High Society

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".

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 was thrilled that Jean Smart and Mary McDonnell were going to do a sitcom probably inspired by the British comedy, Absolutely Fabulous, about two upper class spoiled New Yorkers. Faith Prince was terribly underused and under-rated. She was supposed to be huge after her triumphant performance in Guys and Dolls opposite Nathan Lane but Smart and McDonnell did what they could with a terrible script. I was hoping that the show would last longer than it did which was only a few episodes. Both actresses are accomplished veterans of the sitcom genre that they should have used their experiences to make this show better. Maybe the idea of two rich and spoiled divorced women are reminiscent of The First Wives Club. I didn't care for that much neither.

I have seen a lot of TV in my time, both good and bad, and I cannot agree with the comment that this show is hideous. My only problem is that I was too young to appreciate both AbFab and High Society when they first started airing. I have seen on this site where people scoff at the use of Valium as a way to get a laugh because the drug is too weak. Let's face it. None of the Americanized versions of British comedies were allowed to be as free with their material as their counterparts in the 1990's. American television was more restricted than other nations, especially on regular networks. People immediately labeled Jean Smart as "family TV" because of one role, so they failed to accept her as Ellie Walker. Mary McDonnell is a two-time Oscar nominee with amazing talent, so how could she possibly be funny? That's what people thought, and they were wrong. What's sad is that some of the people who put this show down are probably tremendous fans of the American adaptation of The Office. Funny how it's acceptable today to rip off a show, but ten years ago, it was a deadly sin.