The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 07:40 PM PST

Popular 1990s British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous is coming to the big screen.

Get ready for your close-ups, sweetie, darlings, because Absolutely Fabulous is headed for the big screen.

The British sitcom, known affectionately as AbFab, chronicled the evenings out and mornings after of drug-abusing, booze-swilling fashion divas Patsy and Edna. It became a cult sensation in the US when Comedy Central began airing episodes in the 1990s, and the possibility that the two misbehaving swinging 1960s relics might one day inspire a feature film has been bandied about for years.

The series ran for five seasons on BBC One, but creator and star Jennifer Saunders had previously stated that she was concerned about sullying the acidic gem's legacy by breaking out the martini glasses for another go-round. She appears to have softened on that position. During an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show last weekend, Saunders said that she was finally making good on that promise, and had agreed to write a script for a film version.

"Well I have to do it now because I've threatened to a lot," Saunders said, according to a report on Yahoo!. She did say that her initial fears of failure have yet to dissipate. "It's like the second album syndrome," Saunders said.

"Once you've had a bit of success, the last thing you want to do is go and make a flop. So the biggest fear in me is that it won't be good enough. I'm really nervous about it." — Reuters

Malaysia's next top stars

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 08:00 AM PST

Two Malaysian models will have their lives changed forever when the second instalment of Asia's Next Top Model premieres on television tomorrow.

"I guess I'm not crazy after all!" said Josephine Yee, 23. Coming from an Asia's Next Top Model (ANTM) finalist and former pageant queen, you might say that's a pretty bold claim – but Yee did get tested.

Yee is one of two Malaysians, alongside freelance model Sheena Liam, 22, who made it to the top 16 of ANTM's second season, and they're just one day away from having their lives changed forever as the show premieres tomorrow in the region.

But before they were selected, they had to go through a gruelling month-long selection process where they were up against some pretty well-known names on the local modelling circuit (though the girls wouldn't say who), and thousands more from 18 other countries.

They also had to have their "heads checked", through a series of personality and psychological tests – which was why Yee is convinced she's not crazy.

"Maybe they were intentionally looking for the crazy ones!" said Liam with a laugh. "That's what my mum suggested."

On the contrary, Yee and Liam came across as perfectly grounded during their interview and photoshoot with R.AGE – a far cry from the catty personalities audiences have come to associate with the reality modelling competition, which is part of the global Top Model franchise created by supermodel Tyra Banks in 2003.

The two have been friends for years on the local modelling scene. Liam's career started when she was 15, modelling for a friend studying design in college, while Yee made her debut at 18 as one of the briefcase models on the Malaysian version of Deal Or No Deal before moving on to beauty pageants.

While we all know reality shows can be a springboard to fame (or infamy), the girls are clear on what they want – to make it in the fashion/modelling industry – and they're not gonna let these 15 minutes in the spotlight get to their heads.

"My parents are very grounded people. They tell me not to get my head in the clouds," said Liam.

"My parents still want me to get a nine-to-five job!" added Yee. Incidentally, both girls recently graduated with degrees in mass communications, and both their fathers are engineers.

The 16 finalists on the show come from 12 different countries, with Yee and Liam one of the few who had a compatriot to lean on during the entire process.

"The emotions you see on the show are definitely real," said Liam. "(During filming), we are completely cut off from the rest of the world. No cellphones, no Internet, no newspapers... We aren't even allowed to talk to the hair and makeup people. We actually got told off for that once, so it's very, very tough."

>> Watch the premiere of Asia's Next Top Model tomorrow at 9.40pm on Star World (Astro Ch 711 / HD Ch 722).

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Selasa, 7 Januari 2014