Lush Afterlife

Image credit: Lumley: BBC Brian Ritchie

There was far less controversy, however, about making ''Ab Fab'' more America-friendly. In fact, since Comedy Central ponied up beaucoup pounds to finance the latest series, producers were more than willing to drop in some red-white-and-blue jokes. ''We did a line about Candy Spelling's gift-wrapping room -- it didn't get much from the audience here but it can be our gift to America,'' jokes Plowman. ''I hope we've done a bit of 'hands across the ocean.'''

Despite the transatlantic nod, ''Ab Fab'' hasn't always played well in Hollywood. Yes, the show has plenty of celeb followers (Cher even showed up at one of the live tapings), but attempts to replicate ''Ab Fab'' humor on these shores have fallen flatter than day-old bubbly. Roseanne optioned the rights back in 1995, but the project was eventually dropped. CBS' Jean Smart sitcom about the sordid lives of a New York writer and publisher, ''High Society,'' debuted that same year but, as Plowman says, ''It was a bit too much like ''Ab Fab,'' except Saffy was a son rather than a daughter. We talked to lawyers.'' (Not that Plowman had much to worry about; ''High Society'' lasted only four months.) And although a movie has been discussed, Saunders and Plowman have nixed all offers. ''We've always come back to the thought that it works in half-hour bits on the small screen better than it would on the big screen,'' says Plowman. Plus, he notes, Saunders isn't the best at delivering scripts on time: ''With this series, she didn't want to tie it down until the last possible second. Sometimes that was actually in the studio just before taping. You can't do that with a movie.'' A cinematic French riff on the substance sisters, however, debuted at the Toronto Film Festival this year -- it's titled ''Absolument Fabuleux'' and features a cameo by Saunders.

Assuming small-screen audiences are intoxicated by Edina and Patsy again, a fifth ''Ab Fab'' season could be on the way. Plowman says he and Saunders are already discussing ideas. ''We've talked about showing Patsy at home. Or doing a flashback of Saffy growing up as a teenager. Or they could all go to the Ice Hotel and find out it was the wrong time of year and it just melted. Or they could end up on some Greek island after they've gotten into some primitive situation they can't cope with.''

Back in the makeup room, Saunders perks up at the mention of another season. ''I would quite like to do another series, but next time I'll be more organized,'' she says. ''I was in a bit of a panic with these since I had no idea what they should be about. I don't think I slept for 10 weeks.'' Before Lumley leaves, Saunders asks, ''What do you think? Got time to do it again?'' Lumley deadpans: ''I never know what I'm going to do. I may never work again.'' As if scripted, Saunders retorts, ''Right. As far as I know, the rest of my life is a vacation. Margarita?''