‘GCB’ PILOT REVIEW: 1, 01 (2012)

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Last night, I did something unusual. I actually watched the pilot of a new show… on television. (This isn’t a series that has promise of using discretion.) Touted as a copycat of Desperate Housewives (ummm… yeah, like I said, not promising) as well as having the creator of HBO’s former (crass) Sex and the City sitting in an executive producer chair, this is one show that does not have a lot of things going for it. 

GCB Pilot Review

After her husband’s ponzi-like scheme goes south and Bill dies in a car wreck (with his mistress in tow, no less), Amanda Vaughn (Leslie Bibb) has no life. Leaving her hometown after high school with her then high-school sweetheart, Amanda has very few options left. Seeing her only option as moving back to the affluent Dallas-area, Amanda packs up her two teenage kids, moves back in with her mother (Annie Potts) whom she hasn’t spoken to in years. Before they’ve been back even a week, Amanda starts receiving gifts from an anonymous admirer and her mother tries to negatively impact her kids.

Needless to say, Amanda needs to find a job – fast! Living in her mother’s house means that certain rules must be followed one of which is going to church, something Amanda is not in a frame of mind to easily accept.

It’s at those Sunday services where Amanda again sees her high school peers. This includes the resident “mean girl” from high school. There is Sharon (Jennifer Aspen) who is now a binge eater and is a wreck over her husband still crushing on Amanda. Then there’s Cricket (Miriam Shor), the woman Amanda stole Bill from. Carlene (Kristin Chenoweth) wasn’t an attractive young girl but she has since had “work” done and is married to a highly successful oil man (David James Elliott). Finally there is the still-single Heather (Marisol Nichols). A real estate agent, Heather is the only one who was “friends” with Amanda in high school. Little does Amanda know that just facing these women again is the least of her problems.

I won’t lie – I laugh a lot during these sixty minutes. It seems like the show has some good writing despite being made up of mainly novice writer’s. Having said that, I don’t think the laughs will be enough to sustain this series where critics (whose reviews seem mixed at best) and ratings (7.6 million, the second in the timeslot) are concerned. It’s very important to make those of us who are Christians aware that this series does not honor God’s Word. It pokes fun at it and is full of characters who laughingly quote scripture but live the complete opposite of what they “preach.” Fortunately, its main protagonist, Amanda claims no religion and in fact says that she has raised her kids to be “free,” to believe in whatever they are most passionate about.

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For the most part, the “pilot” episode is relatively tame. There aren’t a lot of back-stabbing antics. I’m really excited to see two of its cast members in something again; Kristin Chenoweth is adorable and having watched the entire 10-season run of JAG, I’m curious David is in something drastically different. So far, he seems “comfortable” in this role. I laughed so hard at casting directors pairing him and the short-statured Chenoweth together.

Some of you probably did see the endless promo spots for this. If not then you may have read about the controversy of its name. The novel uses profanity in the title which, I’m sad to say seems more appropriate than not. The studio cut that and changes it to Good Christian Belles in the hopes of impressing a wider audience, before finally cutting it to simple initials GCB. The show has a kind of You Again vibe (mean girls vs Amada). But the thing is, this really comes down to the blatant disregard of Christianity. I don’t see Christianity as something to mock but I also recognize that GCB is not going to change anyone’s beliefs. Sure, it’s “funny,” and I may even watch the first season but sadly the premise and material is always PC. My expectation of this is that it won’t get better… only worse.

Content: there’s a barrage of sexual innuendos including references to sexual acts and one brief scene where a husband asks his wife if she wants to “do it” on the desk [we see them on top the desk before the scene cuts away]. A teen girl is dressed suggestively by her grandma [something which her mother disapproves of]; elsewhere there are countless immodest clothes and a woman takes a job at a Hooter-like restaurant. Women are concerned that Amanda will steal their husbands [she is not interested in relationships]. We learn that one character is homosexual. Sh*t and da*n is basically the extent of profanity. The show is TV-PG/14, episode depending.

Photos: ABC

About Rissi JC

amateur graphic designer. confirmed bookaholic. bubbl’r enthusiast. critical thinker. miswesterner. social media coordinator. writer.

13 comments

  1. I saw an ad for this show on TV last night. It looked like something I'd avoid, but I was still curious what it was about. Thanks for reviewing it! :)

  2. Believe it or not, I did find this a fun way to spend part of the evening, Lauren. I mean, was it flawless? Ummm, no! But the concept is no different than You Again or Mean Girls 2, only this time around, it has a more adult spin ti it.

    The biggest turn-off will be the blatant disregard of Christianity. Someone like me isn't going to be "offended" by it in terms of it being a detriment to my faith but there are some viewers who may see this that will only feel more "justified" in their belief that all Christians are hypocrites.

  3. The previews made a huge deal of trashing Christian women, so I chose to avoid it. I'll put up with a lot, but not that. Hopefully, it'll have lousy ratings an get canceled.

  4. Charity – that is an accurate conclusion… but, it is very obvious to a viewer like me (who is watching it from a moral, Christian standpoint) that these characters ARE NOT Christians.

    The ratings weren't great, so I am doubtful it will be renewed after its ten episodes but then some critics actually predict it will be around for a while so we'll see…

    Juju – awww, thanks! I appreciate that. I went back and forth as to whether or not I should review this one. Glad you found it helpful.

    Despite it's disregard of Christianity and what it stands for, GCB is a fun hour. That being said, I haven't a clue what ensuing episodes will be like: They could be "cute" or be trashy – only time will tell. =D

  5. (Sorry to repost. For some reason, Blogger keeps eating words!)

    You and I would know that they are not born-again believers, but the rest of the world would not. This show is intentionally depicting Christians in a negative manner. Maybe that IS how the rest of the world sees us, but I don't think we should "tolerate" it. I'm sure if it were any other faith, they would not have aired it. Haven't seen any "all Muslims are terrorists" programs recently. =P

  6. I completely agree with you, Charity. As a matter of fact, I had that thought when writing this review yesterday morning and never did expand on it in the review. There are people who do feel that Christianity is "bad" and that all Christians are hypocrites but those kind of people believed that whether this show was on or not.

    "Haven't seen any 'all Muslims are terrorists' programs recently. =P"

    Goodness, no! You'll never see THAT on network television. ;D

    Oh, dear!? Is Blogger giving you trouble again!? The very nerve! =D

  7. Blogger hates me. It keeps taking the first letter off of words. Or the last one. Either way, it is messing with me today.

    I cannot POSSIBLY be that bad a typist… or maybe I am. =D

  8. Do you really think so!? LOL! =D I know it has given you such trouble at different times…

    Sometimes my keyboard doesn't work properly – I "know" that I hit the letter key and still it won't type. Ah, the joys of technology.

  9. *YAY! Jen is back!* =)

    Thanks, Jen. If you can look past the whole "poking fun at Christianity," then, this is WAY fun. I did enjoy it minus its "content."

  10. lol It's good to be back. My power cord to my computer was not working for over a week.

    I watched an episode last night and I thought it was pretty funny. Sometimes you just need to laugh at yourself. I do not like the name Good Christian B***** though. They should have started with another name.

  11. Don't you just hate it when technology messes us up like that!? And, it is supposed to be SO great. Whatever!

    That is basically how I took this show. Sure, I didn't like the mocking (or the title as you say) but it was entertaining. Right or wrong, it tickled my funny bone – the show definitely had its moments.

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