TGJ Reviews: Oxygen’s ‘Preachers of L.A.’ (Premiering October 9th)

Move over ‘Preacher’s Wives’ and ‘Preachers Daughters’!  A breath of fresh air for reality TV may be coming in the form of a new source – ‘Preachers of L.A.’.

The reality venture, set to kick off Wednesday, October 9th at 10/9c, is Oxygen channel’s new reality show about the lives of six L.A. based megachurch pastors – Bishop Noel Jones, Bishop Clarence McClendon, Pastor Wayne Chaney, Bishop Ron Gibson, Pastor Jay Haizlip and Pastor/Gospel singer Deitrick Haddon. The material extravagance of athlete’s wives, confrontational drama of real housewives, and BET Sunday Night televangelist zeal all rolled up into one, the recipe for the venture has already proven itself a polarizing one even days before its premiere.

This series meets at the intersection of religion, vanity, and good TV to boot – a mixture disconcerting for many of the religious sect. Walking the fine line of dangerously realizing suspicions and stereotypes of the lavish lives of megachurch pastors who drive Bentleys for Jesus and travel in entourages, the show definitely succeeds in entertainment value and being a catalyst for conversation.

It’s hard not to appreciate the “in-your-face” brand of honesty that the show delivers oh-so-well.  But, once the masses get a taste of what the sextet are offering a debate will surely arise about its intentions.  Is there a thinly veiled facade of exposing people to Christianity and spreading the gospel?  Or are we capitalizing on an opportunistic desire to expand brands into the realm of celebrity?

View the first full episode here!