25.06.02
Ab
Fab's Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley receive top NY honour
Absolutely
Fabulous fever sweeps Manhattan this week as Jennifer Saunders and
Joanna Lumley, known and loved by U.S. TV viewers through Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ AMERICA
and Comedy Central's screenings of smash hit comedy Ab Fab, fly
to New York to receive the 2002 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender
Pride Award on Thursday, June 27. Whoopi Goldberg will present the
AB Fab stars with their accolade during New York State's official
Absolutely Fabulous Week (24 - 30 June).
New
Yorkers will don their most outrageous designer outfits and best
beehive hair dos as Saunders and Lumley come face to face with their
alter-egos when they judge an AB Fab Look-a-Like competition in
Manhattan's famous XL nightclub (recently featured in Sex and the
City TV show) on Thursday evening, June 27.
"It
is a true honour to be recipients of the 2002 Pride Award. While
Edina and Patsy are certainly not role model material, we are pleased
that Absolutely Fabulous has such loyal following in the US,"
said Saunders.
"It's
especially gratifying that, from the start, we had the enthusiastic
support and encouragement of the gay community," said Lumley.
The
stars who play the decadent designer shopaholics added in true AB
Fab style: " Even as we speak we are shopping for suitable
outfits for the event."
Lumley
is busy trying to dye her hair back to trademark AB Fab brassy blonde
for the occasion while Saunders, in her usual understated way, is
desperately hunting for a very tall top hat covered in stars and
stripes for New York's 5th Avenue Gay Pride Parade on Sunday, June
30.
"I'm
thrilled that both Jennifer and Joanna have come to New York to
receive the Pride Award," said New York State Senate Democratic
Leader Martin Connor, official host of Absolutely Fabulous Week.
"Absolutely
Fabulous has huge appeal to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
communities, but even more important than laughs, the show has depicted
these disenfranchised communities in positive and affirming ways
and that is helpful in the struggle for civil rights," he added.
Each
year, the Pride Awards recognise leaders from a variety of fields
including the arts, business and government for contributions to
the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities.
Additional
2002 honourees include Academy Award winning actress Olympia Dukakis,
Queer As Folk's Peter Paige, Cabarat's John Stamos, Six Feet Under's
Michale C. Hall, Executive Director of the Heetrick-Martin Institute
David Mensah, business leader John Blair, transgender activist Melissa
Sklarz, Dr. Christopher Bailey, journalist Ann Northrop, Executive
Director Gay Men's Health Crisis Ana Oliveria and singer/songwriter
Rufus Wainwright.
Absolutely
Fabulous made its US debut in 1994 on Comedy Central and currently
runs on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ AMERICA, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's 24-hour US digital cable channel.
It
counts legions of loyal American fans across the States, sprouting
nationwide viewing parties, look-a-like contests and websites. Absolutely
Fabulous made its UK debut in 1992 on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and has run for five
series and two specials.
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