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EspañolABSOLUTELY FABULOUS
'''Absolutely Fabulous''' is a British sitcom written by and starring Jennifer Saunders as the lead role, and co-starring Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha and June Whitfield. It was broadcast on the BBC from 1992 to 2005, and is popularly referred to as '''Ab Fab'''.
| Contents |
| Background |
| Cast |
| Plot |
| Characters |
| Eddy |
| Patsy |
| Saffy |
| Mrs. Monsoon - "Gran" |
| Bubble |
| Sarah |
| Justin |
| Episodes |
| Special Guests |
| Theme song |
| Following |
| Other countries |
| Remakes |
| Mirrorball |
| DVD releases |
| Footnotes |
| External links |
Background
''Absolutely Fabulous'' grew from a ''French & Saunders'' sketch called ''Modern Mother and Daughter'', which starred Jennifer Saunders as the mother and Dawn French as the daughter. Contrary to persistent popular belief, the show has no connection, other than the character's name, to the earlier film '', a comedy play written by Saunders' husband Adrian Edmondson in 1984 for the TV series ''The Comic Strip Presents...''. The name Eddie Monsoon is derived from Edmondson's name and is a nickname of his.
Cast
★ Jennifer Saunders - Edina 'Eddy' Monsoon
★ Joanna Lumley - Patsy Stone
★ Julia Sawalha - Saffron 'Saffy' Monsoon
★ June Whitfield - June Monsoon (Mother/Gran)
★ Jane Horrocks - Bubble ''(all series)'' and Katy Grin ''(series 4 and 5)''
★ Christopher Ryan - Marshall Turtle
★ Mo Gaffney - Bo Turtle (née Crysalis)
★ Christopher Malcolm - Justin
★ Helen Lederer - Catriona
★ Harriet Thorpe - Fleur
★ Naoko Mori - Sarah ''(series 1 to 5)''
★ Gary Beadle - Oliver ''(series 1, series 3 and 1996 Special)''
★ Kathy Burke - Magda ''(series 1 to 1996 Special)''
★ Tilly Blackwood - Lady Candida De Dennison-Bender ''(series 4)''
★ Felix Dexter - John Johnstone ''(series 5 and 2003 Special)''
★ Celia Imrie - Claudia Bing ''(series 3 and 4)''
Plot
Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone are two immature, prosperous, but preposterous substance-abusing fashion and fad-obsessed Londoners who value fame and style over substance (unless they are controlled substances). Saffron, Edina's daughter, provides the persistently dour voice of Monsoon and Stone's super-ego. Edina and Saffy live in a house in Holland Park, with Patsy spending most of her time there as well.
The programme circles around Eddy's ongoing struggle to achieve fame and success amidst the disapproval of her daughter and the constant presence of her increasingly senile mother. Throughout, Patsy is at her side encouraging the behaviours that are constantly causing her conflict. Much of the comedy of the show is physical, usually derived from Edina and Patsy's drunken and/or stoned states, with their favourite drinks being "Bolli Stoli" (a cocktail of Bollinger champagne and Stolichnaya vodka) and later "Veuve & Bourb" (a mix of Veuve Clicquot champagne and bourbon). The mutual loathing between Saffy and Patsy as each tries to guide Edina's behaviour also makes for many comic situations. A recurring gag found new ways for Edina to fall headfirst out of cars, windows, or down her kitchen stairs at least once every series.
Characters
Eddy
'Edwina Margaret Rose Monsoon', an only child, was born on 6 August 1951 in London. She later changed her name to Edina and is nearly always called Eddy; only her mother, and once Justin, call her Edwina. She owns a public relations firm whose only steady client is 1960s pop singer Lulu, whose professional relationship with Edina is hanging by a thread. In later years, this was switched to model Twiggy and Spice Girl Emma Bunton, who also went to school with Saffy. Though failing in her business, Edina is desperate to give off the aura of success, wealth and fabulousness, even as her outrageously mismatched and poorly-fitted wardrobe belies this.
In an early episode, Edina says that she has always voted Labour, but she notes her disdain for New Labour in the fourth series. She collects hefty alimony payments from her two ex-husbands, Justin and Marshall. Justin (Saffy's father) is gay and for a time had a boyfriend named Oliver. Her first husband - Marshall Turtle - the father of her gay and almost perpetually off-screen son Serge, later marries scheming New-Age Californian Bo Chrysalis (Gaffney), a pollyanna whom Edina detests.
Edina claims to be a Buddhist practising - in her words - "almost religiously". She also claims to be a vegetarian although she is seen eating meat on a few occasions. She also has little to no willpower.
Patsy
'Eurydice Colette Clytemnestra Dido Bathsheba Rabelais Patricia Cocteau Stone' - always called Patsy - is the last of a string of bastard children born to an ageing bohemian mother. She and Eddie were childhood friends, and since her mother neglected her - regarding her more as a rival than a daughter - she came to rely on the Monsoons for most of her food, shelter and comfort. She is an outrageous, nymphomaniacal, chain-smoking, past-her-prime fashion model and ex-Bond girl who drinks like a fish. She shares a codependent parasitic existence with her old schoolfriend Eddy. This relationship usually results in hilarious, albeit dysfunctional, behaviour and over-the-top conflicts.
Patsy was born in Paris in 1938, and her birthday is 30 October. Although her actual age is never clearly divulged, she often states herself to be between 39 and 43. In one episode ("Cold Turkey") a nurse guesses that she is around 65 years old. Patsy also has an older sister named Jackie, whom Eddy abhors and who twice tried to kill Patsy with drug overdoses.
Unlike Eddy, she is always stylishly dressed, and has a well-paying, do-nothing job as a fashion director for a fashion magazine, which she received after sleeping with the publisher. She then went on to work in "Jeremy's" - an exclusive high street fashion store, with celebrity clients such as Minnie Driver.
During the 1970s in Morocco, Patsy underwent a sex change and briefly lived as a man. However, In a later episode, Eddy reveals that "it fell off". In two episodes ("Door Handle" and "The Last Shout"), it is revealed that Patsy lives in the storeroom above Oddbins, a chain of UK liquor stores. She says that she has not eaten anything since 1973. But in the episode "New Year's Eve" she eats a crisp, which she claims, after pondering, is "deliceous". Also, in the Christmas Special "Cold Turkey" she stuns everyone by asking for a small slice of turkey - but can't stomach it and chokes.
Saffy
Edina and Justin's daughter 'Saffron' was born on 17 March 1975 in London. Although most people call her "Saffy", she is also frequently referred to by Eddy as "sweetie", "darling" or "sweetie-darling" and by Patsy as "you little bitch troll from hell", "the bitch daughter" and "you little piece of dribble-piss", etc. As the ever-virtuous high-minded intellectual, Saffy is the perfect foil for Eddie and Patsy, enduring bombastic abuse and immature snideness from both - especially with regards to sex. She is the voice of reason and is always the volunteer for a thankless chore in the Monsoon household.
She dresses conservatively and almost always behaves responsibly; as a result, Eddie regards her as a disappointing frump and longs for a more exotic, fashionable daughter. Her mother and Patsy continue to loathe her even though she is forced to get incompetant duo out of many sticky situations. Her older brother Serge ran away from home as a teenager and never calls or writes; nevertheless, he's Eddie's favorite child (even though she can no longer remember what he looks like).
In series four, after completing her education, she writes a play about her life with her mother called "Self Raising Flower;" at one point, she becomes involved with New Labour, and says her role model is Cherie Blair. In series five - when she returns home pregnant from a stint of humanitarian work in Uganda - Eddy at first loathes the prospect of being a grandmother - until she learns that the father is black, making the baby multiracial and, as such, an utterly fabulous fashion accessory ("a mixed-race baby is the Chanel of babies!") Saffy later gives birth to a daughter and calls her Jane, although Eddy persists in calling her "Lola". She was once arrested for spying on a random family through a wardrobe for her "Observations Diary."
Mrs. Monsoon - "Gran"
Edina's mother, Mrs. Monsoon, is a good-natured woman who often seems to be rather senile. She is despised by her daughter but much loved by her granddaughter. She has a strange relationship with Edina and seems to regard her with indifference, giving all her motherly devotion to Saffy.
Edina's insults never seem to affect her; in fact, she usually manages to drop a few hard-hitting but humorous insults of her own. Most of the time she recognises the eccentricities of Edina, Patsy and visitors to the house. At times she even seems to see the dysfunctional qualities in Saffy. She was a sort of surrogate mother to Patsy, whose own mother neglected her; however, their relationship is ambiguous. Patsy shows her some respect, even helping her and calling her "Mrs M". When Mrs. Monsoon's husband dies ("Death"), Patsy attempts to comfort her by awkwardly patting her head and saying "I condole you", adding that Mr.M "chose the right season to go, as black is in this season". Mrs. Monsoon sometimes makes condescending remarks about Patsy, even in her presence, once telling Eddy that she is not a suitable or reliable friend and calling her "poor-dear-sad-old Patsy".
Mrs. Monsoon displays a kleptomanical streak at times, taking random items from Edina's household (mugs, ashtrays, clothing) and donating them to the charity shop she volunteers at, "Bric-n-Brac-n-Knic-n-Knack-n-Things." She's been known to turn Edina's high-style clothing into other things (such as "the only genuine LaCroix-Versace-quilty-bedspread in existence").
In the first few series, she is a valuable ally for Saffy in her struggle for domestic control, often mentioning embarrassing facts from Eddy's and Patsy's childhood. But after series three, her mental faculties begin to decline and she increasingly inhabits a strange world of her own. Eddy addresses her, usually indirectly, as "The Old Woman" and once "Old Cucka", never as "Mum" or "Mother". In only one scene throughout the entire run of the show are the two alone together, and it's an awkward experience for both of them. When Gran's husband - affectionately known as "Daddy" - dies during series 2, Eddy infuriates Saffy by responding to the news with a blank stare and the question "Did he leave a will?". Gran doesn't seem to care much either, realising that she'll have a bit more room at her house.
Bubble
Eddy's personal assistant at work. Bubble is a charming disaster. Both her outlandish clothing and working-class Northern accent clash with Edina's posh veneer. She is completely incompetent at her job and often has trouble even remembering what her job is. Her inability to remember the names of the most common of objects (computer, television, fax machine, etc.) or understand the most basic of concepts (the fact that the year goes up by one on New Year's Eve) are often the basis of much humour. Edina can often be seen painfully trying to drag vital information from her, a feat which is aggravated by her complete inability to recall the simplest of facts. Her sole purpose in Edina's PR company is to make Edina look good by comparison. Despite her utter daftness, Bubble shows rare glimpses of genius and special abilities. She is also fluent in French, but in one episode is heard uttering French sounding gibberish. She is inexplicably made editor of ''Vogue'' magazine, but she soon returns to Edina and it is not clear that she ever took up her new position. In fact, she resigns her position as Edina's PA on two other occasions. Edina tries to fire Bubble for gross incompetence, but Bubble sues - and wins - the right to keep her job. Unfortunately for her, the details of her job were not specified, so Edina makes Bubble her maid. Later, Bubble abandons Edina when her PR company is on the verge of being taken over by Claudia Bing. During the last series, Bubble's character changes somewhat. Still mad as ever, she assumes an affected and insulting snobbery, looking down on Edina and Patsy, and even big celebrities like Elton John and Minnie Driver. She occasionally rebukes Edina for her irresponsibility, and annoys her with her mad but hard-hitting insights into the celebrity-driven society Edina moves into. From the beginning she is insulting to Patsy, subtly exposing her superficiality. But in later episodes she is not so subtle. Bubble is also Katy Grin's cousin.
Sarah
Sarah is a quiet, shy, studious girl and Saffron's best friend since childhood. In the beginning of the show, she rarely drinks, regarding "low-alcohol cider" as "brilliant," saying that "once, at a party, I drank a whole can!" By series 4 Sarah carried a flask in her jacket, drinking even while working as the stagehand on Saffron's play. Sarah is Saffron's Patsy-figure in tempting Saffy to try drinking alcohol and teasing her regarding her romantic endeavors, real or imagined. Because of her timid demeanor, Sarah is often the subject of Edina's derision and physical abuse. Edina consistently refers to her as "Titty-ca-ca" and once set her hair on fire with a candle. This triggered Sarah to seek professional counselling, which seemed to drive her into a deeper state of imbalance. In the 4th and 5th series, Sarah starts to unravel, becoming more and more unstable, and eventually takes to stalking Spice Girl Emma Bunton, another friend of Saffron's. At this point, Saffy realizes Sarah needs more professional help and reports her to the police.
Justin
Justin is Saffron's father and Edina's second ex-husband. He is gay and keeps an antique shop with his partner Oliver - also a frequent guest in the early series. Justin tries hard to be the best father he can to Saffron and the two of them have what is probably the healthiest relationship on the show. Justin and Edina put up with each other for Saffron's sake but are not always successful in carrying out this charade. Patsy and Justin have a variable relationship. They often act antagonistically toward each other, but other times seem to get along well. Oliver and Saffy are friends, even though he despises Patsy and loathes Edina... for good reason. Justin is Canadian and usually walks with a cane.
Episodes
Main articles: List of Absolutely Fabulous episodes
''Absolutely Fabulous'' first aired on 12 November 1992, and ran for three series until 4 May 1995, when the sixth episode of series 3 was billed as the last-ever episode. However, the following year in November 1996, two specials, called "The Last Shout", were broadcast and were also billed as the last-ever episodes. Both 'last episodes' featured end sequences with flashes to the future. However, after writing ''Mirrorball'', Jennifer Saunders decided she had more ideas [1], and on 31 August 2001 the fourth series premiered. A further series and three specials followed, the last of which aired on 25 December 2004. In July 2005, Saunders announced she would not be writing or playing Edina again, stating "The 6am calls to go to make-up and all the promotional work wear you down. I would like to write and direct — that would be my joy".
Special Guests
Many celebrities appeared in the series, most of them as themselves. They were:
Theme song
The theme song for ''Ab Fab'' is called ''This Wheel's on Fire'' written by Bob Dylan and Rick Danko and performed in this instance by Julie Driscoll and Adrian Edmondson. The song was also sung by Marianne Faithfull and P. P. Arnold for ''The Last Shout'' Special in 1996. This version does not appear on the new BBC Video DVD release. More recently, it has been sung by Blondie lead singer, Debbie Harry, who also guest-starred in the 2002 Christmas Special "Gay".
In addition to the official theme song, in 1994, the Pet Shop Boys recorded a song for Comic Relief using excerpts of dialogue from the series put to dance music. The music video featured clips from the show and specially recorded footage of the Pet Shop Boys with Patsy and Edina.
Following
With its outlandish depictions of drug and alcohol abuse and irresponsible, irreverent, and frequently illegal behaviour, the series gained a large and loyal following, as well as attracting censure from various groups. The programme was widely popular in Britain, and gained noteworthy attention in other countries.
Other countries
In the United States, ''Absolutely Fabulous'' has been broadcast on Comedy Central, PBS, BBC America, and since 2003 Oxygen Network as well. In Australia, all series were originally shown on the ABC, and on cable it airs on UK.TV. Repeats of the first three series were also shown on the Seven Network. The ABC continues to show it sporadically and shows Christmas Specials and occasional repeats of Series Five or Six episodes. In Canada it airs on Comedy Network and since 1994, CBC. In Portugal it was shown in RTP2. In Serbia, the first series was aired in 1998, through a network of local television stations; in 2004 the series was aired in its entirety on B92 while in the Czech Republic all episodes have been shown. In the Republic of Macedonia, all episodes have been shown a couple of times on Sitel. In the Netherlands, the series is popular, still being broadcast by the VPRO. In Sweden, the show is broadcast by TV4 Plus. In Germany, it was broadcast by the franco-German TV network arte. In France, before it was rerun on terrestrial TV arte, it was successively premiered on Pay TV channel Canal +,cable channel Jimmy and is now broadcast on France 4.
Remakes
''Absolutely Fabulous'' inspired a French feature film, called ''Absolument Fabuleux'', in 2001. This was written and directed by Gabriel Aghion, and starred Josiane Balasko as Eddie and Nathalie Baye as Patsy. Jennifer Saunders had a small cameo alongside Catherine Deneuve as a spectator at a fashion show. French gay icon and Patsy Stone lookalike Amanda Lear was asked to play the part of Patsy but turned it down saying she'd "already lived it".
A proposed American remake that would have starred Carrie Fisher was put into motion by Roseanne Barr but never got off the ground. However, Barr did incorporate many elements of the show into the final season of her eponymous show ''Roseanne'' in which her character wins the lottery, even hiring Saunders and Lumley to reprise their ''Absolutely Fabulous'' characters Edina and Patsy in one episode[1]. An American sitcom called ''High Society'', a direct remake of "Absolutely Fabulous" but toned down for American audiences, starring Jean Smart and Mary McDonnell, lasted only a shortened single season, but did garner an Emmy nomination for Jayne Meadows in the role of McDonnell's character's mother. The American sitcom ''Cybill'', although not directly intended as a remake, shared some elements of ''Ab Fab's comedic style. In 2000, a short-lived Canadian version called ''P.R.'' also aired.
Mirrorball
''Mirrorball'' was a show written by Saunders that featured a completely different plot and set of characters, but starred all of the main cast of ''Absolutely Fabulous''. While not being a remake or spin-off, it is the only time in British TV history that two identical casts were used in two totally different shows. Only a pilot of ''Mirrorball'' was ever made.
Series 1 DVD cover
DVD releases
All episodes of ''Absolutely Fabulous'' have been released on DVD in Region 2 (UK), by 2 Entertain Video, with the exception of the 2004 Christmas Special.
Series 1-5, in addition to the specials "The Last Shout" and "Ab Fab: New York" (Released under the title "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Special" and "Absolutely Fabulous: Gay" in the UK), have also been released on DVD by Warner Brothers and BBC Video in Region 1 (US/Canada). The original ''French and Saunders'' sketch is an 'extra' on the Series One DVD (on both the UK, US and Australian versions), and the pilot of ''Mirrorball'' is an extra on the DVD of Series 4. Each series' DVD also features a fifteen-minute outtake reel. On October 16, the 2004 Christmas special "White Box" will be released on DVD with two featurettes ("How to Be Absolutely Fabulous" and "Ab Fab Moments") and the original sketch from French and Saunders that served as the basis for it. It is unknown at this time whether or not the 2005 Comic Relief special will be included as another extra on this DVD.
The Region 4 (Australia/Pacific Islands) DVDs have been released up to Series 5, with all the specials released as individual DVDs with their original episode names. In March 2007, the complete box set of ''Absolutely Fabulous'', entitled ''Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything'' was released in Region 4.
Footnotes
1. Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy
2. Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy
External links
★
★ Absolutely Fabolous at bbc.co.uk
★ ''Absolutely Fabulous at the BBC Comedy Guide
★ ''Absolutely Fabulous'' at British TV Comedy Guide
★ ''Absolutely Fabulous'' at Episode World
★ Ab Fab Online
★ ''Absolutely Fabulous'' at the British Sitcom Guide
★ ''Absolutely Fabulous'' at the British Film Institute Screen Online
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