The new show “GCB” (“Good Christian Belles”), starring Leslie Bibb and Kristin Chenoweth, premiered Sunday, March 4 on ABC. The series is based on a book by Kim Gatlin titled “Good Christian Bitches,” but for obvious reasons, the name of the show was edited to conform to the content standards of the ABC network. Although the name was changed, the content is still quite a bit risqué for such a family-oriented network.

The series revolves around recently widowed Amanda as she attempts to start a new life for herself and her children after her husband’s fatal car accident. In order to get her life back on track, Amanda must turn to her last resort: moving back in with her wealthy, domineering mother. Unfortunately for Amanda, her mother turns out to be the least of her worries.

Amanda was a mean girl back in high school who tormented other girls with rumors and lies. She stole their boyfriends, ridiculed them relentlessly and made girls’ lives a living hell. When Amanda returns to her hometown to live with her mother, she is horrified to learn that each and every one of her victims still resides in the same town – and they haven’t forgotten her.

The tables have turned, and the girls she used to take advantage of now have the upper hand. Amanda must struggle to pick up the pieces of her life while dealing with a group of women who are stuck in the past and who have menacing plans in store for her.

This show is a fresh take on the dramas of high school. “GCB” catches up with characters years after their time in school to show how some have grown and changed while others have become even more juvenile. It highlights a reverse in power roles since the emblematic mean girl is knocked down a peg while her old victims have gained supremacy.

Although the show is based off an interesting concept, the plot is too fast-paced and seems needlessly rushed. Amanda hardly mourns the death of her husband, who also happened to have been her high school sweetheart. Neither she nor her children seem even the least bit upset about the loss.

Beyond that, resolutions to issues that arise in the show come much too easily to be realistic. Instead of leaving the audience guessing and wanting more, the problems are solved before there’s even a chance to feel any sympathy for the characters.

In addition to the show’s disappointing lack of realism, it also features some very questionable content. ABC has a strong and shining image to uphold, and this show may not suit that reputation. Although “GCB” is meant to be a comedy, many have been angered by its linking of Christianity to poor values. The women in the show are devout Christians who attend church every Sunday, but piety is the very last thing they convey. Their revealing outfits, raunchy behavior and downright cruelty to Amanda and other women of the town are far from the values upheld by the Christian faith. Despite this minor uproar, it goes without saying that the humor of the show derives from the obvious contrast between Christian values and the behavior of these women who are said to be “Good Christian Belles.”

Despite the unrealistic feel and lightning-rod potential, “GCB” will keep you at the edge of your seat. Due to the show’s fast pace, new dramatic events are constantly flooding the screen. The viewer is thrown right into the middle of the small town drama and is engaged in all of the excitement and gossip it entails. Be ready to be whisked away on a journey to a small community in Texas where nobody is safe from the rumor mill.

Erin O’Malley can be reached at [email protected].