GCB – Gone, Canceled, Buh-Bye

By: American Decency Staff

Ten weeks ago ABC/Disney premiered the much hyped “GCBâ€Â – otherwise known as “Good Christian B—ches.â€ÂÂ  Each of the 10 episodes made mockery of the Bible, of Christ, and of believers.  ABC pulled out all the stops to ensure GCB’s success – giving the show a prime spot in the lineup following two shows with a large viewership, airing tons of provocative promotions, using a fawning, lap dog industry of entertainment writers and commentators who praised the show as the best thing since sliced bread.  ABC heralded the show as the next “Desperate Housewivesâ€Â and had high expectations that “GCBâ€Â would draw huge ratings. Well, something happened that foiled their plans.  YOU happened!  Over the weekend it was announced that “GCBâ€Â was cancelled!  There will not be a second season for this show that broke new ground in its ridicule of Christianity. The network executives, who obviously don’t know a thing about true Christianity, also don’t seem to understand the millions of American Christians who don’t find the mocking of their faith a laughing matter.  As thousands of you responded to our take action links to advertisers, numbers of sponsors pulled their ads, demonstrating to ABC that it would be difficult to sell the show to “Aâ€Â list advertisers.   In addition, the overall ratings were mediocre at best.  The high viewership of the preceding shows didn’t carry over to “GCB.â€Â While Christian bashing may be a favorite sport in Hollywood, ABC has found that we Christians who are “clingingâ€Â to our religion – or rather, clinging to the Cross – would not tune in to a show that ridicules our faith.  So, lousy advertiser support and lousy ratings equals no “GCB!â€Â The Los Angeles Times wrote:  “Once touted as the successor to "Desperate Housewives," ABC's hour-long comedy "GCB," about out-of-control Dallas divas, didn't make the cut for the fall schedule. While its ratings weren't the greatest, shows that have smaller audiences are returning. So why aren't the girls of "GCB" coming back? Ask Madison Avenue. Originally called "Good Christian Bitches" and then "Good Christian Belles," the show's name didn't charm advertisers, who weren't fooled by the acronym. The show proved to be a hot potato for ABC's sales department even without a B or C word in the title …â€Â Another secular commentator stated:   “The controversy surrounding the ABC series GCB, which first had to do with objections to its original title, Good Christian B…hes, followed by accusations that it was poking fun at Christians, have finally caught up with it, as ABC has reportedly decided not to renew GCB…â€Â ADA was one of the few ministries engaged in monitoring this direct assault upon Christ and Christians that has ever been shown on network television.  Each week we analyzed the program and provided a mechanism to contact the list of sponsors keeping this show on the air. What would have happened if we together had not spoken out against this show whose underlying theme was the contempt of Christianity?  If we hadn’t expressed outrage, would advertisers have shied away?  I doubt it.  If the advertising support had been strong, the show would most likely have been renewed even if the ratings were poor.  As the LA Times commented above, shows with lower ratings were renewed.  However, as we put pressure on the sponsors, we kept the show from gaining a foothold and becoming established and perhaps growing in viewership over time. Though there will be no great accolades or press acknowledgements of the part that we played, our united, diligent efforts  significantly contributed to the departure of this degrading television show. How I wish that we could ensure you that everything we do would result in success; that all programs that we target for monitoring due to their perversity would be dropped; that the advertisers that we address would change in their inclination as to what they sponsor. However, hard fought victories are still seen. And what would happen and/or what will happen if our influence (and of other like-minded ministries) is dispelled, quenched – no longer supported? Your voice matters!  Taking a moment to click on the “take actionâ€Â links we provide does make a difference!  We may not always see large victories such as this, but by speaking up we are being salt and light to a watching world. In our May newsletter, I raised the question in “Does what we do matter?â€ÂÂ  One comment in reply was made by a former fourth grade student of mine.  Michelle sent a picture of her beautiful young children and answered by question with the words:  “Just look at your grandchildren and you will know the answer.â€Â May God shrink our support and dissolve our existence if we ever grow timid and become part of the politically correct crowd.   May it also be that God will enlarge our support as we stay faithful to Him in standing fast against that which opposes His Holy Name and His righteous standards bestowed upon us for His glory and our blessing.  We need your stand with us! Your support is vital to our ongoing efforts – not only by contacting corporations, but by empowering us to stay in the battle with your financial support.  We are dependent upon the sacrificial giving of you, our friends, to continue in ministry. Please click here to show your support and help keep us in the battle! Thank you for standing with us!  This victory is in large part to you who took a moment each week to express concern to sponsors, who forwarded our emails to friends and family, and who spoke out against such Christian bigotry. Please continue to stand together with us with your financial support and as we give you opportunity to “take actionâ€Â against the darkness of our age. ========================================================== To support our efforts please click here or mail your gift to American Decency Association (ADA), PO Box 202, Fremont, MI 49412. American Decency Association is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

---