"Welcome to the Neighborhood" cancelled due to controversy

[DaveyG]

Please feel free to discuss in a manner that won't get this thread locked.

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ABC pulls reality show before its debut
From AP Wire

''Welcome to the Neighborhood,'' an ABC reality series that pushes hot buttons of racism and anti-homosexuality, was pulled by the network before its debut.

The program had drawn criticism from groups claiming it risked fostering prejudice.

In a statement Wednesday, ABC acknowledged the delicate nature of the series in which families asked to pick a new neighbor are made to expose and overcome their biases.

''Welcome to the Neighborhood'' demonstrates what happens when people are forced to ''confront preconceived notions of what makes a good neighbor,'' the network 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.''

The six-episode show, which was to debut July 10, follows three families in Austin, Texas, who are given the chance to choose a new neighbor for a house on their street.

Each family initially wants someone similar to them -- white and conservative.

Instead, they must choose from families that are black, Hispanic and Asian; two gay white men who've adopted a black child; a couple covered in tattoos and piercings; a couple who met at the woman's initiation as a witch; and a poor white family.

In the early episodes, one man makes a crack about the number of children piling out of the Hispanic family's car and displays of affection between the gay men provoke disgust.

The series' producers had said it was intended to promote a healthy and open debate about prejudice and people's fear of differences.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, after viewing the series, expressed strong concerns.

While it ultimately carries a valuable message about diversity and acceptance, those watching the first episodes could be left thinking discrimination is ''not that big a deal,'' GLAAD spokesman Damon Romine said Wednesday.

''Regardless of how things turn out at the end of the last show, it's dangerous to let intolerance and bigotry go unchallenged for weeks at a time,'' he said, adding that GLAAD hopes a revised version might air.

Before ABC announced its decision, the Family Research Council said it was worried evangelicals would be made to appear judgmental and foolish.

[SparkleMotion]

Originally Posted by DaveyG

Before ABC announced its decision, the Family Research Council said it was worried evangelicals would be made to appear judgmental and foolish.

I wish I had a comment about this statement that I could present here.

[Tangent]

[DaveyG]

You know what, I'm cross posting this somewhere else.

[pawchikapawpaw]

having never really seen the series, allow me to make up opinions about it:

• Those Goddurn White Christian Republican Straight Texan People again! Racists! Bigots! Funny looking! With Pearls!
• The Gays shure know how to work a bakesale! Fantabulous!
• Oh my goodness, how many Tamales are they feeding those kids?!
• They're not Black, they're just really, really, really dark skinned. So don't call them Black.

what. i mean since no one in this forum has actually seen the series, it's okay to slander the Icky White Texan Republican Christian Fundamentalist Straight Family. right? they had it coming anyways, after all, they are white and they did horrible things to other races/orientation/political preference. by association, of course, but meh. same thing.

[boywaja]

Originally Posted by SparkleMotion

I wish I had a comment about this statement that I could present here.

let me guess. you have a judgemental and foolish comment to make about christians.

[TIVOSciolist]

Originally Posted by DaveyG

Each family initially wants someone similar to them -- white and conservative.

Instead, they must choose from families that are black, Hispanic and Asian; two gay white men who've adopted a black child; a couple covered in tattoos and piercings; a couple who met at the woman's initiation as a witch; and a poor white family.

Finally, a reality show that an Asian had a decent chance of winning . . . and it gets cancelled.

[dswallow]

I don't really care what the content was about.

But one less reality show is always a good thing.

[MikeCC]

Originally Posted by dswallow

I don't really care what the content was about.

But one less reality show is always a good thing.

This sums up my feelings about the so called reality shows, or maybe the industry calls 'em "unscripted" shows.

They are a blight on the television season, so good riddance to them all!

Now I can go back to complaining about the SCRIPTED crap!

[SparkleMotion]

Originally Posted by boywaja

let me guess. you have a judgemental and foolish comment to make about christians.

Keep guessing.

[Big_Daddy]

Originally Posted by dswallow

I don't really care what the content was about.

But one less reality show is always a good thing.

Wouldn't watch it, won't miss it, don't care. Death to crappy reality shows.

[Bradc314]

I thought it was funny that it was GLAAD and others making noise about the show that caused ABC to cancel it, and then the very last line in this article slams the FRC.

Why is no one offering up the cries of "Censorship!", or "If you don't like it, change the channel!!" to GLAAD as they do when the FRC complains about programming?

I guess the pendulum only swings one way in certain arguments.

[whoknows55]

Originally Posted by Bradc314

I thought it was funny that it was GLAAD and others making noise about the show that caused ABC to cancel it, and then the very last line in this article slams the FRC.

Why is no one offering up the cries of "Censorship!", or "If you don't like it, change the channel!!" to GLAAD as they do when the FRC complains about programming?

I guess the pendulum only swings one way in certain arguments.

I do find it funny that GLAAD's protest caused ABC to cancel the show. It must have been a big shock to them that people out there dislike the gays.

But come on, why turn down a chance to take a shot at the FRC.

[newsposter]

Well they are free to make whatever show they want.

They are free to air it.

They are free not to air it

They are free to listen to specific groups and take that under advisement then make a decision

We are free to not watch it

We are free to watch it

We are free to hate who we want

We are free to not like how someone lives

We are free to approve of others' lives

We are free to ignore others

We are free to congregate with who we wish (unless you are a felon)

We are free to judge others (fairly or not)

They apparently have exercised their freedom not to stir up controversy and air the show. I think that is the only thing most everyone can agree on about this show.

I'm now going to freely go to lunch and not even worry about what others do or think of me.

(did i keep from locking the thread? )

[dswallow]

Originally Posted by newsposter

I'm now going to freely go to lunch and not even worry about what others do or think of me.

You may freely go to lunch, but there's still no such thing as a free lunch.

[RegBarc]

It was just a bad idea to begin with. One less crappy show on TV.

[DaveyG]

Originally Posted by RegBarc

It was just a bad idea to begin with. One less crappy show on TV.

Hey, it's not as bad an idea as say...shaving one's head.

[Keith_R90210]

Originally Posted by DaveyG

Hey, it's not as bad an idea as say...shaving one's head.

it certainly can't be as bad as other trainwrecks that have been introduced this Summer; *cough* Dancing with the Stars *cough*.

In all seriousness this show looked sort of interesting and I probably would have given it a shot, I'm usually not much of one for reality Tv though.

[LoadStar]

Gotta admit, the commercials for the series kinda made me cringe. No loss to see the airing scrubbed.

[newsposter]

I didn't see in the article how they voted people out. It's not a reality show unless someone leaves every week! For goodness sakes, even beauty/geek votes someone off. So I think the show must be more a documentary than a reality show.

Wonder how it worked out in real life(assuming the taping is complete)

[justapixel]

I'd have watched it.

Sounds an awful lot like Wife Swap to me. Instead of putting the California lesbian wife in with the Texas Gun-toting husband, they switch neighbors.

Hell, I'd trade my conservative neighbors for a gay couple with a black child ANY day.

I wonder what got GLADD in a tizzy about this one, as opposed to all the other shows out there that show homosexuals in less than a flattering light?

[super dave]

Maybe this article can shed a little more light on this. http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/n...y/12028459.htm

ABC drops 'Neighborhood' amid protest

By Felicia R. Lee

New York Times News Service


Under pressure from civil-rights groups, ABC has canceled plans to broadcast Welcome to the Neighborhood, a reality show that let three white suburban families decide which of seven families - including one black, one Asian, one Hispanic, and one gay couple - would move into their community.

The one-hour program, developed by MGM and the producers behind shows including Extreme Makeover, was to have begun a six-episode run on July 10.

In the programs, all of which were completed, seven diverse families seek votes from the three resident families in a development outside Austin, Texas. The white families, through a series of interviews, competitions and social interactions, award a four-bedroom house to the winner - a neighbor, the families say, who will fit in with the community's mostly Christian and Republican values.

Critics of Welcome to the Neighborhood said it violated the letter and spirit of fair-housing laws by allowing factors such as religion to be a consideration in awarding the house.

A statement released by ABC on Wednesday said the intention 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."

"However," the statement continued, "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."

An earlier ABC news release promoting the show said in part: "Will the resident neighbors be able to see past their own ideals and accept all of the families as people instead of stereotypes? Eventually some eyes and hearts open up, opinions change, and a community is transformed."

In the first two episodes, some members of the voting families are seen making disparaging remarks about the gay family (two white men with a black child), questioning whether a Korean family was foreign-born, and rejecting a white family who practiced Wicca, a pagan religion. One family was to be rejected each week until the last remaining family won the house.

"The show directly violated the federal Fair Housing Act by rejecting families because of their race, color, national origin or the presence of children," said Shanna Smith, president and chief executive of the National Fair Housing Alliance, consisting of more than 100 private nonprofit housing agencies across the country.

The alliance led a campaign asking housing agencies and civil-rights groups to urge ABC not to broadcast the show. Smith said she also had been in talks with network executives.

"I'm elated," Smith said of the cancellation. "There'll be no copycat shows by the other networks. Also, ABC understands there are civil-rights issues and understands the implications."

Some alliance members contended that even though the families willingly entered the competition and were seeking to win a house rather than buy it, the law stipulates that characteristics such as race or religion cannot be considered, even in giving away property. The members also said they worried that the program sent the message that bigotry was tolerable in a nation struggling with many forms of discrimination.

[spelcheker]

Originally Posted by DaveyG

Hey, it's not as bad an idea as say...shaving one's head.

What chu talkin bout Willis?

[IndyTom]

Face it - if this show started as three black families or 3 gay couples, etc. the "conservatives", the "hispanics, and the "asian families" would have faced the same level of discrimination.

Discrimination is everywhere and not limited to particular sectors. Sociology has proven for 10,000 years that people gravitate to those more like them. We faced it growing up in schools - with the cliques, and it's no different in any cul-de-sac (or inner city for that matter) around the country.

I can't imagine any nightclub that would be forced to be diverse. They would all tank.

[TIVOSciolist]

Originally Posted by super dave

"However," the statement continued, "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."

What ABC did was either illegal or it was not. If it was illegal and the show has already been finished, then all ABC has done is to decide not show evidence of their illegal acts.

Originally Posted by IndyTom

I can't imagine any nightclub that would be forced to be diverse. They would all tank.

I've always thought it would be interesting to make it illegal to mention ethnicity preferences in personals ads. What would happen if lonely hearts were forced to be as unprejudiced as they all claim they are?

[dswallow]

Originally Posted by TIVOSciolist

I've always thought it would be interesting to make it illegal to mention ethnicity preferences in personals ads. What would happen if lonely hearts were forced to be as unprejudiced as they all claim they are?

You can never force people to be unprejudiced in personal ads; all that would happen if the ads themselves had to be lacking anything that might be racial/ethnic-specific is that the weeding out of those the advertiser doesn't want would en dup occurring after someone's wasted their time replying/meeting.

The other consideration is where to draw the line on waht constitutes being worthy of preventing in personal ads. For example, "prejudice" or "discrimination" occurs in gender roles too; do we prevent people from mentioning gender in such ads? It would certainly be amusing, but it would also be mostly pointless for many to bother with, then.

[Anubys]

All I want is to have been a fly on the wall when the idea for this show was being pitched...

[fm37212]

A show that offends everyone would have been a huge success.

[RegBarc]

Originally Posted by dswallow

You can never force people to be unprejudiced in personal ads; all that would happen if the ads themselves had to be lacking anything that might be racial/ethnic-specific is that the weeding out of those the advertiser doesn't want would en dup occurring after someone's wasted their time replying/meeting.

The other consideration is where to draw the line on waht constitutes being worthy of preventing in personal ads. For example, "prejudice" or "discrimination" occurs in gender roles too; do we prevent people from mentioning gender in such ads? It would certainly be amusing, but it would also be mostly pointless for many to bother with, then.

[Supfreak26]

What's funny about this is that the ones that probably would be made to look like fools in this show are the conservative white folks.

I'm just so glad these organizations are out there to prevent this bad stuff from being exposed to my delicate, impressionable brain.

I think what makes me the angriest is that there is no organization to protect my average, white boy arse. White people are constantly made fun of in mainstream movies and by comedians of all races. I actually heard a black man call a white man a "cracker" on a Mary Kate and Ashley film. Personally, I'm not offended but imagine the controversy if a white man called a black man the "N word" in that same film! You can't allow one thing if you can't do the other. You shouldn't anways.

As for the show being cancelled.... don't care. Wouldn't watch it anyways.