Oh, Lord … I don’t know if this is a good thing or a very, very bad thing but Variety magazine is reporting that FOX is planning an Americanized version of the hit British comedy Absolutely Fabulous. Now, before you AbFab fans go ballistic, there is a very important element to this proposed remake … AbFab creator Jennifer Saunders (who also starred in the original version of the series) will be on board to executive produce this new version of the series. I mean, I can see how the show could be a huge success (the remake will be set in LA) but the worrier in me fears that it could also be a huge, disappointing failure:
Edina and Patsy are ready to take on L.A. Fox is developing a redo of Jennifer Saunders’ enduring Britcom “Absolutely Fabulous,” to be exec produced by Mitch Hurwitz, Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum for Sony Pictures TV, Tantamount and BBC Worldwide America. Christine Zander (“Saturday Night Live”) is set to write the script and will exec produce along with the BBC’s Ian Moffet and original series creator Saunders. Fox has given Sony a script order with hefty penalty attached. The latest attempt at a U.S. rendition of “Ab Fab” will be transplanted to L.A. but retain the basic template of the original, revolving around the friendship of two boozy, over-40 best friends who are desperate to stay hip and youthful and who carry on under the disapproving eye of Edina’s teenage daughter, Saffy … Original series starred Saunders and Joanna Lumley. It was a big hit in Britain and successful import for Comedy Central. In the U.K., “Ab Fab” ran as a regular series from 1992-95, with a two-part finale airing in 1996. Saunders and Lumley reunited for further adventures with fresh segs produced in 2001 and 2003.
Personally, I am really consumed right now with the way that the new NBC remake of Kath & Kim (which debuts this week) will do before I can focus on this proposed AbFab remake. Not that one has any bearing on the other but as a fan of the original versions of both of these series, I am concerned that bad remakes might tarnish the specialness of the original incarnations of these shows. The thing I loved most about AbFab is all the stuff they were able to get away with that would generally not work (or be allowed?) on a major US television network. The appeal for me was enjoying the outrageousness of a show that American audiences were not given ready access to. If the new incarnation is able to match the spectacular wanton excess of the original version of the series, then sign me up. If it’s gonna be a watered down version of the show, then I’m really not interested. I’m encouraged that Jennifer Saunders will be involved and casting will be key … until we find out who is cast in the roles of Edina and Patsy, I’m reserving all judgment. As I said, I’m hopeful that Kath & Kim will be able to find new life as Americans but … the jury is still out. I suspect that FOX will be watching to see if and/or how well K&K does in the ratings very closely. Do any of y’all think this is a good idea?
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Didn’t American TV try to remake it almost fifteen years ago? It was called High Society with Mary McDonnell and Jean Smart, and it lasted thirteen weeks. The idea of a remake is just laziness on the part of US networks. Why is there such an American allergy to accepting that other countries can do things as well as or better than them?
A remake? Yikes, America is much to anal retentive to attempt a remake of AB FAB. Give it up before you make another fool out of yourselves FOX. It won’t work.
No, darling – let’s not touch this one. AbFab should remain fabulous in its original incarnation.
God, I’m amazed that the Fox censors could even WATCH the original, let alone consider remaking it. I though they would just faint dead away while clutching their pearls.
Seriously, this is AWFUL.
This is a terrible idea! AbFab is classic Brit humor and should NOT be Americanized!
I thought that America already had an AbFab version of its own – that thingie starring Sybil Sheppard and Christine Boranski…
oh hells no!!! they are going to kill this show if they americanize it!!! abfab is abfab already!! come on fox dont eff it up!!
Ughhh, who and what?
Sure am suprised if Jennifer is involved to do a remake.
It is very rare these ideas are successful.
Kath & Kim (u.s copy) starts this week in oz.Will watch for curiositys sake but i know it won’t be a patch on the original.
I guess if Jen can get the crew that made the extremely funny & totally neglected Arrested Development it has a chance,but who i ask could play the roles?Bette as Edina sweetie,darling.
And will the best friend become a gay male?Hmmmmm.
I adore AbFab. This scares me though. So many American remakes of U.K. shows turn out to be mistakes. Like when they tried to remake Coupling for the American audience. Yikes!
Trent!
Saw a preview of Kath and Kim – it was really bad – a few funny bits but if the series is anything like the premier – it not gonna last!
Also – if you remember way back when – Roseanne Barr was working on and AB-FAB for the US – but that obviously never panned out….
Note folks that the other Exec Producer is Mitchell Hurwitz, creator of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, a brilliant show that like ABFAB pushed the envelope and featured hilariously vapid, self-absorbed characters.
This could turn out O.K.
Didn’t we already try the Americanized version of Ab Fab? I vaguely remember something with Jean Smart from Designing Women that came & went in a flash that was supposed to be the American version of Ab Fab. It’s a shame our networks are so intent of force feeding us endless reality shows instead of creating something new & worthwhile. Every once in awhile a new show shines – Pushing Daisies, Life, The Ex List.., with very few exceptions the remainder of them are the same old thing. Sigh..
WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, there was an American show, sweeties..with Jean Smart and Mary McDonnell..a disaster! All America does is rehash foreign show…’Hole in the wall’ , umm hello? WTF? I am going to down Bolly and Japanese finger foods!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO… every good television show is good because it’s NOT american… that goes for movies as well… if it wasn’t so addicting, i’d be absolutely disgusted with American entertainment… this is why i will only ever solely rely on Trent ;)
Saunders being involved is not necessarily a gold seal of success–she was in charge of the show when it was re-released on British TV, after it originally went off the air, and it wasn’t funny in the slightest.
Besides, they already had an American remake of AbFab: starring Karen Walker, on “Will & Grace.”
Thank you, troyS..Mitch Hurwitz created one of the funniest and smartest shows on television..I have faith that in his and Jennifer Saunders’ hands, it could totally work..And really, they didn’t do that much on the original series that American television doesn’t show now anyways!
ohgod. that previous attempt with Jean Smart, “High Society” was HORRID. but the idea of Saunders and Hurwitz working together makes my brain want to explode with delight.
my biggest concern is that it’ll be hilarious and Fox will kill it fast (as they do with everything else that’s good on their network) or it’ll be horrible and run on forever.
I loved the show but with the way we can watch TV from all the other places now, why do we have to keep remaking things? I can see the originals ‘whenever’ I want. Hollywood seems to just be out of ideas.
Oh Jesus …