Posted on 01/23/2006 12:31:01 PM PST by SirLinksalot
Book of Daniel's creator asking fans to contact stations
The creator of NBC's The Book of Daniel is warning viewers that "bullies" at the American Family Association may succeed in their fight to kill the show unless viewers speak up.
Jack Kenny, the creative force behind the prime-time drama about an Episcopal priest and his dysfunctional family, posted his appeal on a blog, www.blogofdaniel.com, whose host is the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.
Kenny asked fans to contact stations in support of the show, and thank a dwindling number of sponsors for advertising during the Friday show, which airs at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
"Ordinarily, I would never ask anyone to do this, but the AFA and bullies like them are hard at work to try and prevent you from seeing these beautiful shows, and that is censorship - pure and simple," Kenny wrote. "And that is both un-Christian and un-American."
The family association, based in Tupelo, Miss., has rallied opposition to the show's lurid content - especially the Jesus character, which they say is disrespectful. The show features a pill-popping priest, his alcoholic wife, a daughter who sells drugs and a gay son.
So far, association officials say that 11 NBC affiliates in Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Indiana have refused to broadcast the show. In addition, association officials said that four companies have pulled their ads during the show, and only one company - Burlington Coat Factory - continues to advertise during The Book of Daniel.
"NBC is losing between $2 (million) and $3 million each time they air The Book of Daniel," said Donald Wildmon, the association's chairman. "With those kinds of losses, NBC may decide to cancel the show."
NBC has committed to only eight episodes. Kenny, a self-described "unaffiliated Christian," said that the next two episodes (scheduled to be broadcast Friday and Feb. 3) are important to the characters' development.
"Please believe me when I tell you that the stories that we are about to tell you ... are the most heartbreakingly beautiful stories I've ever had the pleasure of being associated with," Kenny said.
Somebody's gonna croak from a horrible disease, or get saved from a fire by a puppy.
I heard a reviewer describe Jesus as "a disinterested hippie character". I became disinterested.
Yes! Troll alert!!
One thing I never liked much about liberal/leftist types is how much they flatter themselves.
huh ?
Marty Stouffer Wild America is a beautiful show - BOD is fecal matter
do IBTZ rules apply to a troll posting in comments rather than the article ?
Well, why don't you tell us what you think is important?
Both of them?
Good riddance to that sorry piece of trash.
You've made my day. To hear the media gush about Geena and her show, one would think it was in the top ten every week. Do you know how it's been rating lately?
Falling farther week after week.
"...the stories that we are about tell you...are the most heartbreakingly beautiful stories I've ever had the pleasure of being associated with," Kenny said.
Now let me guess, the gay son falls in love with a married man with two kids, leaves his wife and the children for the priest's son. The priest through Jesus's encouragement accepts and honors their union by marrying them.
Dang it!! I missed the zot! Didn't even get to see what the troll wrote.
I Missed 'em by that much. "
As I've posted before on these BOD threads, this probably would have been a great concept for a screwball British comedy (picture John Cleese as an exasperated clergyman) which likely would have been endearing enough to avoid offending the faithful. But Hollywood's present writers and directors simply have no idea how to pull off such a show because -- for starters -- they're just plain witless.
Fans???? You mean there is actually more than one person watching this garbage??? How many "fans" can this trash possibly have?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.