101 Best Written TV Series

Aired: BBC, 1992-2004

Jennifer Saunders was already known in the U.K. as part of the comedy double act French and Saunders when she created "Ab Fab," which featured the besotted exploits of middle-aged gal pals Edina (Saunders) and Patsy, played by Joanna Lumley. Absolutely Fabulous did earn a strong cult following in the U.S. with its satirical outrageousness, and in certain ways, it spoke to a durable double standard in comedy: Why can men commit all manner of depravity and still be considered likable but not women? The drinking, drugging, shagging, and other women-behaving-badly-like antics of Edina and Patsy now seem like one teetering step forward for, say, a character like Samantha Jones on Sex and the City, or even the wonderful misadventures of the cast of Bridesmaids.

*Non-WGA determined credit

Credited Writers

Dawn French
Sue Perkins
Jennifer Saunders