High Society

AbFab was successful in England. In fact, it was successful in America! Americans LOVE AbFab. So of course it made sense to try try try to make an American AbFab. AmFab, perhaps? But it just couldn't work. It could never work. Americans like to see themselves in a certain light. Sure, we drink. But the people we want to WATCH drinking are either funny southern/mountain folk, or angry violent urban youth... not middle-aged wealthy moms. Middle-aged wealthy moms have a pretty wide berth here, of course, but it just doesn't go that far. High Society may have offered less of everything we didn't want, but how could you really have anything resembling AbFab if you couldn't construct a situation where, say, Patsy wakes up in a garbage barge, and it's COMPLETELY RIGHT!?!

Did any other reviewer watch these shows and the Original ABFAB episodes??? I totally understand american's not having seen the abfab episodes when they orignally aired(as getting british tv in the 90's was limited to certain markets, actually still is, bbc/sky, ect don't license to broadcast there shows until a year later or so, meh). It's easy to see waht they copied and stole to create this series. Rosanne actually bought the rights to make a US version. Should have sued this show. if you take a reviewer now and show them abfab then show them this series they can easyly tell what's been stolen. bah......

This show was the first of the 3 big network's attempts to translate the British phenomenon "Absolutely Fabulous" for American tastes (read: less vulgarity, less foul language, NO overt drug-taking, less drinking, etc.) that actually reached the screen ("Cybill" is often reported as being an "AbFab" spin, but the two have very little in common to acknowledge its British cousin as an influence); its quick failure ensured that it would also be the last. Mary McDonell & Jean Smart made for a great comedy duo and shared a good deal of chemistry, but they were surrounded by a lackluster supporting cast and amusing but often messy writing that too quickly relied upon a one-liner than dialogue that could flesh out a character, no matter how funny that one-liner may have been. Yet another interesting attempt to adapt a British program to American tastes.

I found this comedy magnetic and extremely funny. The chemistry between the two women flowed like an electrical charge that energized the humor and the humor and dialog were dead-center sync to the plot lines. It was a well-rounded and seamless and, like most 1st-season shows, a little vulnerable, but without the usual bumbling and apologies that go with a new show. It was great theater and funny enough to re-knot my belly button a few times per episode.

The constant comparison to "Ab Fab" seems to state more about the utter lack of imagination on the part of the reviewers than an actual likeness. "Ab Fab" was scored along the lines of "Benny Hill" and "High Society" was scored closer to some of the modern-day TV comedies like "Scrubbs" or "Desperate Housewives".

I'm a huge Mary McDonnell fan and absolutely love the comedic timing and chemistry she has with Jean Smart. I wish there was at least another two more seasons of the show. I just love the outlandish and craziness of the characters. I don't necessarily think that the supporting cast was weak. I felt like they sit in nicely with the two main characters.

I went out of my way to find the existing 13 episodes on YouTube and have watched them probably three or four times at this point. I wish I had discovered the show when it was on TV in the 90s, but it reminds me of Absolutely Fabulous crossed with Designing Women.