Absolutely Fabulous

You believe there have not been any dramas that highly highlight various aspects of feminism on telly? Things that are about women's rights / include showing women in situations that were unfair/ awful/ women worked to change?

Come off it

I can think of a stack well known immediately. Some I have seen advertised but haven't even seen, it was that clear.

Come on now.

If I tell you some will you find reasons you don't think they're actually feminist at all?

And it wouldn't etc ever been described as that because the fact it's all women by women on things that loads of women will relate to/ find funny.

So what?

Sitcoms often have a certain situation, angle etc. And it's not usually. Stated as a thing.... The situation is stated and a bit about what happens.

A TV prog in mainstream and with slot when people watch.

With all females in lead/ frequent roles.

With a script that was written by a woman and joking about things to do with women.

Was and still is just massively rare.

It was broadcast as a comedy.

If for some reason it had been advertising/ described by the BBC as I dunno.
Groundbreaking all female comedy!
Comedy written and performed by women, women will relate to it!
Brand new feminist sitcom!

How many people would have watched it?!

Did you like abfab? It was years ago.. It's worth a rewatch!

There is no need to categorise it as anything except a comedy! And a really massively successful one.

When Jennifer Saunders wrote it I mean just a guess but she had an idea for a situation comedy and the characters, what sort of tensions etc would create a basis for the set up for the comedy. And what sort of things she would poke fun at.

The result was main characters all women. Sorry hadn't counted earlier just thought of the family! 5 I think. Loads of episodes no other people. The jokes were about things that women will generally recognise and relate to way more than men.

I'm not sure what would qualify a show as feminist, really. Maybe you could have a wholly feminist drama (though, I have doubts) but I suspect a wholly feminist comedy might not be funny. Ideologically driven humour almost always sucks.

Totally OP.

Rewatched some recently.

Everything about it is bang on, and 3 women.

And so so funny so those things went often unnoticed. She got away with nobody at the time saying wtf women everywhere watm etc etc. Amazing.

I'm looking forward to the new AbFab coming out.

Got all excited then I saw the date.

Pasty was a trans man for one year in the 60s before it ‘fell off’.

I don't think I knew that.

When Saffy gives birth in her bedroom it's Edina that ends up catching the baby, and with genuine delight says to her daughter, "It's a girl, darling, it's one of us!" and kisses her. It's a lovely mother/daughter moment despite everything else between them!

And yes, June Whitfield was incredible with the little one-liners

I once heard Julie Walters say of Victoria Wood that the great thing about her was her generosity with her material; she didn't keep all the big laughs for herself/her character but made sure the whole ensemble got to be funny. Ab Fab seems very similar. I wonder if male comedians are more likely to see themselves as the star and hog the limelight more? Generalisation maybe but it's interesting.

Pasty was a trans man for one year in the 60s before it ‘fell off’.

Do keep up, dear.

Also why wouldn’t ‘we’ endorse something that included a trans person?

I think there are feminist moments, like when Eddie thumps that awful boyfriend who attaches himself to Saffy.

They are all very different people with different values, but they still love each other. That is important.

My favourite line of the whole series was when Saffy turned to her mother and said furiously "Having a massage does not make you a better person!"

I often think this as I head off to have one myself.

Edina is dependent on her ex husbands for money I thought, and runs her business pretty much as a hobby.

I think?

I thought it was a joke about role reversal - with eddy taking the role of godawful teen with her wild best mate leading her astray - while saffy is the grown up.

I always felt terribly sorry for saffy.

"Bastard asthmatic cabdriver!"

I always thought that Saffy and Gran were portrayed in a sympathetic light, and Edina and Patsy were caricatures. Do I get the prize for over thinking things

I'm looking forward to the new AbFab coming out.

I agree, saffron and somewherewest - normally it's the teen doing the sex, drugs, rock'n'roll and irresponsible behaviour with interesting dress style - but her mum's donig that already so she has to do the opposite to be different!

I had a friend whose mum was the untidiest person - my friend was consequently the tidiest of teenagers!

Not sure it qualifies as a good feminist show though - but still one of my all time favourites!

I think it is not so much that Saffy is the voice of the establishment but that she is the only person behaving like an adult and finds herself marooned on the self righteous higher ground.

It is one of those rare beasts that has a near all-female cast that men openly and happily watch.

Saffy's a caricature, but she does remind me of a genuine issue that the children of ultra-liberal parents have. Whats left to rebel against?

yes, Saffy is the voice of the establishment - and she spends most of her time, each episode, being made to look fuddy-duddy, ridiculous, and dull.

"Inside me there is a thin woman struggling to get out!"
"Just the one, dear?"

Yes... probably not feminist... but, as you say, bloody funny.

June Whitfield is a goddess.