GCB Author Kim Gatlin Gets Bitchy

Kim Gatlin, author of Good Christian Bitches, held a swanky soiree at Winston's Supperclub last night where she signed copies of her book and posed for photos with rapt fans.  In case you've been living under a rock, let me remind you that Darren Star of Sex In The City fame optioned the book in 2010 and turned it into a show for ABC called GCB which aired earlier this year.

All fans could chatter about last night was the recent demise of the ABC show and lament its passing after only one season. Did you know that there is an online petition to save the show and it currently has over 60,000 virtual signatures!? So who knows... maybe ABC will change its mind! Fingers crossed.  Word has it that another network is so impressed with these numbers that they are currently casting for a reality-based rip-off of the show.  What network, you might be wondering??  One that a lot of Housewives watch... Uh huh.

Bri Crum, Kim Gatlin and Alison Volk

Gatlin told me her next book is called Good Christian Bastards, and will be a male version of her first book.  No word as to when we can expect to read it because she's currently shopping around for a publisher. She's already at work on her third tome called Little Bitches which will be a prequel to GCB and take us back to the beginning, when the ladies were in high school. Ironically, GCB star, Kristen Chenoweth was performing at the Winspear Opera House last night, so Kim hightailed it out of Winston's to catch her performance and posted on Facebook today, "If you have to walk 1,000 miles to see her show, it will be worth it. She is an ENTERTAINER in every sense of the word and was amazing!! She has a hilarious bit about how disappointed she is with ABC's decision to cancel GCB!!! She's such an amazing talent and an amazing person! Go see her if she's anywhere close to you!!! You'll be glad you did!!"

Alexandra and Cathy Williamson, Kim Gatlin and Cynthia Smoot

A little bit about Kim: Kim was born and raised in the Park Cities area of Dallas, Texas where she still lives with her two children Austin (21) and Lauren (15). After her divorce from country music legend Rudy Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers in 2006, Kim’s divorce counselor advised her to write “Good Christian Bitches” as an outlet for the traumatized divorcee. The journals were used as the basis for the story in which was eventually turned into a book in October of 2008. As her greatest heartbreaks were caused by a very few women in the neighborhood who were always championing themselves as “good Christian women,” Kim jokingly referred to them one day as "Good Christian Bitches" and a new label was born in addition to a book title.

Photos courtesy of Shana Anderson.  Thanks to Katydid Collections for providing me with this fabulous maxi dress! I will be wearing it all Summer!

Get a Sneak Peek at "Good Christian Belles/Bitches"

I can't get over ABC changing Good Christian Bitches to Good Christian Belles.  Boring! But this sneak peek, looks promising.

Okay, readers...  Who can guess what church they filmed this scene at?  This was filmed in Highland Park and local extras were used, so pay attention to the people in the background!!  See anyone you know?!

Good Christian Belles will air this Fall on ABC.

Scoop from the set of GCB: Good Christian Bitches

So, what is it like to be an extra on the set of a TV show or movie?  I put out the word last week that the new ABC pilot of Good Christian Bitches (or GCB, as it's being called right now) was looking for extras who "had the Highland Park look".  Filming took place in Highland Park earlier this week and one of my devoted readers (not the girl pictured) who made the cut, emailed me about her experiences on the set:

Jennie Lieber on the set of GCB

"You had to do your own hair and make-up and bring your own clothes.  A wardrobe consultant picked out 2 of my outfits out of 5 for filming.  We filmed at 2 different churches and at one point, a small crowd formed to watch the filming.

It was a cool experience to see tricks of the trade.  For example, in a small room with wooden floors, extras took off their shoes to cut down on the noise of high heels clicking on the wooden floors.  Also, they used these light generators to shine light indoors to make it seem like it was daytime when we filmed interior shots at night.

They referred to all of the extras as "background talent."  And they talked to us in movie lingo.  For example, "Reset" meant back to your original position before filming.  "Background" meant start pantomiming, walking, etc.

The actresses wear slippers in-between takes so that their feet won't get sore.  If someone wants to be an extra, I suggest that they bring a big purse to hold flip flops to wear during down time. 

Sometimes the hair stylists would stop by and brush our hair.  That was one of my favorite parts, I love feeling pampered!  I would also recommend that if someone wants to be an extra that they bring their own food.  The food was ok, but I am a very picky, healthy eater.

Expect long hours!  It is a lot of standing around and pantomiming. We were paid minimum wage $7.25 per hour plus overtime. But, I would definitely recommend the experience to others."

If you are interested in being an extra for TV and movies filming in and around Dallas, contact Cache Casting for future opportunities!

Parkies needed for GCB: Good Christian Bitches

Heads up!  As I mentioned last week, ABC is about to begin filming the pilot for "Good Christian Bitches".  The show is currently being called GCB for TV - which is STUPID.

I just got a call from a rep at Cache Casting who says they are looking for people who have the "Highland Park look" to use as extras on the set.

Filming will take place in Highland Park "at a church" on March 22 and 23.  You need to be between the ages of 28-55 (sorry SMU kids) and be willing to work for a mere $64 a day. But, hey! They will feed you on the set and you can say you were on a TV show!

If you are interested in getting your 15 minutes of fame and possibly being discovered, email a head shot (can be an informal photo) to cache.casting@gmail.com.  You must put ABC in the Subject line.

Good luck and happy filming, bitches!

UPDATE: Cache Casting wants you to know that "They need men and women. And they are looking to change the name. This shoot is just for the pilot. The show is going to be a spin off of Housewives of New York City, etc. Except it will be Housewives of Highland Park. This show is in no way trying to insult anyones faith, and that is why they haven't decided the name for sure. The day on the set is a great opportunity to work with the producers of Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives and Melrose Place. This is all about opportunity. You will be working as background talent and the experience is well worth it."

So, get off your high horse people. Even the Lord has a sense of humor.

Update on Good Chrisitan Bitches

Last September, I told you Parkie socialite, Kim Gatlin (former wife of Rudy Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers)  has had her book, Good Christian Bitches, optioned by Darren Star -- creator and exec producer of, among others, Sex and the City and Melrose Place.

"The project, referred to by some as "Desperate Housewives in Dallas," centers on Amanda Vaughn, a recently divorced mother of two who, to get a fresh start, moves back to the affluent Dallas neighborhood where she grew where she finds herself in the whirling midst of salacious gossip, Botox, and fraud."

UPDATE!!!

Today the Dallas Observer reports that "ABC-TV publicist Erin Felentzer (who handles the network's drama schedule) told them, 'I can confirm it's being shot there.' Which is welcome news for the local teevee business after the quick cancellation of Lone Star, the demise of The Good Guys and the earlier-than-expected end to NBC's Chase.

Despite local rumblings that ABC's asked for a longer look-see, Felentzer insists it's still 'it's just a presentation -- I'm sure people are just calling it a pilot.' And she says that it's 'currently' known as Good Christian Bitches. Word is, though, that'll more than likely change. Sooner than later. "  

Good Christian Bitches is coming to ABC

A couple of weeks ago, I told you that Robert Wilonsky at the Dallas Observer reports that Parkie socialite, Kim Gatlin (former wife of Rudy Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers)  has had her book, Good Christian Bitches, optioned by Darren Star -- creator and exec producer of, among others, Sex and the City and Melrose Place.

"The project, referred to by some as "Desperate Housewives in Dallas," centers on Amanda Vaughn, a recently divorced mother of two who, to get a fresh start, moves back to the affluent Dallas neighborhood where she grew where she finds herself in the whirling midst of salacious gossip, Botox, and fraud."

UPDATE!!!

Alan Peppard, society columnist for the DMN is reporting that last week, after much interest from the big networks, ABC signed on the dotted line with Star to create a TV series for their Fall 2011 line-up.

You may soon see screenwriter Robert Harling (The First Wives Club, Steel Magnolias) skulking around Highland Park Village looking for rich women toting Bibles and bad attitudes.  Harling has been tasked with scripting the pilot and serving as the show's head writer. So expect him to be here shortly in search of the original GCBs.

Got any casting recommendations for Harling?

The "Good Christian Bitches" of Park Cities

Hello, my name is Cynthia and I am a reality TV addict.

Survivor, Biggest Loser, Real Housewives of New York/Orange County/New Jersey/Washington DC (don't do Atlanta), America's Next Top Model, Amazing Race, Flipping Out, Rachel Zoe, Project Runway, Shear Genius...  I am addicted to them all.

I've always wondered why Dallas didn't have it's own top-rated reality show. Lord knows we have the colorful characters and Texas-lore to make it ratings gold.  We've had a few sad attempts, like last year's Dallas Divas and Daughters. It was so lame that Fashionista, Heidi Dillon had the Style Network remove her name from the credits.

If the rumors are true, my voyeuristic fantasy's are about to come true.  Word is, that there are two new shows in the making:

Robert Wilonsky at the Dallas Observer reports that Parkie socialite, Kim Gatlin (former wife of Larry Rudy Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers)  has had her book, Good Christian Bitches, optioned by Darren Star -- creator and exec producer of, among others, Sex and the City and Melrose Place.

"The project, referred to by some as "Desperate Housewives in Dallas," centers on Amanda Vaughn, a recently divorced mother of two who, to get a fresh start, moves back to the affluent Dallas neighborhood where she grew where she finds herself in the whirling midst of salacious gossip, Botox, and fraud."

Bring.  It.  On.

The second tidbit comes from Heidi Dillon herself. I had heard that Heidi was out in Los Angeles pimping herself out pitching a concept for a show. In yesterday's Dallas Morning News, she confirms it saying,

"Why should all those Divas & Daughters people have all the fun? I should have my own [expletive] show. Especially since all those people looked so ridiculous." 

Jason Sheeler, from the DMN states that, "Dillon just knows she's made for reality television. That all her Bravo-ready bravado, her F-bombs, her constant contradictions, her insulting tweets, her exhausting and cyclical battles with the whosits and whatsits of Dallas have been leading to This Moment"

I've met Heidi casually a couple of times at events (she wouldn't remember me) but I always got a good vibe from her. After reading the DMN article, I liked her a whole lot more.  She comes across like a strong woman who's not afraid to buck the system, kick some ass and make things happen.  All while looking great in stilettos. I think I have a new girl-crush.

I have my popcorn ready and I am ready for the train wreck.