Wikipedia: Absolutely Fabulous

Absolutely Fabulous
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Absolutely Fabulous is a British sitcom starring Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders. The show grew from a sketch originally written and performed for the comedy show French and Saunders which costarred Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French.

With its frank depictions of drug and alcohol use, irresponsible, irreverent and frequently illegal behaviour, the series gained a large and loyal following as well attracting censure from verious groups.

The characters played by Lumley (Patsy) and Saunders (Eddy) became popular subjects for emulation by female impersonators and halloween revellers.

The premise

Edina Monsoon (Saunders) and Patsy Stone (Lumley) are two out-of-place stuck-in-the-1970s substance-abusing ex-hippie Londoners who value style over substance. Saffron, Edina's daughter by a previous marriage, provides the voice of Monsoon and Stone's superego.

rough notes

Written by: Jennifer Saunders

Directed by: Bob Spiers

Produced by: John Plowman

5 series, 34 episodes

Broadcast (in England): 1992-1996; 2001-2003

TV Channel: BBC2 / BBC1

BBC Television

Edina is allegedly based on Lynne Franks
At least two "final episodes" were made with the characters older and not much wiser, but the series returned due to popular demand

Cast

Jennifer Saunders - Edina Monsoon ("Eddy")
Joanna Lumley - Patsy Stone ("Pats"), Edina's best friend
Julia Sawalha - Saffron ("Saffy"), Edina's daughter
June Whitfield - June Monsoon ("Mother" or "Gran"), Edina's mother
Jane Horrocks - Bubble, Edina's assistant; celebrity personality Katy Grin
Kathy Burke as Maggie
Mo Gaffney as Bo
Helen Lederer as Catriona
Christopher Malcolm as Justin
Christopher Ryan as Marshall
Harriet Thorpe as Fleur
Naoko Mori as Sarah
Adrian Edmondson as Hamish

=Episode List=

Series 1 (12 Nov 92 - 17 Dec 92)

Series 2 (27 Jan 94 - 10 Mar 94)

Hospital (27 Jan 94)

Also appearing: Sylvia Anderson (Voice Of Lady Penelope), Helena Bonham-Carter ('Saffy'), Orla Brady (Nurse Mary), Llewella Gideon (Nurse), Richard E. Grant ('Justin'), Germaine Greer ('Mother'), David Henry (Mr Simpson), Jennifer Piercey (Antonia), Suzi Quatro ('Nurse'), Mandy Rice-Davies ('Patsy')

Death (3 Feb 94)

Also appearing: Llewella Gideon (Nurse), Gwen Humble (Sondra Lorrance), Ciaran McIntyre (Vicar), Mark Tandy (Mark), Natascha Taylor (Art Gallery Assistant)

Morocco (10 Feb 94)

Also appearing: Harroun Hanif (Yentob), Karim Skalli (Ali), John Wells (Uncle Humphrey)

New Best Friend (24 Feb 94)

Also appearing: Patrick Barlow (Max), Jo Brand (Carmen), Britt Eckland (Herself), Lulu (Herself), Zandra Rhodes (Herself), Miranda Richardson (Bettina), Meera Syal (Suzy)

Poor (3 Mar 94)

Also appearing: Miranda Forbes (Woman In Car), Helena McCarthy (Old Woman), Hugh Ross (Judge), Mark Wing-Davey (Malcolm)

Birth (10 Mar 94)

Also appearing: Suzy Aitchison (Nurse), Eleanor Bron (Patsy's Mother), Wolf Christian (Fireman), Philip Franks (Writer) Jane Galloway (Nurse), Mary Mackenzie (Dancer), Mia Soteriou (Guitar Player)

Series 3 (30 Mar 95 - 4 May 95)

Door Handle (30 Mar 95)

Happy New Year (6 Apr 95)

Also appearing: Gary Beadle (Oliver), Rebecca Front (Cherysh), Kate O'Mara (Jakie)

Sex (13 Apr 95)

Also appearing: James Dreyfus (Christopher), Idris Elba (Hilton), Ian Gelder (David), Andrew Loudon (Geoff), Ben Soames (Boy), Caroline Waldron (Caroline), Lee Walters (Boy)

Jealous (20 Apr 95)

Also appearing: Joanna Bowen (Journalist), Naomi Campbell (Herself), Celia Imrie (Claudia), Paul Reynolds (Squeak), Peter Richardson (Tony), Simon Stokes (Gerard)

Fear (27 Apr 95)

Also appearing: John Hudson (Lecturer), Caroline Waldron (Caroline), Lulu (Herself)

The End (4 May 95)

Also appearing: Kevin Allen (Ben), Suzanne Bertish (Gina), Max Brant (Mitchel Friedman), Sean Chapman (Santé), Daniella Denby-Ashe (Saffy's Daughter), Drew Eliot (Justice Of The Peace), Josie Laurence (Cable TV Presenter), Danny Newman (Saffy's Son), Rupert Penry-Jones (Boy At Party), Mossie Smith (Diane), Ruby Wax (Candy)

Special

The Last Shout - Part 1 (6 Nov 96)

Also appearing: Marcella Detroit (Angel), Marianne Faithfull (God), Tom Hollander (Paolo),

Special

The Last Shout - Part 2 (7 Nov 96)

Also appearing: Gary Beadle (Oliver), Christopher Biggins (Himself), Dora Bryan (Millie), Connor Burrows (Choirboy), Nickey Clarke (Himself), Marcella Detroit (Angel), Ed Devereaux (Mac), Carmen Du Sautoy (Kalishia), Marianne Faithfull (God), Georgina Grenville (Gucci Girl), Candida Gubbins (Shop Assistant), Tom Hollander (Paolo), Christian Lacroix (Himself), Calum Macleod (Vicar), Suzy Menkes (Herself), Bruce Oldfield (Himself), Alan Talbot (Carlo)

Series 4 (31 Aug 01 - 5 Oct 01)

Parallox (31 Aug 01)

Also appearing: Bob Barrett (Labour Party Man), Tilly Blackwood (Lady Candy), Twiggy (Herself), Lady Victoria Hervey (Herself), Michael Greco (Himself), Stephen Gately (Himself), Richard Madeley (Himself), Judy Finnigan (Herself)

Fish Farm (7 Sep 01)

Also appearing: Tim Wylton (Brice)

Paris (14 Sep 01)

Donkey (21 Sep 01)

Also appearing: Till Blackwood (Lady Candy), Andrea Gillie (Patsy's PA), Jessica Wilcocks (Minge), Julian Rhind-Tutt (Taylor Johns), Marianne Faithfull (God), Anita Pallenberg (The Devil)

Small Opening (28 Sep 01)

Also appearing: Christopher Ryan (Marshall), Melanie Jessop (Policewoman), Tilly Blackwood (Lady Candy), Josh Neale (Actor), Miles Western (Actor), Emma Pierson (Actress), Lill Roughley (Actress)

Menopause (5 Oct 01)

Also appearing: Twiggy (Herself)

Special

Gay (27 Dec 02)

Series 5 (17 Oct 03 - 5 Dec 03)

Cleanin' (17 Oct 03)

Guest stars: Emma Bunton (Herself).

Book Clubbin' (24 Oct 03)

Guest stars: Mariella Frostrup (Herself), Jeanette Krankie (Midwife), Kristen Scott Thomas (Plum).

Panickin' (31 Oct 03)

Guest stars: Minnie Driver (Herself).

Huntin' Shootin' Fishin' (7 Nov 03)

Guest stars: Emma Bunton (herself), Clarissa Dixon Wright (Gamekeeper).

Episode 5 (14 Nov 03)

Birthin'

Episode 6 (28 Nov 03)

Schmoozin' Guest stars: Elton John, Robert Lindsay (Pete).

Episode 7 (5 Dec 03)

Exploitin'

Official website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/abfab/

Similar Shows

Cybill (1995) was an American sitcom about a Hollywood actress and mother who lived with her wisecracking daughter and had a boozing best friend.
High Society (1995) was an American sitcom about a divorced mother who owned a publishing house that pressed her best friend's romance novels. They let an old college girlfriend who was pregnant and struggling move in with them.

An attempted American remake was put into motion by Roseanne but never got off the ground. It was to star Carrie Fisher. However Roseanne did incorperate many elements of the show into her final season (where Roseanne wins the lottery), including hiring some of the guest stars of Absolutely Fabulous.