GCB (TV series)

Did You Know?

• The show won the 'TV You Betta Watch' category at Logo's 2012 NewNowNext Awards.
• A reboot was considered by The CW in November 2018 and again in October 2019 as a high-school focused series, but neither concept moved beyond the exploratory stage.

Synopsis

Amanda Vaughn, a former high-school queen bee and recently widowed mother of two, returns to Highland Park, Texas, after her husband died in a car crash with his mistress while fleeing with billions stolen from investors. She moves in with her wealthy mother Gigi Stopper and encounters former schoolmates she once mocked: Carlene Cockburn, now the clique's leader; Sharon Peacham, a former beauty queen now insecure about her weight; Cricket Caruth-Reilly, a businesswoman whose husband is gay; and Heather Cruz, a successful realtor.

Cast and characters

Leslie Bibb plays Amanda Vaughn, a newly single mother and widow from Santa Barbara who returns to Highland Park with her two teenagers after her husband Bill died in a car accident with his mistress following a Ponzi scheme. Kristin Chenoweth portrays Carlene Cockburn, the main antagonist, a former target of Amanda's bullying who underwent plastic surgery and now leads the GCB clique, refusing to accept Amanda's apology. Jennifer Aspen plays Sharon Peacham, a former beauty queen who gained weight and is pushed around by Carlene, still holding a grudge over a sabotaged pageant. Marisol Nichols plays Heather Cruz, a successful realtor who was once poor and mentored by Amanda's mother Gigi. Miriam Shor plays Cricket Caruth-Reilly, a strong-willed businesswoman who resents Amanda for stealing her boyfriend Bill and spreading a false rumor that made her an outcast. Annie Potts plays Gigi Stopper, Amanda's overbearing mother who offers advice on maneuvering among the women.

Development and production

Jennifer Aspen was the first actress cast in the pilot in February 2011. Leslie Bibb landed the role of Amanda Vaughn in March 2011, and Annie Potts joined as Amanda's mother, basing the character on her own mother at creator Robert Harling's request. Miriam Shor and Marisol Nichols were cast in March 2011, followed by Kristin Chenoweth as Carlene Cockburn and David James Elliott as Ripp Cockburn. ABC picked up the pilot in May 2011 and ordered 10 episodes as a mid-season replacement. The series debuted on March 4, 2012, replacing Pan Am, and was cancelled on May 11, 2012, after the tenth episode aired. The original title Good Christian Bitches drew objections from Christians and women's advocates, leading to the renaming to Good Christian Belles and finally the initialism GCB; some ABC affiliates in the Bible Belt had threatened not to air the show.

Music

Most music from the show was sold on iTunes weekly, including performances by Miriam Shor and Kristin Chenoweth such as 'This Little Light of Mine' and Chenoweth's 'Prayer of St. Francis'. Unreleased songs include 'Jesus Is Just Alright with Me' and 'It's a Miracle' from the episode 'Pride Comes Before a Fall', as well as Sheryl Crow's 'The Gospel According to Me' and Shor's 'Amazing Grace' from 'Forbidden Fruit'. An official album titled GCB: Music from Season One was planned for May 8, 2012, but was postponed or cancelled after the series' cancellation. The soundtrack features original country and Christian songs, with individual singles available on iTunes and Amazon, though Jeff Beal's original score is not included.