The show GCB, shortened from a book title by Kim Gatlin, on ABC shows a California woman, Amanda, returning home to Dallas with two teenage children after her life was ripped apart by a white-collar criminal husband who died an unusual death. She is facing old friends, flames and meeting new people who have come into the high society she used to be part of. She is being shocked by over 15 years of personal revelations, including uncovering some secrets of society. The spin on this show is it focuses on the religion of the cast. They are Christian. It has a comedic, over the top portrayal of a cliquish, Southern Church. Ladies are gossiping in the pews and obtusely offering slights through prayers and well wishes. These ‘Good Christian’ women are portrayed as trying to justify actions through their religion or protect their salty sides from their church-going friends and acquaintances.
The portrayal is obviously a caricature rather than grounded in reality. Everything that makes up the program is over the top. The hair, the makeup, the dialogue, the clothes all fit the bill perfectly. There are hints of what people can relate to blown way out of proportion. The personality types exist in reality, just are more subtle. The wallflower in high school that is now successful and transformed, the gossip that has used that trait to create a high powered career and the beautiful girl from high school whose looks are not as shining anymore. Those personalities are in churches, coffee shops and hair salons everyday and everywhere. Would it have been better for them to use a coffee shop or hair salon rather than showing weekly devotion at church? I do not think the show would have the same impact. This gives a new spin on an old concept of the relationship between women.
GCB is not a serious show. It is a funny television show where the viewer can just tune out everyday life and enjoy for an hour. The show is similar to the over the top portrayal of gossiping, hot doctors on Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, glamorizing the medical examiner’s office in Body of Proof or the new twist on fairy tales shown on Once Upon a Time. No one seems to be in an uproar about those television shows. Those that do not like a show can simply turn the dial. For those of us that are amused, let us watch in peace. The will of the people will prevail through ratings eventually. No apologies are needed. No advertiser changes. It’s just good, mostly-clean fun. I appreciate the laughs and hope ABC keeps them coming!
