June 30, 2005
ABC yanks controversial reality show before it airs
Welcome To The Neighborhood, a 6-part series set to start July 10, was being touted on ABC as the "next big reality show."
That's not going to happen now. ABC abruptly decided not to air the show, and has pulled all references to it from their web site.
The premise, as with most reality shows, was basic. Seven diverse families with equally diverse backgrounds, vie for a 3300 square-foot house in suburban Austin, TX.
The catch? The neighbors get to pick which family will actually get the house. The three families are all white, conservative Christian families.
Since the candidates were all ethnic minorities, gays, or tattoo fanatics, while the residents were conservative and Christian, the show's political agenda was clear: make the right look like bigots.According to material now removed from the ABC web site, one of the conservative families included "a staunch Republican and would challenge any potential neighbors with politically different views."
So, the bottom line, was that ABC was looking to go after conservatives and skewer them with this show.
According to a Washington Post piece yesterday, conservative groups as well as gay rights groups expressed reservations over the airing of the program. This is despite claims by the producers that the show "was intended to promote a healthy and open debate about prejudice and people's fear of differences."
No word today as to what ultimately led to ABC's decision to pull the series.
Posted by mhking at June 30, 2005 09:33 AMWhen the opportunity to explore culture bias and the emotionality behind it, the diversity crowd will always protest. They only want race or culture used when it can be twisted for their political benefit.
Their goal is not to understand differences, but to 'celebrate them'.
Posted by: Baynative at June 30, 2005 09:49 AMWho would have advertised on it?
Posted by: Laurence Simon at June 30, 2005 10:47 AMWho would have advertised on it?
The Committee to Re-elect Senator Byrd.
Posted by: McGehee at June 30, 2005 01:58 PMThe only reason that this show was pulled was because it either tested poorly with sample audiences or their advertisers were getting skittish or both.
It's only about the money. If a test pattern would score higher Nielsen ratings than an actual tv show, they'll pick the test pattern every time, since advertisers would be willing to pay more to run an ad every twelve minutes or so.
Posted by: hollabackdave at June 30, 2005 09:17 PM