Absolutely Fabulous, often called Ab Fab for short, released Absolutely Everything in 2008, comprising all of the episodes and specials, as well as a wealth of bonus features. With new material only weeks away, it's time to look back at that awesome collection, and perhaps pick up a copy and watch it marathon-style, preparing for the return of two of the funniest ladies to ever grace the television.
The story by now is familiar the world over. Edwina "Eddy" Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders, French and Saunders) is a PR agent who wants desperately to keep up with the latest trends and seem young, which she does while abusing drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately (or fortunately, for viewers' sakes), her best friend, magazine editor Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley, Corpse Bride), is just as bad, not only enabling, but participating in Monsoon's crazy schemes. Edwina's daughter, Saffron (Julia Sawalha, Lark Rise to Candleford), provides balance, as the sane one of the trio, acting more the parent than child. Saffron does have a mother figure to rely on, in Edwina's own Mother (June Whitfield, Last of the Summer Wine). Rounding out the cast is Jane Horrocks (Fifi and the Flowertots) as Bubble, Eddy's idiotic personal assisstant.
Created in the early 1990s by Saunders and Dawn French, Absolutely Fabulous originally ran for three seasons. Series one finds Eddy drinking heavily and trying to lose weight without putting in any effort. Eddy also adopts a baby, holidays in France, and "celebrates" her 40th birthday. Series two finds Eddy facing being a tabloid sensation, the death of her father, and a trip to Morocco, as well as dealing with Patsy burning her kitchen and her husbands cutting off her alimony. The final series sees Saffron leave for college, and Patsy loose her magazine. Depressingly, the two friends must deal with serious change in their lives, which they aren't thrilled about, and end up turning on each other, before reuniting in New York City.
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