'Designing Women' star Potts takes on new role

[January 11, 2012]  PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Former "Designing Women" star Annie Potts is connecting with her TV and family roots in the new ABC series "GCB."

Potts plays a Dallas socialite in the prime-time comedy-drama also known as "Good Christian Belles." She says she sees a lot of "my beloved Dixie Carter" in the show. Carter, who died at age 70 in 2010, starred with Potts in CBS' "Designing Women" sitcom that aired from 1986 to 1993.

Potts told the Television Critics Association on Tuesday that her "GCB" character, Gigi, also reflects Potts' own mother. Series executive producer Robert Harling is a longtime friend of Potts and called her mom, Dot, "magnificent."

Potts' mother died a year ago. With a smile, Potts said they can use all her stories in "GCB."

The series, which debuts March 4 on ABC, also stars Kristin Chenoweth, David James Elliott and Leslie Bibb.

Bibb plays Amanda, a former teenage "mean girl" who goes home to mom (Potts) after her marriage breaks up and has to readjust to a tough world of money and gossip.

The "GCB" title is a cleaned-up version of "Good Christian Bitches," the 2008 novel by Kim Gatlin that inspired the series. Harling said the series is a "love letter to Texas" and is about a faith-based group of people but not any particular religion.

[Associated Press; By LYNN ELBER]

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