Conservatives have ignited a firestorm of controversy over ABC's new drama GCB, based on the novel Good Christian Bitches. On his radio show Wednesday, Rush Limbaugh commented that the show represented "slime disguised as sophistication" and noted that ABC is owned by the Walt Disney Co. "This is not Walt Disney's Disney anymore," he remarked, "Walt Disney, back in his day, was a conservative right-wing guy." On the conservative website Newsmax, Christian commentator James Hersen called the show an "exercise in religious bigotry," adding, "To add insult to injury, the show airs on Sunday nights so people of faith can be demeaned on the Lord's Day." New York City Councilman Peter Vallone told TMZ.com that it amounts to "another outrageous attack on the Christian faith." The criticism found a sympathetic ear at Kraft foods, which pulled its Philadelphia Cream Cheese brand ads from the show. A spokesman told TMZ.com, "We have received a few complaints from consumers and their opinions about our advertising are important to us." Controversy of this sort often helps rather than hurts a TV show. GCB debuted with a so-so 7.6 million viewers on Sunday, but ABC, perhaps seeking to capitalize on the controversy -- or at least give it added exposure -- has scheduled an "encore" telecast of the opening episode at 10 00 p.m. tonight and has posted it online at http //beta.abc.go.com/shows/gcb.

08/03/2012