5th series of the original was a pale imitator of the originals, this promises be a disaster.

Unless, of course, the moon, sun, Gods and all that's unholy align.

Kathleen Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 07:18 AM EST

Fox? Fox! F-'ey! Fox. NO. Nnnnnno. Bad! Bad network! You better behave or I'll get out the vacuum.

This is the suckiest idea since suck came to sucktown.