Comments on: Why the New AbFab Isn’t Heresy, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Remake

By: strumpetwindsock

strumpetwindsock — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:25:18 +0000

@MT:
Now if she were grinding it up and mainlining it that would be good for a chuckle.

By: james ii

james ii — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:14:48 +0000

There already was an American version of AbFab. It was called “Cybill.”

Really, I don’t think any other incarnation of AbFab could come close to being as funny and as close to the spirit of that show as Cybill and no actress could possibly be a better drinky, witty, second banana than Christine Baranski.

By: LukeWarmCB

LukeWarmCB — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:25:30 +0000

DOes anyone remeber that there has already been an Americanized version of AbFab? Back in the mid to late 90′s… it was called “High Society”, starring Jean Smart from Designing Women and MAry McDonnell. Check it out on YouTube. It was only on for a couple seasons, but it was an amazingly campy and catty show. I wish it had lasted longer. I’m looking forward to the new remake. Y’all enjoy!!!

By: Anticipate me

Anticipate me — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:24:18 +0000

They’re going to butcher it…why are those girls young? the point of AbFab was that they were middle aged trying to be young…Jesus..

By: sam

sam — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:21:53 +0000

oh come on i loved the US Queer as Folk :P whoc ares if they weren’t controversial, it was better. Funnier, more likeable and far less haebophilic. Ugh.
I am very hesitant to support a remake of something that doesnt need it :P
i like horror movie remakes like Friday the 13th etc cos they are horribly dated by now. Not scary at all. They NEED redoing.
AbFab does NOT. its funny as is.
And I think The Office worked because it translates well. The weird boss at work etc. But the premise of AF just, imo, won’t work, just like Kath and Kim. *shudders*

By: MD

MD — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:52:06 +0000

Actually AbFab was a Saunders & French production (as opposed to their TV show French & Saunders). Given that they are no longer collaborating following their final farewell tour, I wonder if the U.S. version will indeed work. The UK version is a classic, particularly with Ruby Wax’s editing touch!

By: Dawster

Dawster — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:38:52 +0000

it’s important to note that the REAL reason why the Office (America) is doing so well is because Ricky Gervais of the Office (UK) is the executive producer. if you think his style of humor, and outlook are funny in the British version, then no one can translate it to America better than the writer/creator… and guess what – it works.

I like Jennifer Saunders. i like her style of wit, humor, outlook and presentation. i like everything she does with French/Saunders. i think the only person who can possibly make it work is her. i know it’s going to be different (and i don’t like that), but i’m willing to give it a go.

By: Phil Ingram

Phil Ingram — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:29:50 +0000

@mr.razzbery: Oh be nice – while the Australian Kath & Kim is infinitely better, you can’t say the American one isn’t funny. It just isn’t true.

By: froggyola

froggyola — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 07:17:18 +0000

@Charlie Olsky: Like a big steaming pile.

By: Charlie Olsky

Charlie Olsky — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:12:49 +0000

Japhy is hot.

By: ask ena

ask ena — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:08:58 +0000

Japhy lives in Weho??

By: froggyola

froggyola — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:46:57 +0000

@Ted: You have no taste.

By: froggyola

froggyola — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:44:17 +0000

This seems like a really bad idea. Why couldn’t the originals do it???

By: Casper O

Casper O — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:46:12 +0000

It is Stolli Bolli…

Stolichnaya Vodka and Bollinger champagne, in that order, just like it is Rum and Coke, Vodka Martini etc… almost always the heavier stuff first.

I might be an alcoholic ex-bartender, but it is important to the AbFab heritage too! :D

By: Darrien

Darrien — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:30:02 +0000

Japhy has a point. Lots of British comedies have made their way across the Atlantic to become successful but different comedies. Please Sir became Welcome Back Cotter, Steptoe and Son became Stanford and Son, Till Death Do Us Part became All in the Family, Man About the House became Three’s Company.
It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that AbFab UK can become a different but still successful AbFab US. As the ineffably contrary Mr Grant points out, there’s no established rule that re-interpreting a piece of work will lead to an inferior product. When Broadway is on form, you can get as good or better Hamlet there as you can in the West End.
Strangely, the weakest point in this might be the involvement of Jennifer Saunders herself. Her most recent comedy series in the UK – Jam and Jerusalem – was entirely different to the kind of comedy in AbFab. It was almost uniformly excellent, but very different in how and where it was going for laughs. I’m not sure that she’d want to creatively revisit a project that is effectively over and done with for her – and has been for several years.

By: Miley Crisis

Miley Crisis — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:20:01 +0000

Viva the New Ab Fab!!!
The further adventures of P & E!!
Wwwweeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Bring on the Bolli babe.

By: geoff

geoff — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:22:27 +0000

Maybe we could actually watch an episode or two before we decide if it’s horrible or not.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:34:13 +0000

The reason I think it will be fabulous is because Kristen Johnson is in it.

By: Bitch Republic

Bitch Republic — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:27:07 +0000

The reason I think it will be awful is because Kristen Johnson is in it. :P

By: Eminent Victorian

Eminent Victorian — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:10:01 +0000

I say give it a chance. Sure, it could be terrible, but maybe not.

By: Michael vdB

Michael vdB — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:47:11 +0000

OMG! If they can pull it off then it would be a great honour to the pair that gave me enough witty quotes to keep me going through the 90s. But then again, how can you top perfection?

By: MT

MT — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:59:04 +0000

Didn’t Kristen Johnston say something about P&E chewing Nicorette in this version? NICORETTE?!?!? Abomination doesn’t even begin to cover it.

By: Mr. Enemabag Jones

Mr. Enemabag Jones — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:45:39 +0000

“‘Kath and Kim’ is actually Australian, not British.”

Yes I know, RyanInSacto. Based in Melbourne to be precise, with some filming done in Victoria as well.

“Tina Fey? Really? Then she would be responsible for two unfunny sitcoms.”

Did you ever watch her on Weekend Update?

By: MARK m

MARK m — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:39:52 +0000

I hope to be surprised. American produced things tend to be so watered down. No booze, no child abuse, no drugs– this obsessive denial system where everyone is “Good”… blech. Most of our produced TV is like eating oatmeal with nothing in it.

By: Ted

Ted — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:24:40 +0000

@Mr. Enemabag Jones:

Tina Fey? Really? Then she would be responsible for two unfunny sitcoms.

By: rsquared

rsquared — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:16:15 +0000

I was persuaded at “[T]o think if, after Shakespeare’s death, humanity decided they could never again put on a production of Hamlet for fear of desecrating the Bard.” I’ll keep an open mind…and I sort of am looking forward to it. Good writing Mr. Grant.

By: Samuel

Samuel — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:01:23 +0000

Nah, it’s gonna suck.

By: RyanInSacto

RyanInSacto — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:59:44 +0000

@Mr. Enemabag Jones: “Kath and Kim” is actually Australian, not British.

By: Scotty

Scotty — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:32:36 +0000

Yeah, this show will TOTALLY tank!! The gays just won’t have it. Why? Because the gays will make or break a show like this and the gays know that there is ABSOLUTELY no replacement for the FABULOUS Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley!!

By: Mr. Enemabag Jones

Mr. Enemabag Jones — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:24:22 +0000

Have you seen the remanke of “Kath And Kim”? This show will tank simply becuase the situations brought up in the UK version will not translate well in the US version and will be replaced with what passes for comedy on US television. Maybe if Tina Fey or even Sarah Silverman had a hand in this I’d watch. As it is? No thanks.

By: moo

moo — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:04:36 +0000

But why make it now? We’re living in a post AbFab world. New AbFab would be anachronistic.

By: unclemike

unclemike — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:43:28 +0000

Considering that the US edition of “The Office” found its own way and turned out to be a unique, funny show, this new AbFab…might not…be…horrible.

By: floodlite

floodlite — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:05:45 +0000

*shudders* at High Society

By: mr.razzbery

mr.razzbery — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:54:34 +0000

i love kristen johnston, and she was fantastic and funny in 3rd rock, i just hope this one has good script and took off…i hope this is better then the u.s kath & kim…

By: rick

rick — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:44:39 +0000

this show has already been done with jean smart in the patsy role and the president on battle star galactica in the edwina role. it ran on cbs for a few weeks and got cancelled.

it was on monday nights. around the same time they tried to do a martha stewart take on it.

rosanne hired carrie fisher to turn this into an american property from the original scripts and she failed.

By: Sebbe

Sebbe — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:50:48 +0000

Is it bad that I really want a champagne and bourbon for breakfast now? lol

By: floodlite

floodlite — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:37:44 +0000

Well, it’s good that this one might actually get off the ground. Roseanne bought the rights originally to do the american version, pre-HBO type series, and couldn’t make it because you couldn’t drink excessively and do illicit drugs and have fun doing it.
My biggest fear will be that the dialogue will be lost to out and out physical comedy. That was one of the things i love about the original AbFab, the scenes last longer than 5 seconds.
And since it’s being made over 10 years after the original, hopefully Edina will be obessessed with the 70′s and 80′s rather than the 60′s as neither actress looks old enough to have been anything but born near the end of the 60′s.
I will agree, I hope this series is it’s own creation and not a simple parody.