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Updated: 09:53 AM EDT
ABC Pulls 'Neighborhood' Series After Protests
By Cynthia Littleton, Reuters
LOS ANGELES (June 30) - Under pressure from a broad coalition of advocacy groups ranging from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to the conservative Family Research Council, ABC has decided to shelve its six-episode reality series "Welcome to the Neighborhood," which had been scheduled to debut July 10.
"Neighborhood" was designed as a provocative look at attitudes in America's heartland by having white residents of a suburban cul-de-sac near Austin choose their new neighbors from a group of seven families from disparate backgrounds. The contestant families range from a gay couple with an adopted son to large families of Asian, black and Hispanic descent to a white pagan family that "worships several gods," according to promotional materials for the show.
The contestants were vying to win a 3,300-square-foot, four-bedroom home on the cul-de-sac.
In a statement issued late Wednesday, ABC said it opted to yank the show out of concern that the first few episodes would leave viewers with the skewed impression that the three cul-de-sac families selected to choose their new neighbors were utterly intolerant of outsiders.
"Our intention with 'Welcome to the Neighborhood' was to show the transformative process that takes place when people are forced to confront preconceived notions of what makes a good neighbor, and we believe the series delivers exactly that," the statement said. "However, the fact that true change only happens over time made the episodic nature of this series challenging, and given the sensitivity of the subject matter in early episodes, we have decided not to air the series at this time."
GLAAD was among the first organizations to raise concerns last month about the show and its depiction of the gay couple, identified by GLAAD as Steven and John Wright, and their adopted son, who is black. One of the families selected to choose the neighbors was described by the show as "devoted Christians" who sought "new neighbors with a similar focus and direction in their lives." The Family Research Council objected to the portrayal of the Christian family.
In a statement Wednesday, GLAAD entertainment media director Damon Romine said the gay and lesbian advocacy group had "mixed feelings" about ABC's decision to table "Neighborhood."
"The producers' stated intentions for the show are admirable. But an effort to promote tolerance that requires the rejection of five families in order to transform the attitudes of the homeowners seems unnecessarily cruel and insensitive, given the circumstances families like these encounter in real life," Romine said. "We hope ABC finds another approach to advance the cause of understanding that doesn't send mixed messages by using exclusion to make a point about inclusion."
"Neighborhood" was produced by MGM's now-defunct TV division, New Screen Concepts and executive producers Tony Marsh and Jay Blumenfield. A rep for New Screen Concepts declined comment while reps for Marsh and Blumenfield did not return calls.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
06/30/05 02:50 ET
ABC Pulls 'Neighborhood' Series After Protests
By Cynthia Littleton, Reuters
LOS ANGELES (June 30) - Under pressure from a broad coalition of advocacy groups ranging from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to the conservative Family Research Council, ABC has decided to shelve its six-episode reality series "Welcome to the Neighborhood," which had been scheduled to debut July 10.
"Neighborhood" was designed as a provocative look at attitudes in America's heartland by having white residents of a suburban cul-de-sac near Austin choose their new neighbors from a group of seven families from disparate backgrounds. The contestant families range from a gay couple with an adopted son to large families of Asian, black and Hispanic descent to a white pagan family that "worships several gods," according to promotional materials for the show.
The contestants were vying to win a 3,300-square-foot, four-bedroom home on the cul-de-sac.
In a statement issued late Wednesday, ABC said it opted to yank the show out of concern that the first few episodes would leave viewers with the skewed impression that the three cul-de-sac families selected to choose their new neighbors were utterly intolerant of outsiders.
"Our intention with 'Welcome to the Neighborhood' was to show the transformative process that takes place when people are forced to confront preconceived notions of what makes a good neighbor, and we believe the series delivers exactly that," the statement said. "However, the fact that true change only happens over time made the episodic nature of this series challenging, and given the sensitivity of the subject matter in early episodes, we have decided not to air the series at this time."
GLAAD was among the first organizations to raise concerns last month about the show and its depiction of the gay couple, identified by GLAAD as Steven and John Wright, and their adopted son, who is black. One of the families selected to choose the neighbors was described by the show as "devoted Christians" who sought "new neighbors with a similar focus and direction in their lives." The Family Research Council objected to the portrayal of the Christian family.
In a statement Wednesday, GLAAD entertainment media director Damon Romine said the gay and lesbian advocacy group had "mixed feelings" about ABC's decision to table "Neighborhood."
"The producers' stated intentions for the show are admirable. But an effort to promote tolerance that requires the rejection of five families in order to transform the attitudes of the homeowners seems unnecessarily cruel and insensitive, given the circumstances families like these encounter in real life," Romine said. "We hope ABC finds another approach to advance the cause of understanding that doesn't send mixed messages by using exclusion to make a point about inclusion."
"Neighborhood" was produced by MGM's now-defunct TV division, New Screen Concepts and executive producers Tony Marsh and Jay Blumenfield. A rep for New Screen Concepts declined comment while reps for Marsh and Blumenfield did not return calls.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
06/30/05 02:50 ET