or


[06/30/05 - 12:00 AM]
ABC Pulls 'Neighborhood' Over Protest Threat
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- ABC has opted to shelve its six-week summer series "Welcome to the Neighborhood" less than two weeks from its scheduled July 10 premiere.

The decision comes as the result of pressure from such advocacy groups as the Family Research Council, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) over the show's perceived inflammatory content. "Neighborhood" is a reality competition series in which seven diverse families compete to win a 3,300-square-foot, four-bedroom home in a predominately white cul-de-sac in Austin, Texas with the judges being their members of the community themselves.

At issue was the initial prejudices of said community which the show hoped to alleviate over the course of the competition. Among the examples: one man makes a crack about the number of children piling out of the Hispanic family's car and displays of affection between the gay men provoke disgust. ABC's press materials however made the show's intentions clear: "But with every encounter with these families, the opinionated neighbors' pre-conceived assumptions and prejudices are also chipped away, and they learn that, while on the outside we may appear different, deep inside we share many common bonds. The judges find themselves learning to see people, not stereotypes."

While most groups agreed the show carries a valuable message, GLAAD spokesman Damon Romine was quick to note to The Associated Press: "Regardless of how things turn out at the end of the last show, it's dangerous to let intolerance and bigotry go unchallenged for weeks at a time." The Family Research Council similarly was worried that the evangelicals in the show would be made to appear judgmental and foolish.

In addition, NFHA claims the show violated federal, state and local fair housing laws. NFHA president Shanna Smith told Daily Variety: "I think ABC's intent was to try and depict bigotry and tolerance and that people can transform -- but they did that at the expense of people of color, humiliating them to show that white people can change... Their lawyers pressed that the show did not violate the law ... but they should have known that there were serious problems."

So far ABC has only released a short statement about the decision: "Our intention with 'Welcome to the Neighborhood' was to show the transformative process that takes place when people are forced to confront preconceived notions of what makes a good neighbor, and we believe the series delivers exactly that. However, the fact that true change only happens over time made the episodic nature of this series challenging, and given the sensitivity of the subject matter in early episodes, we have decided not to air the series at this time."

As for what ABC will air in place of "Neighborhood," preliminary schedules indicate repeats of "Desperate Housewives" (originally set to air at 10:00/9:00c) will air in the 9:00/8:00c hour followed by "Grey's Anatomy" at 10:00/9:00c.

As for the future of "Neighborhood," industry insiders suggest ABC may air a condensed version of the show in which the positive ending airs sooner however most agree its more than likely the series will never see the light of day. The network itself has dropped all references to the series from its public and media web sites.

Rob Lee, Chuck Bangert, Lou Gorfain, Jay Blumenfield and Tony Marsh are the executive producers of "Neighborhood," a co-production of MGM, New Screen Concepts and the Jay and Tony Show Productions.





  [june 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
· GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)
· WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD (ABC)





[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer
The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM]
FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One
Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5
Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.

[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free
Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.

[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.

[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.

[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.

[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.

[10/23/25 - 11:28 AM]
"High Potential" Rises to Season High as Show Nears Fall Finale
ABC's popular drama rose to a multiplatform season high in Total Viewers (12.50 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.31 rating) after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms.

[10/23/25 - 11:13 AM]
USA Network Renews "The Rainmaker" for Second Season
Across the first nine premiere episodes of the season, "The Rainmaker" has averaged 1.3 million total viewers.

[10/23/25 - 11:06 AM]
Global Box Office Sensation "Wicked" Arrives Nov. 19 on NBC
The NBC telecast of "Wicked" leads up to the November 21 premiere of "Wicked: For Good," the epic finale to the global cultural phenomenon.

[10/23/25 - 11:01 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer for New Documentary "My Nightmare Stalker: The Eva LaRue Story"
The powerful two-part documentary premieres Thursday, November 13, exclusively on Paramount+.