Don't let ABC air "Good Christian Bitches"Shame on you ABC

Critics Slam ABC Pilot 'Good Christian Bitches' for 'Inappropriate,' 'Damaging' Title

By Hollie McKay

Published March 04, 2011

 FoxNews.com

An ABC pilot called %u201CGood Christian Bitches%u201D has religious and women%u2019s groups up in arms over what they describe as an extremely offensive and distasteful show title.

The dramedy, based on Kim Gatlin%u2019s novel of the same name, will be brought to life by famed %u201CSex and the City%u201D and %u201C90210%u201D executive producer Darren Star. The plot centers on the life of reformed %u201Cmean girl%u201D Amanda, played by %u201CTalladega Nights%u201D actress Leslie Bibb, who returns to her hometown of Dallas to find herself fodder for malicious gossip from the women in the Christian community. 

Still in the early stages, the pilot has not been guaranteed a spot on ABC%u2019s lineup. And though the show%u2019s title may change before it goes to broadcast, %u201CGood Christian Bitches%u201D is already causing uproar. 

Christian publisher Tessie DeVore told FOX411%u2019s Pop Tarts column that the show, which features the tagline %u201CFor Heaven%u2019s sake, don%u2019t let God get in the way of a good story!%u201D could put Christians in an unfairly bad light.

%u201CI find the title offensive. I don%u2019t think those two words should be combined,%u201D she said. %u201CA show like this can damage perceptions [of Christians in this country].%u201D

It also could be a slippery slope for future shows, said Melissa Henson, director of communications and public education for the Parents%u2019 Television Council tells Tarts. 

%u201CIn the past, we%u2019ve raised concerns about changing language standards for television," Henson said. "Once a particular profanity or obscenity has been embraced by a particular show, it quickly becomes mainstream.%u201D

Critics Slam ABC Pilot 'Good Christian Bitches' for 'Inappropriate,' 'Damaging' Title Conclusion7 hrs ago | News ....

And Yana Walton from the Women%u2019s Media Center said Christians aren't the only ones who should be upset.

%u201CIt is not an appropriate term to use to describe any woman, regardless of their faith,%u201D Walton said. %u201CEntertainment media, especially music and films, have been normalizing misogynistic language for years.%u201D 

But despite the seemingly outrageous title, Dan Gainor, head of the Culture and Media Institute, is not surprised that the pilot has gone this far already.

%u201CABC is doubling down on the offensive by also approving %u2018Don%u2019t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23,%u2019 following up on the CBS show %u2018$#*! My Dad Says.%u2019 And this continued decline is unsurprising,%u201D he said.

%u201CThe media keeps trying to redefine words and morality to mean what they say, not what they really do mean," Gainor added. "One wonders which network will be the first to drop the F-bomb in a TV title and whether the FCC will even intervene.%u201D

Even if the title holds up, some are looking forward to the show.

%u201CABC%u2019s core viewership is Christian, so the goal of the show won%u2019t be to attack Christianity. Just like the book, this is a show by Christians, for (mostly) Christians, to enjoy a little prime-time self-deprecation,%u201D Los Angeles-based entertainment expert, Jenn Hoffman said.

A representative for ABC declined to comment on the story.