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The Blog of Daniel: Goodbye, Farewell, Amenby Jack Kenny, series creator, The Book of Daniel
TVGuide.com ^

Posted on 01/29/2006 10:34:26 AM PST by doesnt suffer fools gladly

The Blog of Daniel: Goodbye, Farewell, Amen

by Jack Kenny, series creator, The Book of Daniel

As this is probably my last bully pulpit for the show, I want to take this opportunity to thank all the thousands of people on boards, blogs and websites across the Internet who've shown such wonderful, loving support for The Book of Daniel. Love. Support. Tolerance.

Acceptance. Forgiveness. Those are the Christian values that I was brought up with, and the values that I tried to bring into the world of Daniel.

It's late now. I've just spent tonight with Susanna Thompson (Judith), Ivan Shaw (Adam), Cheryl White (Victoria) and Fran Bennett (Lorraine) — the L.A. contingent of the cast — watching the two episodes that were slated to air this coming Friday and next. First we watched No. 105, "Withdrawal." I'm probably prejudiced, but it's good. It's really good. It's funny, rich, loving, smart and surprising. The acting is superb, the direction and design stunning. It is obvious to me that by this episode we had truly found our rhythm and groove. Each character was deepening, as was the writing. Even the production design and the lighting seemed to have grown richer, more layered. But before I could get angry all over again at the injustice of cancellation, we dove right in to the next episode: No. 106, "God's Will."

I've seen 106 perhaps a dozen times now, and every time, I cry. As a matter of fact, every time I cry more. It is a beautiful, complex, heartbreaking chapter in the saga of the Webster family — and in our family of cast and crew. I cry because of the tragedy that befalls these good, good people. I cry because of the weaknesses and strengths that combine in them to make them both human and angelic. I cry at the stunning love between Daniel and Jesus, that in turn feeds the overwhelming love Daniel has for his family. I cry because you, the audience — the people I wanted most to tell this story to — have been stripped of the opportunity to get to know this family, the Websters.

And no amount of Nielsen data, or overnight ratings, or bottom lines — no gloating letters from people like Donald Wildmon or strident postings from bigots who've never seen the show — will ever convince me that it was the right decision to take it off the air. I cannot watch 106 and believe that. No one could. It's just not possible.

I want to make one thing very clear to both the fans of the show and to its foes: Kevin Reilly [president, NBC Entertainment] and NBC have always been the strongest supporters of this show. As disappointed and heartbroken and infuriated as I am with its premature cancellation, the blame, I believe, lies not with them... nor with the advertisers or the affiliates. These are all entities who are trying to run a business. The disappearance of The Book of Daniel can only be blamed on the small-minded people who blindly followed the hate-mongering, money-hungry carnival barkers who dare to call themselves "reverend."

Obviously, I'm not speaking about real preachers, pastors, priests or rectors who spend their lives spreading the word of God, doing His good work, helping those less fortunate than themselves. I'm not talking about the men and women who toil for the glory of almighty God. No. I'm talking about those who toil for the glory of the almighty dollar — and call it "God's work"! Those people who use and manipulate good, honest Christians, wielding fear and shame as their weapons, rather than love and acceptance as their gifts. Entertainment outlets don't hide behind some facade of high morality. They're a business, and they survive by making money.

Well, the same is true of some of these "family organizations" and the like. And they don't make nearly as much money spreading the word of God, as they do silencing the words of others.

If you do some easy research for yourselves, you'll find that Wildmon's hit list of shows that he's attacked over the years probably includes some of your favorites: All in the Family, Golden Girls, Cheers and many, many others. My point is this: We, as thinking people, as free Americans, have to stand up against this kind of virulent attack on our rights. This isn't about a television show. The Book of Daniel is over and gone, and there's nothing that can be done about that. This is about the future. Your future. Your freedom to choose what you want to watch, to read, to see in a movie theater or a museum, or hear in a concert hall — because they're all on the List.

Please don't think that groups like the AFA and the Parents Television Council will ever stop, content with what they've "achieved." Their stated goal is to clean up television. And for many of us, that means the shows that we watch and enjoy. "Choice" isn't an option, because apparently, they've lost their remote controls along with their tolerance.

And it won't stop with entertainment and culture. What happens when newspapers and news outlets become fearful of advertiser backlash? When "Americans for Clean and Wholesome News" (my own made-up name, I hope!) decides that a news story — a gay bashing, the bombing of an abortion clinic or the killing of a minority person — is just too darned inappropriate to be printed? What happens when the truth gets altered, or just plain squashed, to fit what some special interest group (masquerading as a religious organization) deems "appropriate"?

You lose, is what. You lose your right to make your own decisions, form your own judgments, live your own lifestyle…. You lose your right to the truth. And that is the end of freedom. Don't let that happen. Fight back. Form groups of your own. Demand to be given your freedom of choice! It may not be affecting you personally right now, but trust me, if you don't speak up while you still can, one day it will. And by then it might just be too late.

For more from Jack Kenny, read his TVGuide.com blogs from Jan. 6, Jan. 13 and Jan. 20. Also, click here to see what The Book of Daniel's Adam thinks about life in the Webster household.


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: afa; christian; homoagenda; nbc; rant; thebookofdaniel; trashtv; tvguide
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Sour grapes alert.
1 posted on 01/29/2006 10:34:27 AM PST by doesnt suffer fools gladly
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Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: doesnt suffer fools gladly

I wonder if he'd like some cheese to go with his whine.


3 posted on 01/29/2006 10:37:24 AM PST by Bob
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly

note to jack kenney:

your show was canceled because it sucked.

It was put on as a mid-season replacement, running friday nights. A virtual graveyard for new shows.

The whole controversy was an attempt to drum up publicity for a show that was doomed to begin with.

Even that failed, and people who watched it realized the obvious: It was just a bad show.

With this information as your guide, maybe you should try a different career.


4 posted on 01/29/2006 10:37:49 AM PST by flashbunny (Are you annoying ME? Are you annoying ME? You must be annoying me, since there's no one else here!)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly

Dear Jack,

Your show stunk. Get over it.

Sincerely,

Miz


5 posted on 01/29/2006 10:39:30 AM PST by MizSterious (Anonymous sources often means "the voices in my head told me.")
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly
The libs cannot differentiate between Christian forgiveness and apathy toward the action. Neither can they differentiate between tolerance and acceptance.

Tolerance is the act of tolerating something of which you do not approve. Tolerance is not in itself a virtue. For example, to be tolerant of ongoing child molestation is in itself evil. You know its wrong and harmful and yet you tolerate it. Why, probably because you really don't think its that bad or because you are a coward.
6 posted on 01/29/2006 10:39:48 AM PST by SampleMan
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly
You lose, is what. You lose your right to make your own decisions,

You made the decision to put on a crappy show. NBC tanked it. Period.

7 posted on 01/29/2006 10:40:24 AM PST by socal_parrot (2006, the year of the parrot!!!)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly

Don't go away mad, just go away.


8 posted on 01/29/2006 10:41:30 AM PST by got_moab? (got_moab? now comes complete with 50% MORE Hyper-conservatism!!)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly

"I've seen 106 perhaps a dozen times now, and every time, I cry. "




I would probably only have to see it once and I would cry,but not for the same reason.

What a self-pitying jerk. That's show biz,Jack,that's show biz.


9 posted on 01/29/2006 10:41:45 AM PST by Mears (The Killer Queen-caviar and cigarettes.)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly
All this fuss for some dumb TV show?

Pull yourself together Jack.

Get a grip Bro.

10 posted on 01/29/2006 10:42:47 AM PST by JOE6PAK (...diagonally parked in a parallel universe.)
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To: Mears

This show couldn't have sucked more if it were a gypsy industrial vacuum cleaner!


11 posted on 01/29/2006 10:42:50 AM PST by Appalled but Not Surprised ((move along here, ladies and gentlemen, just a frank zappa reference, nothing to see here....))
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly
Spoken like a true disciple of Michael Newdow. Take your beef to the ACLU, they'll help you out.
12 posted on 01/29/2006 10:44:14 AM PST by jazusamo (A Progressive is only a Socialist in a transparent disguise.)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly

In his second paragraph, he preens, "Acceptance. Forgiveness. Those are the Christian values that I was brought up with"

Then, thoughout most of the rest of the post, he shows that he has never actually learned or gained those values himself, as he blasts and flames those who helped bring his show down.

Hypocrite.


13 posted on 01/29/2006 10:44:45 AM PST by savedbygrace (SECURE THE BORDERS FIRST (I'M YELLING ON PURPOSE))
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly

"I want to take this opportunity to thank all the thousands of people on boards, blogs and websites across the Internet who've shown such wonderful, loving support..." Wait, did I say 'thousands'? I meant 'hundreds'. OK, OK, would you believe 'tens'???


14 posted on 01/29/2006 10:46:30 AM PST by frankjr
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly
Good freakin' lord--what a self-delusional drama queen. This fruitcake wasn't curing cancer, he wrote a flop and won't take responsibility for it. People will live, the world will spin round, and I, and millions of others, will get up and go about our lives. Boo frikkin hoo.

Maybe I'll try that next time a story of mine gets rejected from a journal or magazine. It's not me--its all of you philistine bigots who don't get it...

What a sissy. I'm glad his show failed.

15 posted on 01/29/2006 10:48:22 AM PST by RepoGirl ("Ow! My eye! I'm not supposed to get jigs in it!" Lenny Leonard)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly
Thanks for Dr. Wildmon.

Make a TV show that slams Judaism - it never gets aired.

Make a TV show and the Islamic community objects - its off the air after 1 show.

Make an TV show that slams Christianity - its on the air till the ratings tank. If anyone objects, its fascism on the march.
16 posted on 01/29/2006 10:48:44 AM PST by rcocean (Copyright is theft and loved by Hollywood socialists)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly
We, as thinking people, as free Americans, have to stand up against this kind of virulent attack on our rights.

Y'all hear that?

His "rights" are being attacked.

He's a "victim" !

So lay off, and let a man enjoy his right to air a TV show.

< /sarcasm>

17 posted on 01/29/2006 10:48:57 AM PST by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: frankjr
did I say 'thousands'? I meant 'hundreds'. OK, OK, would you believe 'tens'???

I'd be willing to bet that his mom wrote an encouraging note.

18 posted on 01/29/2006 10:50:09 AM PST by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly

If I don't get my way, you'll be sorry....

19 posted on 01/29/2006 10:56:57 AM PST by Semi Civil Servant (The Main Stream Media: Al-Qaeda's most effective spy network.)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly
The disappearance of The Book of Daniel can only be blamed on the small-minded people who blindly followed the hate-mongering, money-hungry carnival barkers who dare to call themselves "reverend."

I'm talking about those who toil for the glory of the almighty dollar — and call it "God's work"!

I didn’t know that the “reverends” Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton came out against this show!

20 posted on 01/29/2006 11:06:44 AM PST by RJL
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