Welcome To The Neighborhood, a 6-part series set to start July 10, was being touted on ABC as the "next big reality show."

That's not going to happen now. ABC abruptly decided not to air the show, and has pulled all references to it from their web site.

The premise, as with most reality shows, was basic. Seven diverse families with equally diverse backgrounds, vie for a 3300 square-foot house in suburban Austin, TX.

The catch? The neighbors get to pick which family will actually get the house. The three families are all white, conservative Christian families.

Since the candidates were all ethnic minorities, gays, or tattoo fanatics, while the residents were conservative and Christian, the show's political agenda was clear: make the right look like bigots.

So, the bottom line, was that ABC was looking to go after conservatives and skewer them with this show.

According to a Washington Post piece yesterday, conservative groups as well as gay rights groups expressed reservations over the airing of the program. This is despite claims by the producers that the show "was intended to promote a healthy and open debate about prejudice and people's fear of differences."

No word today as to what ultimately led to ABC's decision to pull the series.

Posted by: mhking at 04:33 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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