NBC Utah affiliate KSL-TV has pulled the upcoming Ryan Murphy sitcom The New Normal — in which Real Housewives of Atlanta's NeNe Leaks will have a recurring role as the secretary of one of the main characters — from its fall lineup, calling the series "inappropriate on several dimensions."
But while RHOA has been on the receiving end of its share of controversy and criticism (The Root's Nsenga Burton called the cast's trip to South Africa a "cotton-picking shame"), the decision to keep it off the air actually had nothing to do with the outspoken reality-TV star or the series that made her famous.
Instead, CBS reports, the show won't air because its plot — which features a mother who serves as a surrogate for a gay couple — was deemed inappropriate for "family viewing time."
"From time to time we may struggle with content that crosses the line in one area or another," Jeff Simpson, CEO of the station's parent company, Bonneville International, told the Salt Lake Tribune. "The dialogue might be excessively rude and crude. The scenes may be too explicit or the characterizations might seem offensive."
Ellen Barkin, who portrays a grandmother on the series, tweeted in response to the news, "Shame on u @kslcom not airing @NBCTheNewNormal So L&O SVU (rape & child murder) is ok? But loving gay couple having a baby is inappropriate?"
We haven't yet heard what Leaks has to say about the bizarre and out-of-touch decision, but if she's in the mood to be "explicit" or "offensive" about something, this would be an appropriate topic.
Read more at Uptown magazine and CBS News.
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