Where are the good Christians on television?
They don’t seem to be on GCB, the new ABC show. GCB stands for Good Christians Bitches from the book of the same name. It mocks Christians and Christianity.
I’ve written about this show before but here’s a little taste from Legalize Jesus:
Based on the trailers, Amanda Vaughn appears to be the only sane member of this community, and she doesn’t appear to be a practicing Christian. When her mother drags her and her children to church, Amanda tells her mother that she “didn’t raise the kids with any particular religion.” While we all know that there are hypocrites in every institution and every religion, GCB uses southern Christian women as the sole, stereotypical examples of self-indulgence, shallowness and hypocrisy.
Other scenes show young girls being encouraged to wear revealing tops. When one mother expresses concern that her daughter‘s old cheerleader uniform is to tight, Chenoweth’s character tells her not to worry “cleavage helps your cross hang straight.” Later at the game, the football team cheers when the girl’s vest pops open.
Clearly, this isn’t exactly a message Christian parents would want to send their daughters.
This show mocks Christians and uses Chenoweth’s public Christianity as a shield.
But it got me wondering. Do you guys know of any characters currently on television who are faithful practicing Christians? Any presented in a positive or even a fair light?
Even though America is full of Christians, I can’t think of any openly Christian characters on television right now. I think homosexuals have more exposure on television right now even though they’re very much a minority. Isn’t it a little strange that there aren’t any shows that are Christian based as much as a show like Glee is favorable to homosexuals?
It’s possible I don’t see a whole lot of television so I’ve missed some but please let me know.
March 7, 2012 at 7:04 pm
Blue Bloods. On a weekly basis, the show treats the Catholicism of the main characters as a major part of the storyline and with more than just respect – it's shown as a very positive, and indeed, very important, part of the family's life.
Although I was a little disappointed that the Tom Selleck character in the most recent episode had extra-marital relations with a woman. The next morning, when he told her he was leaving to go to Mass, she reminded him "You better go to Confession first."
March 7, 2012 at 7:17 pm
A second vote for Blue Bloods. Tom Selleck's character's faith is a part of all aspects of his life, even his worklife as Police Commissioner of New York. And the entire family (four generations)gathers EVERY Sunday for dinner together. They have even shown them *gasp* praying!
March 7, 2012 at 7:28 pm
How about we "fluke" them and demand all sponsors pull out?
March 7, 2012 at 7:29 pm
On last Sunday's episode of "Once Upon a Time," the Snow White character (named Mary Margaret in the non fairy tale world) was helping the town's nuns with their annual fundraising candle sale. And at one point, the Grumpy the Dwarf character says to someone, "You don't like nuns? Who doesn't like nuns!"
Also, the dysfunctional family on Patricia Heaton's series "The Middle" are Christian and involved with the church on occasion. There's even a recurring character named Rev. Tim Tom who's a a guitar playing youth minister. But the writers don't make a fool of him. Whenever he's on the show, he's actually the guy with the answers. The writers manage that rare feat of having fun with a character without making fun of the character.
March 7, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Contrast it to All American Muslim where no discouraging word was allowed. We are the religion that it is okay to bash. It is no wonder they are moving to eliminate our religious liberty.
March 7, 2012 at 8:46 pm
Colin Hanks had a recurring role on Mad Men, in which he played a priest. I would say the treatment was fair. His character seemed genuinely faithful and (from outward appearances) to be a pretty good priest. I think he might have been the only non-despicable character on the show… not sure if his role will continue, though.
March 7, 2012 at 9:10 pm
I like "Blue Bloods" about a Catholic family of police officers and a DA. They're not perfect, but I think it's as close as you get on TeeVee! Well-written and acted.
March 7, 2012 at 10:12 pm
Homer Simpson?
March 7, 2012 at 10:30 pm
Umm…that Jim Caviezel guy in Person of Interest.
March 7, 2012 at 10:34 pm
I think in some ways writers shy away from having a main character be devoutly Christian because it's harder to make them interesting. "Good" characters are not as interesting to write as "bad" ones because there are fewer alley ways for them to travel and they tend to have simpler motivations for their actions, and fewer surprises and dark secrets. Beginning with a good character also eliminates most redemption arcs and similar storylines. Simply put, villians are more fun to write than heroes. Even heroes today can't be straight-up heroes, they have to be conflicted and struggle. Compare the Superman in Smallville and the newest movie to the original movies.
That's not to say that it's impossible to have a well-written Christian character, but it requires more skill, more knowledge of the Christian life, and is more difficult to maintain over 100+ episodes.
By the way, a recent (though not current) example would be many of the characters in Friday Night Lights. God and Christianity (not Catholicism though) played a regular and positive role in the show. The main character on CSI: NY is Catholic, but they don't discuss it much. You just know he is from occassional references.
Many shows will have an episode or two dealing with religion or religious people in positive ways or have a supporting character that is Christian without mocking.
March 7, 2012 at 10:43 pm
I heard an interview of Chenoweth on NPR about the program, and in the interview they said that the book was a satire of gossip in the church. I tuned in for about 20 minutes, thinking it might be intelligent or thought-provoking, but there was just too much junk in the way of any possible statement. I wonder why this sincerely Christian actress signed onto this project — is there some major redemption coming up later? — but I don't think it's worth my time to wait for it. Sad to see Christians portrayed in such a horrible light AGAIN in the media.
March 8, 2012 at 12:07 am
I think the title is being ironic. The type of Christianity that is being ridiculed in the show is a phenomenon in some areas of the country (I have a Texas friend who found the characters less hyperbolic than I…mostly because they remind her of home!), and is a type that, rightly, we should confront and seek to avoid.
Yes, it would be nice if there a positive view presented as well.
Also, why does every issue of Catholic portrayals also go to the "They would never show "insert other religion" like his." Brevity is the soul of wit, but redundancy is spark of boredom.
March 8, 2012 at 1:14 am
I'm not seeing a lot of good Christians anywhere. A lot of bloodthirsty eye for an eye and steal the poor mans lamb types choosing lesser evils (who have repented and are now changed men and going to follow the Constitution…all except those stupid parts about Congress declaring war, free speech, due process, etc..
March 8, 2012 at 3:00 am
Booth (the main federal agent) on Bones is Catholic too. They occasionally have conversations about it (Brennan is an atheist). He comes across as kind of your average guy in the pew with so-so catechesis (sleeps with his girlfriend, but still believes in God, recognizes things as sacred, believes in objective morality, etc. but can't really explain why). The scenes tend to portray him as the normal, everyday guy and her as the oddball that needs to understand people better.
March 8, 2012 at 3:26 am
Funny that "everyone loves Raymond" showed them as catholic but accidentally gave out condoms at holloween. Even "good" catholics fail on tv.
March 8, 2012 at 6:35 am
I can't think of any show recently that has portrayed Christians in a fairly positive light. The last show that I think have seen that ran on prime time, and I've only seen on Youtube considering my age, is Abp. Fulton Sheen. I think it has been open season on Christians for a long time. Shows these days seems to promote New Age values or mixture of occultism and in my opinion seem reminicent to say more times than not "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" justifying moral relativism in a covert fashion.
March 8, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Two shows I am watching now are worth a look:
Parks and Recreation, while not overtly religious, has a very strong and consistent message that most people, given the chance, will do the right thing. It's a show that manages to be consistently very funny while being respectful of people's differences, and always highlighting the essential goodness in people.
The second show worth a look is Person of Interest, in which the main characters try to protect innocents from evil while struggling with how to do that without losing their own souls. Again, not overtly Christian, but not at all a typical crime show with a liberal chip on its shoulder.
March 8, 2012 at 2:52 pm
"I can't think of any show recently that has portrayed Christians in a fairly positive light."
Seriously, watch "Blue Bloods". It comes on at 10 p.m EST on Friday night. I can't reiterate enough how positively that show portrays the Catholic faith of the show's protagonist family. The Catholic faith isn't just a detail of the show, it is a vital part of the character of the show. EVERY WEEK the show portrays 4 generations of the extended Reagan family (3 generations of whom are police officers) getting together after Sunday Mass to have a family meal, complete with a blessing of the meal and the sign of the cross.
March 8, 2012 at 4:14 pm
In addition to Blue Bloods, and the Middle, Teresa Lisbon in the Mentalist is a Christian. Not discussed much, but it occasionally comes up as a counter to the lead's atheism.
Some of Downton Abbey's characters are Christian, beyond for just appearances sake.
The British series Inspector Lewis has a former Catholic seminarian as a detective who retains some faith and is given respect in the show. In fact, Christian characters show up regularly in the series – particularly for such an non-believing country – and are always treated respectfully.
March 8, 2012 at 4:34 pm
I really like Blue Bloods, but don't find it to be a very mixed bag in the portrayal of Catholicism. For starters, the positive portrayal of their Catholic virtues are pretty non-controversial and could be represented by non-Catholic honor and integrity and perseverance.
Meanwhile, the family wholeheartedly embraces modern sexual mores. One sibling was living with his fiancee. It's implied that another was having pre-marital sex, and stated that the father does as well.
But the thing that I find the .. most challenging .. is the family's relationship with the Church. It is clear that they love the Church, but there has been a repeated theme of the family being "good Catholics" by challenging the flawed Church and clergy. I'd be ok with this as an occasional theme; our clergy *is* flawed and does occasionally need to be challenged. But most of the family's interaction with higher-level clergy is contentious and confrontational. The average parish priest might get a good portrayal, but the leadership is consistently depicted being self-interested, CYA and per-occupied by things other than the divine.
Like I said, I like the show and think its portrayal of Catholicism, Christianity and faith is perhaps the best on TV right now. But it's still not a great portrayal and it's sad that it's the best Hollywood seems to be able to manage these days.