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Good Christian Bitches ad slapped for wrong timeslot

The media watchdog has found that Seven played an ad for Good Christian Bitches in an inappropriate timeslot.

The media watchdog has found that Seven played an ad for US series Good Christian Bitches in an inappropriate timeslot.

Seven played the promo last November several times, the earliest at 7:34pm.

At the time Seven used the original title of the series, Good Christian Bitches. In the US the series was retitled to Good Christian Belles and then GCB, due to pressure from the powerful ‘bible belt’ and nervous affiliates.

Seven has more recently been promoting the show as GCB, which is the title it has settled on for Australia.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority said it received twelve complaints about the promos, claiming that it offended Christians and degraded women. Some also said it contained inappropriate language.

Seven argued that the “bitch” word, shown twice and verbalised once, can have different meanings in modern usage depending on the context and therefore from a classification perspective it did not consider it unsuitable in the PG time zone.

ACMA found that in the context of the promo, including with imagery, it did not meet PG classifications. Including the coarse language made it “mild” rather than “very mild,” which would make it permissible after 8:30pm.

It rejected claims the ad was offensive to Christians or women.

As a result Seven says it will ensure that any future promotions for GCB will be scheduled in accordance with the decision.

GCB, and not Good Christian Bitches, is coming soon to Seven. The show has not been renewed in the US by ABC.

10 Responses

  1. Why is Channel 7 even screening this series. It’s another US TV show canceled after just one season. In the end only to leave the excited viewers watching a last episode cliff hanger, which no one will see the conclusion too? Wake up Channel 7 and all the other Australian TV broadcasters, stop buying these TV programs and maybe the US will stop cancelling great TV shows and start listening to their viewers.

  2. This is a great show that is hilarious and has a wonderful cast.. ABC canceled it way too soon and they need to bring it back with a better time slot. Please go and sign the petition to have GCB brought back.
    We can save GCB.
    change.org/petitions/save-gcb-tell-abc-not-to-cancel-gcb

  3. My only concern about the timing of the ad is that it was back in November! It is now seven months later and it still hasn’t been shown.

  4. I understand about ads being played in the right time slot but what I don’t get is why ch7 is making such a fuss over the show now it’s been canceled in the US.

    Don’t get me wrong I loved the 10 eps and wish it would have continued, good to see it’s actually going to get a run her and not demoted to digital or a late timeslot in the early hours.

  5. Surprised Seven are bothering to air this considering it was axed. Maybe they’ll burn it off in double episodes like they did with Missing in the 9:30 Tuesdays timeslot

  6. they decided that it wasn’t degrading to women or christians, only that the language was too mild? the word bitch is used in sitcoms, reality and soaps all the time before 8:30.

    1. Context, context, context…. I think I’ve reported it with come clarity, but once again: the ad overall (ie word, images, voice) was deemed mild. But it must be very mild for PG. They have not said the word cannot be used before 8:30. If you want more detail the report is at ACMA site.

  7. Shame they had to change the title, and shame they cancelled the show as it was a fun, hilarious show. And it starred Kristin Chenoweth. Glad it’s being shown in Australia.

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