High Society

I found this comedy magnetic and extremely funny. The chemistry between the two women flowed like an electrical charge that energized the humor and the humor and dialog were dead-center sync to the plot lines. It was a well-rounded and seamless and, like most 1st-season shows, a little vulnerable, but without the usual bumbling and apologies that go with a new show. It was great theater and funny enough to re-knot my belly button a few times per episode.

The constant comparison to "Ab Fab" seems to state more about the utter lack of imagination on the part of the reviewers than an actual likeness. "Ab Fab" was scored along the lines of "Benny Hill" and "High Society" was scored closer to some of the modern-day TV comedies like "Scrubbs" or "Desperate Housewives".

I was thrilled that Jean Smart and Mary McDonnell were going to do a sitcom probably inspired by the British comedy, Absolutely Fabulous, about two upper class spoiled New Yorkers. Faith Prince was terribly underused and under-rated. She was supposed to be huge after her triumphant performance in Guys and Dolls opposite Nathan Lane but Smart and McDonnell did what they could with a terrible script. I was hoping that the show would last longer than it did which was only a few episodes. Both actresses are accomplished veterans of the sitcom genre that they should have used their experiences to make this show better. Maybe the idea of two rich and spoiled divorced women are reminiscent of The First Wives Club. I didn't care for that much neither.

I'm a huge Mary McDonnell fan and absolutely love the comedic timing and chemistry she has with Jean Smart. I wish there was at least another two more seasons of the show. I just love the outlandish and craziness of the characters. I don't necessarily think that the supporting cast was weak. I felt like they sit in nicely with the two main characters.

I went out of my way to find the existing 13 episodes on YouTube and have watched them probably three or four times at this point. I wish I had discovered the show when it was on TV in the 90s, but it reminds me of Absolutely Fabulous crossed with Designing Women.

I never was a big fan of Absolutely Fabulous....so maybe that's why I liked this one so much! Although when they got rid of the Val character, it was a death blow to the show - I still have one of the episodes on tape because I enjoyed it so much. This was the episode where Stephano quit and Val took over the office. I've watched this with numerous friends numerous times and no one has hated it (as the person before me claimed). I'm unsure if this is because he may have only seen one episode. Anyhow, I had a feeling this would not make it because it was over the top and not a great fit for Murphy Brown (more like something that would go well with Will & Grace). Perhaps when the Gay network is up and running, they will put this on again.

I have seen a lot of TV in my time, both good and bad, and I cannot agree with the comment that this show is hideous. My only problem is that I was too young to appreciate both AbFab and High Society when they first started airing. I have seen on this site where people scoff at the use of Valium as a way to get a laugh because the drug is too weak. Let's face it. None of the Americanized versions of British comedies were allowed to be as free with their material as their counterparts in the 1990's. American television was more restricted than other nations, especially on regular networks. People immediately labeled Jean Smart as "family TV" because of one role, so they failed to accept her as Ellie Walker. Mary McDonnell is a two-time Oscar nominee with amazing talent, so how could she possibly be funny? That's what people thought, and they were wrong. What's sad is that some of the people who put this show down are probably tremendous fans of the American adaptation of The Office. Funny how it's acceptable today to rip off a show, but ten years ago, it was a deadly sin.