Posted on 06/30/2005 3:01:56 PM PDT by TrebleRebel
LOS ANGELES -- There will be no "welcome wagon" for the reality series "Welcome to the Neighborhood."
It was going to start July 10, but its network, ABC, has pulled it off the schedule.
The series pushed hot buttons of racism and homophobia as families picked a new neighbor.
The series' producers had said the show was supposed to promote a healthy and open debate about prejudice and people's fear of differences.
But various groups said they were afraid the show could just create prejudice.
Set in the new upscale "Circle C Ranch" development near Austin, Texas, Welcome To The Neighborhood will begin with seven diverse families arriving in the conservative neighborhood. While the seven families are excited about the chance to win a 3300-square-foot, four bedroom, 2.5 bath home, the three "opinionated" cul-de-sac families who will decide which competing family will become their new neighbor aren't nearly as excited about the candidates, which include a family covered in tattoos, a homosexual couple with an adopted child, and a family who practice Wiccan, a pagan religion.
According to ABC, the three neighborhood families will see "their belief systems get rocked as they try to get past their own pre-conceived notions and prejudices," after which the series will end with "some eyes and hearts opening up, opinions changing and a community transformed."
Each week, the competing families will participate in a challenge intended to show the judging neighbors how well they might fit into the close-knit community. The winner of each weekly challenge will receive the coveted "free pass" -- preventing the three cul-de-sac families from being able to eliminate them from the competition's current round.
As described by ABC, the seven house-hungry families who will be trying to impress their potential neighbors are:
• The Crenshaws - A religious, African American family
• The Eckharts - A Caucasian, pagan family that worships several gods
• The Gonzalezes - A loud, boisterous Hispanic family
• The Lees - An Asian family that runs a sushi restaurant
• The Morgans - A Caucasian family that looks picture-perfect, except Mrs. Morgan has a little secret
• The Sheets - Defying all stereotypes, this Caucasian family is covered in tattoos and are staunch Republicans
• The Wrights - A Caucasian homosexual couple who have adopted an African American boy
The three families who have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to choose their new neighbors are:
• The Stewarts - The super-opinionated Mr. Stewart, who is considered the "governor" of the cul-de-sac, is very protective of his community and will be looking at the competing families through a microscope
• The Bellamys - Mr. Bellamy is a staunch Republican and would challenge any potential neighbors with politically different views. But the three Bellamy kids would welcome new neighbors who are different
• The Daniels - A devoted Christian family, they would like their new neighbors to have a similar focus and direction in their lives
Welcome To The Neighborhood is from MGM, New Screen Concepts and the Jay and Tony Show Productions, with Rob Lee, Chuck Bangert, Lou Gorfain, Jay Blumenfield and Tony Marsh serving as executive producers.
Sounds like another TV show I wouldn't have watched anyway.
The Wrights - A Caucasian homosexual couple who have adopted an African American boy.
...and their choice of Austin as location shoot had no agenda attached to it at all.......
I'd be much more interested in whether the new neighbors were planning to keep their property well-maintained and leave me the h*ll alone than what their personal lives consisted of. But thats just me.
Ya think? I was rooting for the Morgans....as long as Mom keeps her secret to herself.
I'll take the Lees.
I live in Austin and I hear rumors.
Good grief; could they have been more obvious in showing this is a SET UP to make conservatives look bad?
That would be me, too.
This series sounds to me like something that should have been shot down in the planning stages, too many problems. And notice, they make sure that they mention that the "judges" are Republican and Christian.
That would be the Wright's.
What did you hear? Are the Morgans really Darren and Samantha?
I have a feeling that "Mom" used to have a penis.
You think they'd be more likely to leave me the h*ll alone? Or just keep the place well-maintained?
They should have swapped locations, and had 3 highly whacked-out liberal families in Seattle or San Francisco choose from among 7 families so we can see just how tolerant they are when the guy with the duck-boat and jacked up truck moves in.
Another idiot reality show...I'd change the channel.
I wonder who "various groups" are.
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