Absolutely Fabulous -- 3 New Episodes!

[UmbrellaFish]

It's almost official: Patsy and Edina will be bringing their boozy antics back to BBC 1, a spokesperson for the broadcaster confirms to TheWrap.

Actresses Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, who portrayed Patsy and Edina on the hit BBC series "Absolutely Fabulous" from 1992 to 1996, are in the final stages of striking a deal to reprise their roles. According to a BBC 1 rep, "We're putting the finishing touches to the deal to bring it back, and as soon as we're in a position to confirm it, we will."

According to the Guardian, the pair will film three new episodes of "Absolutely Fabulous" later this year. The pair last assumed the roles on television for a Comic Relief charity special in 2005 on BBC 1.

More recently, Lumley had a recurring role on the BBC series "Mistresses" last year, while Saunders has a regular role on the BBC series "Clatterford."

A pilot for an American adaptation of the series, starring Kathryn Hahn and Kristen Johnston, was filmed in 2009 but wasn't picked up as a series.

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=642434&GT1=28103

I find it odd that this is being announced before the deal is finalized, but I'm not familiar with British TV practices, so perhaps this is common.

[Cordy_Biddle]

The final special ("White Box") I think tied up the characters quite well, with Saffy finally kicking her mother out of the house. That said, I'll be interested to see what new heights (or should that be depths?) in which Jennifer Saunders takes the characters. Series 5 was pretty fantastic, IMO.

[Lazario]

Series 5 was pretty fantastic, IMO.

I agree. I was really disappointed when I first saw it on Oxygen. But then I got the DVD set last year and my jaw hit the floor when I re-watched it. It's the sharpest Jennifer has been since 96's The Last Shout.

I would love to see another series, especially since some gay-iconographic comedy was able to even name-drop Lady Gaga. It was practically tragic that Will & Grace ended before she blew up. Not to mention there's so much material on the new class of pop stars, the show even ended a little early to do anything on Gwen Stefani. But now we have Katy Perry, Beyonce, Ke$ha, Justin Bieber, Christina and Cher do a movie together... oh, and... Glee. Last we left the show, they were still stuck on Chicago, and they gutted that thing on French & Saunders, let alone having Emma Bunton and Jane Horrocks both make jokes out of it on AbFab.

What I'd like to see is for them to base the whole new series off Edina and Pasty going to America. They can still drop Saffy as a character, or they can do a separate storyline cutting back to Edina's old house with her, Jane, Justin, Marshall, Bo, and Gran in the UK while Edina, Patsy, and Bubble (and... maybe Magda, Catriona, Fleur along with her, although since Kathy Burke didn't appear in anything after The Last Shout, I know there isn't much chance of her coming back- but last we saw, she was still in America- it'd be nice to see her back) go to New York. Since that's the only place in America Patsy said she could live. And of course there's always the slightest chance they could do more with Serge.

Since they have already wrapped up the story of Edina and Saffy, I think anything is possible to restart. It would be great to see them bring back other characters over the previous series. I don't expect Lulu and Twiggy to do anything for the series, and I know Madonna won't do a guest spot (there was a news article actually about Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders getting some kind of award and they mentioned Madonna and how for years they tried to get her to do a spot on their show, but that now they wouldn't have her even if she wanted to). But the potentials are endless. In fact, I know this might be a terrible idea, but - they could try and turn Eddy's "Walking Down the Road" into a YouTube controversy like Rebecca Black's "Friday."

[Cordy_Biddle]

Oh, I love that Youtube "Walkin' Down the Road" idea. I think it's hilarious that whenever Eddy is rattled, upset or stressed (or drunk), she often launches into that.

I'm hoping Bubble comes back with a vengeance (though Jane Horrocks, it should be noted, seems busier than ever these days); her extra character Katy Grin was good value in Series 5 though.

[4th Life of Thomasina]

In the US, Logo is airing Absolutely Fabulous on Thursday nights.

[UmbrellaFish]

According to Joanna Lumley AbFab is coming back for three episodes- two before Christmas this year and one next year before the London Olympics!

Hey there, little friend, why so sad? Is it because you’ve seen all of the episodes of Absolutely Fabulous that you can possibly see, including the French and Saunders sketch, which started the whole thing off, and now you’re wondering if you’ll ever get to watch Edina and Patsy weave their way through London’s media circus ever again?

Well dry those tears; we’ve got some good news. There WILL be more AbFab, and it’s coming before the end of the year.

Joanna Lumley has revealed that two pre-Christmas specials have been commissioned, plus an extra show, which will go out around the time of the London Olympics, next summer.

Joanna told the Express: “I’m so excited for old Patsy to come back. It’s thrilling. We’re doing three episodes, two out before Christmas and one before the Olympics.”

But what on Earth could happen to our hapless duo? What fresh wonders will transpire? Oh.

“I wish I could tell you more but I don’t know what will be in store for us – Jennifer Saunders hasn’t even written them yet.”

Any ideas for plotlines? Tell us here.

http://blogs.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia ... n-the-way/

[UmbrellaFish]

Official Press Release!-

New York - August 29, 2011 - They’re back, darlings. BBC Worldwide Sales and Distribution, announced today that comedy phenomenon Absolutely Fabulous will return to television with three brand new specials, with BBC AMERICA and Logo serving as joint American co-producers for the series. Comedy sensations Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley will reprise their celebrated roles as Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone. The duo last teamed up for the BBC AMERICA comedy, Clatterford in 2006.



Twenty years ago the world was introduced to Edina, Patsy and Saffron. It has never been quite the same. Eddy PR'd things. She was into every new fad and fashion imaginable and was often to be found at the bottom of a Champagne glass, actually more likely a bottle. Not much has changed. Her best friend Patsy worked in magazines and lived the high life. She still does. Eddy’s daughter Saffy was hard-working, all but ignored by her mother and hated by Patsy. Eddy’s mother was and is, well, her mother. They are all back for three new shows, 20 years after they first fell on to television.



Jennifer Saunders said, "We are thrilled to be able to celebrate our 20th birthday with all of the original cast. We hope that, like a good bottle of champagne we have grown better with age but lost none of our sparkle. Viewers in the US have been very kind to the show over the years and we are very happy to return on not one but two US channels at once, BBC AMERICA and Logo. We fully intend to party like it’s 1991. When we started filming in West London, it was like time had stood still. It was raining. Nevertheless we are so happy to be working for an audience that has grown just a tiny bit older, like us, but is still willing to let us fall over on TV in the name of PR."



Executive Producer Jon Plowman said, “People in the U.S. have been fantastically loyal in their devotion to our show, so we really are thrilled to say that it’s coming back for three new shows to celebrate our 20th anniversary. I can divulge that all of us have got a bit older, though we will be doing our best not to show it, and thankfully none of us have got any wiser. All of the originals who are back together again are still truly absolutely fabulous and we hope that the new adventures of Edina, Patsy, Saffy, Bubble and Mother, plus a few surprising guests, will entertain both our tried and trusted U.S. fans as well as gain us some new friends. We are hugely grateful to BBC AMERICA and Logo for welcoming us all back with open arms.”



The deal was brokered by Jemma Adkins, SVP, TV Sales & Co-Productions – Fiction, BBC Worldwide America. BBC Worldwide owns global distribution rights to the new specials.



The original Absolutely Fabulous series has been a part of BBC AMERICA’s flagship line-up over the years. Logo began airing the first five seasons ofAbsolutely Fabulous in April 2011, to great success.



Absolutely Fabulous is a BBC Comedy production, and has been written by Jennifer Saunders. Directed by Mandy Fletcher and produced by Justin Davies. Executive Producer is Jon Plowman.

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/0 ... ca/101618/

[UmbrellaFish]

AbFab's coming back on January the 8th!

New teaser-

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lq0FxwAlP_c" frameborder="0"></iframe>

[Escapay]

Awesome! And "Sherlock" Series Two premieres the week before. Gonna be a very exciting January!

Albert