Discussing
Why it's not worth getting worked up about G.C.B.

I agree with you, Karen, that the show is badly written and derivative. I'll probably watch another episode if reviews make me believe it gets better (sometimes pilots are much broader than the rest of the season). I'm disappointed because I think we so rarely see genuine, complex depictions of Christians in our media. This show had the potential to be that, but not a single character rang true to my experience, least of all Kristin Chenowith's, who seems to have memorized obscure Bible verses for the purpose of making jokes and supporting her nefarious goals, but missed the parts about kindness and joy.

I figured the premise was too thin to be worth watching, so I gave it a miss. Now that I've read your thoughtful review Karen, I see just how wonderfully prescient that was!

For me, it's better to ignore shows that offend me as opposed to protesting them, because there are so many reasons a show might offend me that I'd have to come up with a unique protest statement for each one. What offends me? Bad writing. Cliches that take themselves too seriously. Miscasting. The list goes on. I ignore them and figure that since TV shows are all about ratings that eventually they'll get the message if enough other people do the same.

Tim

Karen, I think you nailed the show, but in a very charitable way -- the only thing good about it was Annie Potts who really should be the main character. She may get a spin-off series of some kind. And how you make the adorable Kristin Chenoweth look dowdy? That takes real effort! Having grown up in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, I can attest to the fact that GCB is definitely an LA version of life among wealthy Texans. The most objectionable anti-Christian moments came when public prayer was used to wage a personal attack. Yes, there is spiritual passive aggressiveness and there is nonsense -- GCB is mostly nonsense.

I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to take a more antagonistic view of this show. It represents nothing more than another full frontal assault on Christianity (or at least the caricature of what hollywood perceives as Christianity).

Why would ABC choose a title like this knowing full well it would invoke backlash? They did it because they despise Christianity and this was their way of expressing their disdain. It's that simple. Like everything else hollywood produces these days this show is thematic attempt at character assassination - using media to demean and malign groups with which they disagree - and that is almost always and exclusively Judeo/Christianity.

Will this show fizzle out? Perhaps. But I question why it is that Christians always shrug their shoulders at this sort of thing? The assaults are becoming more in-your-face on all fronts in this society. Shrugging them off only makes the next one more difficult to repel. This show should be denounced.

Actually John, I don't think they did it because they hate Christianity. They did it because they thought it would sell advertising space. If promoting Christianity sold ad space, they'd switch to that in a heartbeat.

Blessings,
Tim

John, as I stated in the post, the series was named after a book of the same title. ABC changed the title to the initials.

I disagree. Here is my take:
http://christianperformers.blogspot.com/2012/03/on-being-good-christian-bit.html?m=1

You made a great call, Tim, on not watching. I think your approach to bad shows is one more Christians should emulate.

Bethany, I share your disappoint because I saw the same potential in the show. I would love to see the kind of "genuine, complex" portrayals of Christians in the media you would.

Great call on Annie Potts!

To follow up, I watched episode 2 of this last night, and I do think it improved significantly on episode 1. I am not ready to recommend the show to others, but I thought ep. 2 ha a lot more glimpses of grace and reconciliation and a lot less snarky Bible quoting.

Thanks for chiming in Christian Arts. Care to sum up your argument for those of us here?