Good Christian Bitches

ABC softened the title of this new series to GCB, based on the novel Good Christian Bitches by Kim Gatlin. But any series that begins with a fatal car crash caused by the driver getting head (in relatively obvious, if not explicit, representation) immediately held my interest, and hardly seems softened regarding content.

The mid-season replacement for Pan Am, officially on hiatus, GCB is a camp delight that's sort of Steel Magnolias meets Desperate Housewives, which is not a wonder since the pilot was scripted by Robert Harling who wrote both the play and screen versions of Steel Magnolias as well as the screenplays for Soapdish (Sally Field, Whoopee Goldberg)

and The First Wives Club. Also, the show's lead-in is Desperate Housewives! It's a 2-hour campathon, so join in!

"Big hair is a sign of confidence," says Annie Potts' character, Gigi, chewing up the scenery with her own extreme hair. In fact, big hair is a big factor of this hilarious satire of religious hypocrisy set in Dallas. Annie has stiff competition, though, by Broadway diva Kristin Chenowith in the role of Carlene Cockburn, the show's main bitch.

Swiping someone else's Neiman Marcus gift card, Carlene self-righteously explains: "I did not steal! It's research!" The pilot was full of rich, memorable dialogue.
Like: "Jesus hung out with whores and thieves." To which the response (by Carlene) is: "Not in my neighborhood he didn't!" I'm certain these will be quotable dialogue for years to come among those who are into this sort of thing. (Ahem!)

And then the men. So much eye candy! First off, I have had a crush on big lug David James Elliott ever since Jag, so it's good to see him back as Ripp Cockburn (Carlene's hubby). And then there are the two gay lovers, one of whom is married to one of the show's Christian bitches. Blake Reilly assays the role. (Not sure who the hunky bf is played by.)

Amanda Vaughn, in the main role of Leslie Bibb (widow of the man who died in the death-by-blowjob opener), is appealing in her lanky Tuesday Weld-like manner.

Honestly, I loved this pilot episode when I finally got to watch it, and recommend it to anyone looking for laughs, camp value and a tweak at America's self-righteous church people. Sundays, 10 pm, ABC-tv.