Despite the fact that a pilot was shot for the series, Fox has reportedly decided to not pick up the US remake of the hit UK comedy series Absolutely Fabulous. At first, the folks at Fox were all excited about this American remake but, in the end, it seems that cooler heads prevailed and the network decided that airing the new version of Ab Fab would be a big mistake. Here is the report from Nikki Finke:

Happened this afternoon when FBC officially passed on the U.S. remake of the hit UK series. ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS was hot, hot hot. But then Fox execs wondered if it was really for their audience. In other words, too femme? Also EVA ADAMS and TWO DOLLAR BEER are dead.

HMMM. It should be noted that Nikki Finke also reported on the premature demise of the Brittany Snow-fronted Gossip Girl spin-off series … since we haven’t heard officially from The CW if the show has been killed, we can’t be sure of Finke’s track record when it comes to reports like this for the coming Fall TV season. I must admit, I was suspicious that this US remake would be viable when we got word it was going into production last year. Not even seeing the new Patsy and Edina (Kristen Johnston and Kathryn Hahn) in full costume on the set of the series was enough to make me a believer that the remake would work. I think it’s in everyone’s best interest that they leave this series to die before it begins. The original is classic … it cannot be duplicated in the way that it would need to in order for it to be a viable remake, not here in the US at least. I say … let it die.

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Last October we learned that the brilliant British comedy Absolutely Fabulous was gettin’ a US make-over and would be remade here in America. At the time, there was no word on casting but we were told that production on the series had entered the early production stages and might be ready for 2009. Today we get our first look at filming of the series with Kristen Johnston (3rd Rock from the Sun) in the role of Patsy and Kathryn Hahn (Crossing Jordan) in the role of Edina:

Um … HMMM. On the one hand, they’ve got the costumes down … but I just cannot imagine how the show will be able to retain it’s amazingly hilarious humor after it has been Americanized. Trust me, I’m not knocking American humor … there are some things we do better than anyone else (Friends, for example) but there are other things that we do not (the US version of Kath & Kim still pales in comparison to the original Aussie version). I am very worried that this new venture will fall flat on its face. The only encouraging thing I’ve heard about this remake is that original series creator Jennifer Saunders (Edina) is executive producing. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. I’m really skeptical. The original AbFab is just so damn good … I’m not sure it’ll translate to an American audience and still have the same success. What do y’all think … do any of y’all have faith that this remake will work?

[Photo credit: Splash News]

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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