"Absolutely Fabulous" (1992) TV series 1992-2004

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | unknown

Release Date:

24 July 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Sin is in, sweetie.

Plot:

Edina Monsoon and her best friend Patsy drive Eddie's sensible daughter, Saffron, up the wall with their...

Plot Keywords:

Best Friend | Ex Husband | Pop Culture | New York | Public Relations

Awards:

7 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Jennifer Saunders	...	Edina / ... (37 episodes, 1992-2005)
Joanna Lumley	...	Patsy / ... (37 episodes, 1992-2005)
Julia Sawalha	...	Saffron / ... (37 episodes, 1992-2005)
June Whitfield	...	Mrs. June 'Gran' 'Mother' Monsoon / ... (34 episodes, 1992-2005)
Jane Horrocks	...	Bubble / ... (30 episodes, 1992-2005)

(more)

Series Directed by
Bob Spiers		(23 episodes, 1992-2001)
Dewi Humphreys		(8 episodes, 2003)
Christine Gernon		(3 episodes, 2001)

Series Writing credits
Dawn French		(37 episodes, 1992-2005)
Jennifer Saunders		(37 episodes, 1992-2005)
Sue Perkins		(8 episodes, 2003)

Series Produced by
Jon Plowman	....	producer / executive producer (36 episodes, 1992-2004)
Jo Sargent	....	producer (10 episodes, 2002-2004)
Janice Thomas	....	assistant producer / producer (8 episodes, 1995-1996)
Jonathan Paul Llewellyn	....	producer (6 episodes, 2001)
Phil McIntyre	....	executive producer: Saunders & French productions (2 episodes, 1996)
Maureen Vincent	....	executive producer: Saunders & French productions (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Original Music by
Simon Brint		(36 episodes, 1992-2004)
Ben Lee-Delisle		(4 episodes, 2003)
Simon Wallace		(2 episodes, 1996)

Series Cinematography by
Keith Goddard		(6 episodes, 2001)
Peter Edwards		(4 episodes, 2003)
Andy Hollis		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Chris Wadsworth		(35 episodes, 1992-2003)
Barry Osment		(5 episodes, 2003)

Series Casting by
Matthew Messinger		(1 episode, 2002)

Series Production Design by
Harry Banks		(24 episodes, 1995-2004)
Bryan Ellis		(12 episodes, 1992-1994)

Series Art Direction by
Jane Shepherd		(8 episodes, 2003)
Joanna King		(7 episodes, 2001-2004)

Series Costume Design by
Sarah Burns		(20 episodes, 1992-1996)
Rebecca Hale		(16 episodes, 2001-2004)
Mo Reitherman		(6 episodes, 2001)
Philip Lester		(2 episodes, 1992)
Jane Langdale		(2 episodes, 1994-1995)
Zoe Stevenson		(2 episodes, 2003)

Series Makeup Department
Jan Sewell	....	makeup designer / hair designer (32 episodes, 1992-2003)
Kate Benton	....	makeup designer / makeup designer: Morocco (2 episodes, 1994)
Catherine Wilkins	....	makeup designer (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Production Management
Francis Gilson	....	production manager (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Gareth Carrivick	....	production manager (8 episodes, 1995-1996)
Janice Thomas	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1994)
John Adams	....	production manager (5 episodes, 1992)
John Gorringe	....	production manager (5 episodes, 1992)
John Penotti	....	production manager: New York (2 episodes, 1995)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Caroline Jeffries	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 2001)
Andy Lumsden	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 2003)

Series Art Department
Bob Warans	....	production buyer / properties buyer (36 episodes, 1992-2004)
Bernard Heyes	....	graphic designer (6 episodes, 1992)
Andy Carroll	....	graphic designer (6 episodes, 2001)
Andrew Smee	....	graphic designer (2 episodes, 1992-1994)

Series Sound Department
Laurie Taylor	....	sound / sound supervisor (20 episodes, 1994-2001)
Nick Roast	....	sound supervisor / sound (16 episodes, 1994-2003)
John Mooney	....	sound (15 episodes, 1992-2003)
Scott Talbot	....	sound (6 episodes, 1992)
John Taylor	....	sound recordist (6 episodes, 1994)
Bob Newton	....	location sound (6 episodes, 2001)
John Parry	....	sound recordist (5 episodes, 1992)
John Hooper	....	sound recordist / sound recordist: London (5 episodes, 1995)
Keith Silva	....	location sound (4 episodes, 2003)
Stuart Moser	....	sound recordist: New York / sound recordist (3 episodes, 1995)
Richard Merrick	....	sound: film (2 episodes, 1996)
Chris Shellard	....	deputy sound supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Andy McVean	....	visual effects designer (3 episodes, 1992-2002)
Steve Lucas	....	visual effects designer (2 episodes, 1994)
Steve Bland	....	visual effects (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
John Vincent	....	camera supervisor (34 episodes, 1992-2004)
Graham Rimmington	....	lighting technician / lighting director (15 episodes, 1995-2002)
Mike Manning	....	lighting technician (10 episodes, 1992-1994)
Christopher Clayton	....	lighting director (7 episodes, 2003)
John Record	....	location camera / location camera: London / ... (6 episodes, 1995-1996)
Peter Ditch	....	location camera (6 episodes, 2001)
Mike Radford	....	location camera / camera operator: film camera (5 episodes, 1992)
Colin Waldeck	....	film camera (3 episodes, 1994)
Duncan Brown	....	lighting technician (2 episodes, 1994)
John Daly	....	location camera (2 episodes, 1994)
Richard Quinlan	....	director of photography: USA (2 episodes, 1995)
Peter Evans	....	camera operator: studio camera / camera supervisor (2 episodes, 1996)
Chris Hartley	....	film camera (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Casting Department
Liz England	....	casting advisor / original casting (20 episodes, 1992-1996)
Hayley Murt	....	casting advisor (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jane Langdale	....	costume assistant (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Editorial Department
Hilary Briegel	....	vision mixer (19 episodes, 1992-1996)
Barbara Hicks	....	vision mixer (9 episodes, 2003-2004)
Kathryn Randall	....	vision mixer (7 episodes, 1992-2001)

Series Other crew
Ruby Wax	....	script editor (36 episodes, 1992-2004)
Betty Jackson	....	title designer (21 episodes, 1994-2002)
Claire Bridgland	....	production executive (15 episodes, 2001-2003)
Caroline Caley	....	stage manager (15 episodes, 2001-2003)
Jackie Byrne	....	production accountant (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Gareth Carrivick	....	assistant floor manager (12 episodes, 1992-1994)
John Latus	....	resource coordinator (11 episodes, 1992-1994)
Vivien Ackland-Snow	....	floor manager (9 episodes, 2002-2003)
Andrew Garnett	....	studio resources manager (9 episodes, 2002-2003)
Natalie Bailey	....	production team (8 episodes, 2003)
Bernadette Darnell	....	script supervisor (8 episodes, 2003)
Rebecca Kerley	....	production team (8 episodes, 2003)
Tina Brough	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1994)
Alan Bright	....	resources manager (6 episodes, 1995-1996)
Rebecca Martin	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1995)
Jemma Rodgers	....	assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1995)
Caroline Summers	....	production secretary (6 episodes, 1995)
Claudia Cuffy	....	production secretary (6 episodes, 2001)
Ellie Gleave	....	script supervisor (6 episodes, 2001)
Kevin King	....	studio resource manager (6 episodes, 2001)
Jonathan Wicks	....	location manager / location manager: UK (6 episodes, 2001)
Kirsty Barr	....	production secretary (5 episodes, 1992)
Susie Bryant	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 1992)
Mike Morgan	....	floor manager (5 episodes, 2001)
Katie Collins	....	production secretary / script supervisor (4 episodes, 1994-2002)
David Lardner	....	location manager (4 episodes, 2003)
Ashley Lovell	....	production secretary (2 episodes, 1994)
Patrick Steel	....	resource manager / resources manager (2 episodes, 1995)
Stephen Abrahams	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1996)
Wendy Gray	....	production secretary (2 episodes, 1996)
Henrietta Hope	....	assistant floor manager (2 episodes, 1996)
Jessica Powell	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1996)
Abigail Smart	....	assistant floor manager / production team (2 episodes, 2003-2004)

Series Thanks
Barry Weissler	....	thanks (1 episode, 2003)
Fran Weissler	....	thanks (1 episode, 2003)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Comedy Central (2001)
• French & Saunders Productions
• Oxygen Media (in association with) (2003)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1992-) (UK) (TV) (original airing)
• UKTV Gold (????) (UK) (TV) (repeats)
• Polyband (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (complete series)

Other Companies

• Jump  title design

Also Known As:

"Ab Fab" (Australia) (short title)

Runtime:

30 min (24 episodes) | 45 min (2 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 (season 5) | Singapore:PG | USA:TV-14 | Argentina:13 | New Zealand:M (seasons 1-4) | Greece:K-13 | Australia:M | UK:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:PG (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Holland Park, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Jane Horrocks originally auditioned for the part of Saffron, but Saunders adapted and expanded the role of Bubble for her instead.

Quotes:

Patsy: It's fabulous darling.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "De wereld draait door: (#4.25)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

This Wheel's On Fire

They're back, sweetie, and louder than ever!

In the current climate of social restriction and political correctness, there is something very liberating about watching people do all the things society tells us are bad without one iota of regret. This is made even more powerful by making the characters a pair of middle-aged, upper-crust women who "should know better."

Who says Brits are stuffy? In the outrageous world of jet-setters Edina Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders--is there anything she CAN'T do?) and Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley), moderation is but a myth, darling! These two babes are BENEATH the Valley of the Dolls--piles of pills, mountains of coke, gallons of Bolly-Stoli cocktails...and whatever else is fashionable at the present time. They slavishly follow trends, kiss the butts of celebrities, torment Eddy's straight-laced daughter Saffron (Julia Sawalha), and basically do whatever must be done to get exactly what they want, when they want it. There are no lessons, no judgments, no treacly sentimental bits to tug at one's heartstrings. Thank bloody God!

AbFab is the perfect alternative for those repulsed by the sugary sewage typically pumped through the picture tube, where everyone does "the right thing" ("Don't do that in front of me or I'll throw up!"). Sharp in all departments, with a terrific cast, hilarious (and surprisingly true) writing, and a gorgeously gaudy wardrobe for Eddy ("Lacroix, sweetie!"). And best of all, after a five-year absence, THEY ARE BACK! These lovable lushes have NOT had their Last Shout--and don't you dare think they've mellowed! Joyously self-absorbed chaos is still the name of the game, and nobody plays it better than Eddy and Patsy.

"All right, cheers, thanks a lot."