Last month we got our first look at comedic actresses Kristen Johnston and Kathryn Hahn in full costume on the set of the US remake of the British TV series Absolutely Fabulous here in SoCal filming their first scenes for the series. Ab Fab, as it will be called here in US, is well into production of their first eps and here is our first look at a scene from the series pilot:
I’m still a bit suspicious of this planned remake of Absolutely Fabulous … I mean, it sounds like a great idea in theory but it really all comes down to execution. I tried and tried to really love the US remake of Kath & Kim but it so pales in comparison to the original that I could never really get into the remake. That being said, I never had the same love of the original version of Absolutely Fabulous and I did for the original Aussie version of Kath & Kim. I’m willing to give this Ab Fab series a shot … it could be very funny … but, again, it all comes down to execution. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Are any of y’all looking forward to seeing this remake or are you just totally uninterested?
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Ab Fab is one of my favorite shows ever and I already know that this version is going to pale in comparison. I don’t know why people don’t get that the main thing that is funny about British shows is that the people in them are British! It’s a whole different sense of humor that does not translate here at all. People might use the example of the success of The Office but to me they are two completely different shows, and that UK one is a hundred times better. Leave well enough alone and don’t mess with my beloved Ab Fab!!
I like the U.S. Kath and Kim but that could be because I never saw any of the Aussie version……..so, that said, it is possible that no matter how “good” these series will be really depends on whether the viewers have seen the originals…..;-)
I dunno about this…I always enjoyed AB FAB and, although these ladies are funny, I just don’t know if they can pull off the humour but we shall see.
I am sooo looking forward to this! I loved the BBC show and I think Kristen is such a funny lady I think she can pull it off. I just hope it’s done well and does the original justice!
They are making a new series of the English one soon, so i will wait for that. These actors cant compare to Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley!
I am looking forward to it – but fail to see how the original could be topped! On the other hand, so many people have no idea what I’m talking about when I bring up a situation from an episode…so, hmph. We’ll see! Kristen is very funny. Will these two be drinking bourb’ and Bolli’ ? lol
i’ll watch it.. i love these two. they are actually reallyyy funny.
kristen will always be sally to me though. ;]
I don’t even know how French & Saunders even let this happen… there is no way this version is going to be anywhere near as good as the original. The great thing about the original AbFab is that the characters are so ridiculous it’s funny. No one in real life could be as idiotic, decadent, dense, & self-absorbed as Pats & Eddie and Joanna Lumley & Jennifer Saunders were BRILLIANT at pulling them off. I don’t see that happening even though I think Kristin Johnson is a fine actress…
This is just wrong – I can’t believe a remake could even come close to the original. It was a moment in time (make that, several TV seasons in time) which I doubt can ever be recaptured.
i don’t think the US version will b anywhere near as good as the British version…..those girls were PERFECT for those rolls…Pat and Eddie r my girlz!! lol i luvs them! :)
Leave the original AB FAB alone. It’s a classic. Why remake it?
Let’s cut the chase: HALF the jokes from the original AB FAB will be cut. The rampant booze and pill jokes, please. The life will be sucked out of this.
I’m not sure how I feel about this US remake… In my opinion when the US tries to remake something British it generally does not come off as well (The Office is the exception to that rule). And Absolutely Fabulous is a freaking British comedy classic! You cannot ever get as good as the original… that being said both Kristen and Kathryn are fairly funny women who have a pretty good comedic timing so I guess we’ll see… it will never beat the original though… I mean really, the Brits INVENTED acting!
I like both of these actresses, so I wish them well! I am a little bit scared of how it will turn out, though. I have my fingers crossed for you!
i’m afraid…very afraid. just as the US tried to do coupling and failed miserably, i don’t think they will fare as well with this. i LOVE abfab and have all of the episodes on DVD. i guess i just don’t know how this will translate to US audiences.
I’d love for it to be worth a damn, but I’m highly skeptical and kinda sad that they’re even trying. I just don’t see how these girls (while funny) can stand up to the characters Joanna lumly and Jennifer Saunders.
that and the fact that they BUTCHERED ‘Coupling’ when they tried it here. I know that most love ‘The Office’ but even that and ‘Men Behaving Badly’ (not sure if you remember that one) both pale in comparison to their British counterparts.
I agree with all those who state that this show will be lost in translation. British humor is dry and self deprecating, while American humor tends to be less subtle. This show will lose it’s charm if it is tailored to suit American humor. And Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumly are hilarious in AbFab…almost to the point that it feels wrong to even try a remake. Some things are just too perfect to recreate!
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
———NOT!
I think both of those two are absolutely hilarious, so I’m willing to give it a shot!
I’ll give it a shot. but I just don’t see how they can possibly match the dry British humor. I have a feeling its just going to end up looking silly because obviously, they’re going to have to make the jokes ‘Americanized’ which takes away everything that is wonderful about Absolutely Fabulous. Ugh. why can’t they just get an original idea instead of ruining a classic genius show like Ab Fab?
Blair: There is no new UK Series. In a NYTimes interview several years ago, Jennifer Saunders said that AF was done forever the day they approved the destruction of the BBC sets.
Boo. Hiss.
I hope Saunders is making an ass load of cash from this. That would be the only excuse to even think of this.
The oddly angry, vicious and nasty plots of the original Ab Fab are going to be lost. It’s a different time now. The allure of excess and narcissism doesn’t have the same gloss it used to.
The only way this will even stand the vaguest chance of succeeding is if they check political correctness at the door… they cannot pander to ANYONE’s sensitivities…. Patsy and Edina were foul mouthed, booze and pill swilling harridans (rather endearing qualities to their characters… LOL!) and if they cut that part out and make them too ‘nice’, thinking that is what public acceptance might demand, they will be too sanitized to work and will simply be another slap stick mess.
this is gonna suck ugly straight dick – meaning, what is the point?
there are NO new ideas in Hollywood.
NONE!
The US remake of Coupling (word-for-word) was a disaster; nowhere near as good as the British original.
On the other hand, I just didn’t like AbFab. I thought it was pointless and silly, in an unfunny way.
I just know that this remake is going to suck. When you have perfection in the original, there is absolutely no point in redoing it. Plus, I hear they’re not allowed to smoke, and I’m pretty sure the Americanized version will be way too P.C. for my taste
I wish we could see these great shows in their original form.
Shame about the language barrier…
Why God Why?!?
Based on the picture alone – I don’t see how this can be funny.
I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.
Ok, years, and I mean MANY years ago, infamous Roseanne bought the rights to the american remake of Ab Fab. (Remember Patsy and Eddy making a cameo at a party on Roseanne’s show?) She refused to even consider remaking it, despite the cash she spent to get it, because no network would let the characters swear, do drugs or even smoke. The things us queers loved most about Patsy and Eddy. The only way this show will even make it past the first 4 episodes is if they go in a completely different direction than the original. You know, loosely base it of the originl characters. But somehow I doubt that will happen.
I don’t understand American TV execs. FOX gets excellent shows, then kills them after one season. Other networks scramble to get rights to brilliant foreign programs, then remake them poorly and shove these versions down our throats. Do we really need american versions of Hole in the Wall and Ugly Betty? I say slap some god damn subtitles on these shows and let us americans enjoy some true variety for a change. Instead of regurgitated crap.
Ok, rant off……..
oh, and one more thing, bring back Strangers With Candy…
Everyone wonders how it will translate, but I heard there will be NO smoking. How will that play, something so central to the characters?
It could work. Remember “All In The Family” and “Sanford and Son?”
The deciding factor, besides competent script writing and acting, is whether or not they censor the blatant drug use and sexuality of the original series. If they do, then it’s not Ab Fab, period. I’m more than willing to give it a try, especially with Kristen Johnston–I loved her on 3rd Rock from the Sun and she was also great in the Strangers with Candy movie.
As far as Kath & Kim goes, the Ozzie version (diwana.org for you torrentors looking for Oz/NZ torrents) is definitely the superior one but I do enjoy the US one, but I think that might be because I loved Kath from when she played crazy lady on Will & Grace. When it comes to The Office, I prefer the American one by a mile–I’ve rewatched those episodes 3-6 times while the UK one does get into the repeated viewing rotation, although I did think it was smashing. Boy, do I love torrents and watching shows from all over the globe!
Kristen is one today’s few great comedic actresses around today and her work on Third Rock from the Sun will be her high note BUT Ab Fab redux is one of those things that cannot nor should be attempted save by those who want to enter the worst idea categories of the year.
What I find most clenhangilg is making sure I don’t let all the little things get in the way of the big things. Being to something on time is not nearly as important as the attitude I have while trying to get my kids to get themselves ready to go and all of us out the door. Or to remember that I need to slow down and let them explore or encourage them to “explore” instead of getting a predetermined list of tasks done. I find I am always in a “rush” to get somewhere and find I am never there while what I really should be doing is enjoying and doing the best I can now for my kids, my spouse and myself.
I read that they will be chewing Nicorette gum….instead of smoking…jeez Thats hilarious?..what’s next O’Douls instead Veuve?
I saw Jennifer Saunders on Graham Norton’s show this year and he asked her about ab fab coming here…..she said she could care less what they do to it!..i guess for her , it was like selling a car or house….I was really shocked!
Tony(nyc)