If you adore Karen Gillan as much as we do, you were probably thrilled to hear ABC TV’s announcement last week that the galaxy’s most tempestuous redhead will soon be getting her very own sitcom — Selfie. We caught up with Gillan on the recent press tour for her new horror film Oculus, and the former Amy Pond told us a little about what to expect from the show, inspired by George Bernard Shaw’s classic play Pygmalion (the basis for the Broadway musical and Audrey Hepburn-starring film My Fair Lady).
“Yeah, I’m really excited about that,” Gillan told us, “It’s called Selfie, and I play a girl called Eliza, who’s really obsessed with social media. She’s really narcissistic, doesn’t have any real friends. Then she embarks on a mission to rebrand herself as a more likable person in real life. She’s great. She’s really American. It’s a modern retelling of Pygmalion.” Co-starring another fan-favorite genre star, John Cho, Selfie comes from Suburgatory writer-executive producer Emily Kapnek.
The original Pygmalion told the tale of Eliza Doolittle, a poor flower girl taken under the wing of phoneticist professor Henry Higgins, in order to prove his theory that the only difference between a working-class Cockney and an upper-class society lady is the way in which she speaks. In Selfie, Cho’s character is a variation on Higgins — a marketing guru who helps Gillan connect with reality.
What do you think — does this sound like a good way to update the classic story? I for one can’t think of many actresses today so well-suited to walk in Audrey Hepburn’s footsteps as the ever-effervescent Gillan.
I’m really excited to see this, but saying it’s based on Pygmalion or my fair lady seems like a desperate marketing stretch. By someone completely unfamiliar with the story.
Sold! Karen Gillian will make Selfie! a household word. Cannot wait one more second for it to come out!!!
Is she still wearing a wig?
Well it sounds interesting…but an update of Pygmalion…I dunno, we’ll see. This sounds like the story of a woman wanting to change herself internally to become a better person. Eliza Doolittle was already a good person, she just changed her exterior so people didn’t stereotype her. I won’t knock it until I see it, but I just don’t like the term ‘based on’ when they mean ‘using the same character names’.
I don’t know. Pygmalion was an indictment on the professor, whereas this seems like it’s an indictment on the female lead. I will reserve judgment till the pilot.
I love Karen! Will watch this for sure! 😀
Too scared to watch a new show. Networks love to cancel great shows. 🙁
Exactly.
It’s just another outlet for me to see more of Karen Gillian aka Amy Pond…. mmmmmm red heads….
It’s just another outlet for me to see more of Karen Gillian aka Amy Pond…. mmmmmm red heads….
Geronimo
I freaking love it. That’s a great idea. Plus I love Karen and Cho, I hope this gets picked up
Can’t wait to see it!!!! So proud of our little Pond!
With Gillan and Cho starring, and it being an Emily Kapnek show, I’ll definitely at least check out the first few episodes.
Karen will be awesome and love John Cho! Pygmalion is a timeless story. All of the ingredients are there for comedic perfection!
I’m so darn excited for this show I can hardly stand it. Not only do I get a Doctor (David Tennant) but now I get a companion, too!?! YAY!!!!
SHUT UP AND GET IN MY DVR!!!