As a seasoned movie buff with a keen eye for comedy and a heart full of memories from over three decades in the industry, I wholeheartedly endorse “Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out” to your watchlist. From the raw beginnings of “Bottom” to the political satire of “The Thick of It”, the groundbreaking humor of “The Office”, and the iconic fashion faux pas of “Ab Fab”, I’ve seen the power of unconventional ideas transformed into laughter-inducing masterpieces.
Add Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out to your watchlist
Performing comedy can be quite challenging and currently faces difficulties. Many broadcasters find it daunting due to its cost, the risks involved, and limited opportunities for fresh content. Unlike dramas, where all that’s needed is a compelling narrative, comedies require not only a captivating storyline but also eliciting laughter from the audience.
Throughout my extensive comedy-producing journey, from the hilarious “Bottom” to “The Thick of It,” “The Office,” and “Absolutely Fabulous,” I’ve learned that exceptional shows often spring from unexpected origins. “Bottom” was initially a stage act, while “The Thick of It” owes its distinctive look to Armando Iannucci stretching a single episode’s budget to fund three. “The Office” was essentially Stephen Merchant’s homework – a short film at the end of a BBC trainee directors’ course, which he crafted with his friend Ricky Gervais. And as we celebrate 32 years of “Ab Fab” with a reunion show on Gold this week, it’s worth remembering that it started as a sketch on French and Saunders.
To create truly hilarious content, one must place faith in the abilities of those involved. This isn’t always easy or straightforward. For instance, on the show “Absolutely Fabulous”, Jennifer Saunders often found herself waiting for a divine spark of comedy to strike. At times, it would take patience, and even up until the last minute before rehearsals started, I’d plead with her, asking if she could at least provide some guidance about which sets we’d be working with?
If you make people laugh, you can say anything you want.
As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but notice the shift in the industry landscape. Today, financial constraints have made production houses more cautious, which makes it increasingly challenging for me, as an idea generator, to cultivate my wild and innovative concepts. The fear of taking risks or making mistakes often results in the same old, familiar content being churned out or repetitive programming.
Many individuals argue that shows like “Ab Fab” wouldn’t fly in today‘s society due to its portrayal of smoking, drinking, drug use, weight-related jokes, alcoholism references, and controversial scenes such as knitting-needle abortions. However, I beg to differ. The debate over whether political correctness is stifling humor is a common one, with some comedians, particularly those who may not be the funniest, using political correctness as a scapegoat for their lack of success.
Some things are never funny – like punching down. Comedy should always punch up. But otherwise, if you make people laugh, you can say anything you want. That’s as true today as it’s always been. Look at Derry Girls, a filthy and brilliant comedy about Northern Irish girls during the Troubles that was rude about everything. Viewers loved it and everyone was talking about it.
In today’s world, generating excitement isn’t a walk in the park. What I’ve found works best is comedy – you know, the kind that sparks conversations at the water cooler the next day. When someone hasn’t seen it yet, they feel like they’re missing out on something special. It seems like comedy thrives when a good-sized audience discovers it simultaneously. But in this era of on-demand viewing and an abundance of broadcasters and streaming services, finding that synchronous discovery can be quite the challenge!
With “Absolutely Fabulous,” we hit the jackpot – it took off like a rocket from the get-go. Airing on BBC2 gave us room to blossom. During the ’90s, when public broadcasting reigned supreme, there wasn’t as much financial strain.
Compared to most dramas, humor carries a higher cost due to extensive rehearsals and shorter run times, which equates to about twice the hourly expense despite being half as long. This increased investment comes with additional risk because comedy often has a harder time crossing cultural boundaries compared to drama, which can benefit from international co-productions. Additionally, humor’s success hinges on the ability of American TV executives to comprehend the joke through a script, whereas Jennifer wrote the pilot for Ab Fab in pencil within an exercise book – a method that might not have attracted Disney’s investment.
The show “Ab Fab” revolutionized television by presenting women misbehaving in their unique way and allowing us to incorporate humor freely. Ben Elton predicted the future after watching the pilot. If we don’t safeguard budgets, encourage creativity, and ensure the broadcast of such innovative comedies, we may never witness a show as groundbreaking as “Absolutely Fabulous” again. Naturally, this might not be to everyone’s taste…
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2024-10-09 19:11