Line #5 Series/GCB


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gcbseasononedvd_jpg_waifu2x_noise011.png]]
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3	''GCB'' is a 2011-debut American TV [[{{Dramedy}} dramedy]] set in the exclusive Dallas, Texas suburb of Highland Park. It's frequently described as a Southern ''Series/DesperateHousewives'' or a grown up Film/MeanGirls. The show was created by Darren Star (''Series/BeverlyHills90210'', ''Series/MelrosePlace'', ''Series/SexAndTheCity'') and written by Robert Harling (''Film/SteelMagnolias''). It's somewhat based on the book ''Literature/GoodChristianBitches'' by Kim Gatlin; the show was originally going to bear that title (it still got [[TitleDrop dropped]] in the ads), and then changed to ''Good Christian Belles'' before settling on the less controversial abbreviation.
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5	In Santa Barbara, California, protagonist Amanda Vaughn's husband Bill steals billions from his investors, then dies in a car crash with his mistress. Left with nothing, Amanda and their two teenage children return to Texas and move back in with her pushy socialite mother Gigi. Amanda was head cheerleader and AlphaBitch in high school, but time and distance have helped her become a somewhat better person. Moving back home, she meets the four women she was most evil to in high school; only one accepts her apology for her past behavior, while the other three have most definitely not moved on and are not ready to forgive at all.
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7	The show was canceled after its first season.
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9	----
10	!!This show provides examples of:
11	* [[AbsurdlyYouthfulMother Absurdly Youthful Parents]]: Plenty of the characters fall under this category, one episode revealed Amanda to be a [[TeenPregnancy Teen Mom]], which oddly is supposed to set her as a fallen woman [[EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether amongst her old classmates]].
12	* ACupAngst: At one point Sharon's daughter complains that she's the only member of [[GirlPosse The Foxes]] who doesn't have breast implants. Sharon assures her that she'll get them for Christmas.
13	* ActorAllusion: In episode 5, Amanda tells Carlene "In the words of another very famous witch: you have no power here". Carlene is played by Creator/KristinChenoweth, who played the witch in question in [[Theatre/{{Wicked}} Wicked]].
14	* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Amanda and her dead husband.
15	* AlphaBitch: Amanda in highschool; Cricket and Carlene now. Cricket's daughter Alexandra is the current Queen Bee for her high school.
16	* AnAesop: Most episodes.
17	* TheBeard: Cricket's husband Blake is gay. It was known between them before they married. They have a marriage based on a strong platonic friendship.
18	* Literature/TheBible: Kind of a given when considering how 'religious' the characters on this show claim to be. Also, each episode's central plot is derived from the morals of various biblical stories.
19	* BigBeautifulWoman: Sharon, the way her husband sees her. She herself doesn't, and resolves to lose weight, leading to her invention of "eating biblical".
20	** Not really. She is not any bigger than the rest of the women in the cast, which has had plenty of viewers confused. More than anything, She's HollywoodPudgy[[http://blu.stb.s-msn.com/i/DC/F3F3996ADAEF3789EB62838ECA5BF.jpg]].
21	* BigScrewedUpFamily: Apparently, Dallas is lousy with these.
22	* BitchInSheepsClothing: Amanda in highschool, but now replaced by Carlene.
23	* CaptainErsatz: The restaurant/bar Amanda works at, Boobylicious, for the real-life chain, Hooters. Also, Armadillo Mart for Wal-Mart and Stockholm 'N Things for IKEA.
24	* ChurchLady: Most of the main characters are this to an extent. Sweet and ditzy Sharon volunteers to help out Pastor Tudor with whatever he needs and in the process developing her Biblical diet program. On the other hand, Carlene runs roughshod over Pastor Tudor with her ScareEmStraight approach to getting the local teens to avoid immoral behavior.
25	* DeadpanSnarker: Most characters at one time or another, but most notably, Cricket.
26	* EverythingIsBigInTexas: And how. It is set in Dallas, after all.
27	* FieryRedhead: Gigi.
28	* GirlPosse: "The Foxes" are the popular clique at the High School. When she was younger, Amanda was the head of [[AlphaBitch the Foxes]]. The current generation of Foxes is lead by Cricket's daughter Alexandra. Amanda initially worries that her daughter might be labeled a "Javelina" (ugly) by the Foxes, but it turns out she's welcomed into their group [[GenerationXerox like her mother]].
29	* HappilyMarried: Carlene and Ripp, Cricket and Blake, and Sharon and Zack. However, they all have their share of problems.
30	* HollywoodToneDeaf: Miriam Shor was in ''Theatre/HedwigAndTheAngryInch'' and even in the show can sing well when it's not crucial to the plot; have her audition for a Jesus-themed musical, however . . .
31	* GenerationXerox: Amanda is upset with Laura for disobeying her the same way she herself disobeyed Gigi years earlier.
32	* LadyOfWar: The ladies' pimped out designer hunting gear gives them shades of this in one episode.
33	* LargeHam: And how. The ladies of this show have this in spades...
34	* MistakenForCheating: Ripp [[spoiler: the woman is actually his daughter, most likely conceived before he and Carlene married.]]
35	* ModernMinstrelsy: The show's exaggerated portrayal of Southern / Texas and Christian stereotypes is offensive to some.
36	** The Christian elements and stereotypes portrayed as anything other than good or positive DEFINITELY offended some people, it was considered so offensive that there were complaints to the network since the first episode and was the reason the series was canceled.
37	* TitleDrop: Each episode's title can be seen on a church sign early into the episode.
38	* MyBelovedSmother: Gigi to Amanda.
39	* TheCastShowoff: When one of your actors is Creator/KristinChenoweth, having her sing is sort of inevitable.
40	* TheOtherDarrin: The actors playing Bozeman Peacham and Landry Cockburn are different post-pilot.
41	* ProfessionalsDoItOnDesks: Carlene Cockburn and her husband Ripp in the pilot.
42	* RecycledInSpace: ''Series/DesperateHousewives'' IN TEXAS!
43	* RefugeInAudacity: Being in Texas!
44	* SeriousBusiness: Church plays, community fundraisers, barbecue...
45	* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: Heather. After she gets over her husband's death, Amanda too.
46	* StraightGay: Blake.

Context Series / GCB