Fantasy Casting: Who should star in the umpteenth US "Absolutely Fabulous" remake?

As you might have noticed, adapting other countries' hit shows is the big trend these days, what with the Kath and Kims the Worst Weeks and the modern-day cops getting ready to relive the bicentennial and what-not. Sure, that road may include failures like Coupling, Teachers and Viva Laughlin, but those failures feel almost worth it when the same road leads to gems like Ugly Betty and The Office.

And now, American producers are turning their eye once more to one of the most popular British comedy series in the States: gay-fave Absolutely Fabulous.

Over a decade ago, Roseanne tried adapting AbFab for ABC and two CBS sitcoms from the era (the short-lived High Society, with Jean Smart and Mary McDonnell as well as the longer-lived Cybill with Cybill Shepherd and Christine Baranski) were thinly-veiled retreads I guess the fact that they're trying again says something about AbFab's longevity; the only other Britcom I can think of to get multiple remake attempts by American producers is Fawlty Towers (which gave us Bea Arthur and later John Laroquette as American versions of Basil Fawlty).

No matter how successful or horrific these adaptions turn out, the fun part always comes in the casting. That's the point when the series is still nothing but possibilities and every bit of news (promising or not) sparks the imagination as we try to picture certain performers in familiar roles.

Hence, it's time for another round of AfterElton Fantasy Casting!

Edina Monsoon 

After watching her play self-involved, rude, judgmental and personally unaware for years as a Daily Show correspondent, Samantha Bee jumps easily into the role of Edina Monsoon for me. She's already got Eddie's smug, annoyed glare down pat. Meanwhile, Megan Mullalley might have been more Pasty-like as Karen Walker, but I could see her putting those Karen traits into the role of Eddie and giving us a performance that's comfortably familiar but still doesn't feel like a rehash of her past role.

I could also see Reno 911!'s Wendy McLendon-Covey in the role, as her Reno police officer isn't too far from Eddy. Kathy Najimy, admittedly, is a wild card pick since she mostly plays considerate people who you wouldn't mind knowing in real life, but I think she's got the right energy level and I'd like to see her in a role that plays to the cynical sense of humor I haven't notice since days when she used to work with AbFab alum Mo Gaffney.

Patricia "Patsy" Stone

While Patsy is a character that demands more than a big personality and an ability to drop a good one-liner, it's a role that many performers that gays love could take on. Considering how much of her comedy is about alcohol and drugs, I'd love to see Margaret Cho take Patsy on. I can't forget, though, Minnie Driver's hilarious guest appearances on Will & Grace (or on AbFab, now that I think of it) and wouldn't it be fun to see her and Mullally sparring again?

I've also been thinking a bit about MadTV longtime cast member Debra Wilson and I think some of her trashier MadTV characters could inform her version of Pats nicely. However, I also like the more low-key energy Diana Scarwid displayed on Wonderfalls, I don't know if Scarwid has the physical comedy chops to fall out of a limo the way Pasty does, but the Mommie Dearest and Psycho III alum certainly can manage Patsy's presence.

Some equally fabulous supporting characters, after the break!

Saffron "Saffy" Monsoon 

Saffy should be a tough role to cast, as Eddie's responsible daughter requires a performer who can portray a variety of emotions subtly and calls for a young actor. Thankfully, due to some of the great TV series out there, such performers aren't hard to find.

My first thought for Saffy was Dead Like Me's Ellen Muth who certainly has Saffy's "I'm tired of dealing with your stupid drama" look down, except with DLM being five years ago, Muth's TV sister, Britt McKillip might be a more apt choice. As Reggie, McKillip played a very cerebral woman successfully. I also like the idea of Daveigh Chase as Saffy. On the short-lived Oliver Beene, she was a frustrated smart girl surrounded by crazy people. Besides, it's about time Chase stopped scaring me with her child bride roles, her bad-hair-day ghost roles and her weird-Hawaiian-girl-with-weirder-pet roles.

Dealing with fools was something Tina Majorino did all the time as Mac on Veronica Mars and it's too easy to imagine Mac's annoyance with the rest of the world translate to Saffy. I could also see Arrested Development alum Mae Whitman. At the least, that disapproving stare Whitman often delivered as George-Michael Bluth's girlfriend Ann could certainly belong to Saffy.

Bubble

Bubble may be weird and and airhead but she definitely requires someone who can play more than your average sitcom oddball if audiences can be discouraged from making direct comparisons to Jane Horrocks. Daily Show correspondent Kristen Schaal certainly strikes me as someone who could play Bubble's dizziness while being more than the generic sitcom ditz. Meanwhile, Hannah Murray has been the standout performer on Skins for me, even when it looked like the Skins writers were just making her a standard funny oddball, she displayed a whole variety of possibilities. Besides, I think the breathy delivery she uses as Cassie could redefine her version of Bubble the way Horrocks' accent defines the character now.

Another Arrested Development alum, Judy Greer, comes to mind as someone who can do spacey with a little bit extra. I've discussed how I'm a big fan of Gina Bellman and while it may be a bit repetitive, considering how incredibly memorable her roles on Coupling and Jeckyll, she could really make the role of Bubble work for her.

Gran

Gran, meanwhile, requires a subtle and touch as someone who is sometimes quietly snarky but also is a bit detached from reality. If you mix in a little bit of sweetness that kinda reminds me of Catherine O'Hara's A Mighty Wind role. While it'd be a different take on Gran, I could also see Lily Tomlin in the role (even if there's something about Tomlin that makes me cringe when I think her on the receiving end of Eddie's insults).

Dipping from the Arrested Development well once more, I have an easy time imagining the ditzyness Liza Minelli played as Lucille Austero playing to gran. To pick a wild card, I somehow got the idea of Corner Gas' (hello Canadian readers!) Janet Wright as the gran. Wright's Corner Gas role is usually grumpy and snapish but when she plays nice there's a disturbing undercurrent that would play well with Gran.

I know this kind of news usually inspires cynicism and "why mess with a good thing" thoughts, but at the least the casting game is a fun diversion. Who can you see in some of these unforgettable roles?