New NBC show stars Jesus, pill-popping priest (touted as riskiest show yet)

WorldNet Daily ^ | December 11, 2005

[NYer]

NBC has begun promoting a new weekly show in January that centers around a troubled, pill-popping Episcopal priest played by veteran actor Aidan Quinn, who talks with a manifestation of Jesus, played by Garret Dillahunt.

"The Book of Daniel" is being touted as the riskiest new show of the year. It is also billed as the only show on television in which Jesus appears as a recurring character.

It's a drama with comedic aspects and is being kicked off Jan. 6 with back-to-back episodes. It is scheduled to air regularly Friday nights at 9 p.m. The cast also includes Ellen Burstyn and Susanna Thompson.

As NBC itself explains the show, it focuses on "an Episcopalian minister and father. He finds himself conversing with Jesus -- his mentor and friend -- who helps navigate family problems, church politics and even his nagging reliance on prescription painkillers."

Comedienne Phyllis Diller plays a member of Daniel Webster's flock.

NBC executives have been excited about "The Book of Daniel" for a long time, though the show failed to make its fall lineup. Dillahunt is said to play a "hip, modern Jesus."

"This challenging new series is our first announced drama for midseason as we continue to seek different out-of-the-box projects," NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly told the Hollywood Reporter.

[MarieB]

I'm glad they made only 8 episodes, & I hope that everyone is watching 24 instead!

[Sam the Sham]

Yes I have thought about that.

How surprising that in a series as liberal as MASH, Father Mulcahy should have been treated with such affection and respect.

[dangus]

There once was a time when the "religious Left" was religious, and Catholic liberals weren't merely close-minded bigots hiding behind their collars.

[WKB]

The main character is Daniel Webster, a drug-addicted Episcopal priest whose wife depends heavily on her mid-day martinis.

Webster regularly sees and talks with a very unconventional white-robed, bearded Jesus. The Webster family is rounded out by a 23-year-old homosexual Republican son, a 16-year-old daughter who is a drug dealer, and a 16-year-old adopted son who is having sex with the bishop's daughter. At the office, his lesbian secretary is sleeping with his sister-in-law.


"You guys" be sure and watch this with your small children
and grandchldren so they can learn how to live and act
when they grow up. Be sure and take them to see
"Broke Back Mountian" so they learn the truth about
sheep herders too.

Wardaddy aren't your feet getting a little dusty?


Mark 6:11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”

[meema]

This is incredible!!! A "positive look" at Christianity???

I am speechless!

[motzman]

Webster regularly sees and talks with a very unconventional white-robed, bearded Jesus. The Webster family is rounded out by a 23-year-old homosexual Republican son, a 16-year-old daughter who is a drug dealer, and a 16-year-old adopted son who is having sex with the bishop's daughter. At the office, his lesbian secretary is sleeping with his sister-in-law.

Sounds interesting. I'll be sure to check it out.

[WKB]

Sounds interesting. I'll be sure to check it out.




Make sure to have the kids there.

[motzman]

Make sure to have the kids there.

I will! Thanks!

[WKB]

Shake Shake Shake

[Antoninus]

Still waiting for Hollyweird to produce an "edgy, unconventional" series about a crazy, drugged-out Imam who regularly chats with Mohammad.

Oh, that's right. Our courageous artistic elites are too scared to touch any subject that might result in their house being blown up.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Jesus doesn't need to exist to be real, he only needs to be needed.

I disagree. Believing something to be true NEVER makes it so.

[Antoninus]

Ha... I love Jesus on South Park, and I think that some people get way too uptight about religion. There's room on T.V. for both Joan of Arcadia (awesome show until the main actress had a diva fit) and Book of Daniel/ South Park. We should be allowed to point out the major hypocrisies in each part of our society, including in religion.

Nobody's saying you shouldn't be allowed. Just keep in mind, a show that pointed out the "major hypocrisies" of Muslims, Jews, gays, "people of color", etc. in such a light would likely be considered a hate crime.

[Antoninus]

Ugh, Donohue--one of the many reasons I'm no longer Catholic (now a Deist)

You left the Faith of your fathers because of Bill Donahue? Wow. That's a lamer excuse than Henry VIII. At least he had a kingdom to run.

If we had a couple dozen more Bill Donahue's out there, these hedonist pukes wouldn't be nearly as openly agressive in attempting to scandalize Christians.

[Old Professer]

Where did I say anything about making it real for you?

[wardaddy]

This is just those who sneer at Christianity preening...same as those on this thread acting like it doesn't matter.

[wardaddy]

BTTT well said

[Antoninus]

Sounds interesting. I'll be sure to check it out.

Yeah, you and about 40 other people across the country.

[i.l.e.]

The Episcopalians are "progressive" enough to embrace a less than perfect image of themselves

Yes they have no problem with abortion and all things queer.

[Paloma_55]

Can you imagine a TV show with an Islamic Mullah that does drugs, his wife is sleeping around, and the general theme is that "Hey, we are all fallen, so we might as well enjoy it down here in the sewer?" "

No, American TV is far too busy portraying Muslims as terrorists (cf. Showtime's "Sleeper Cell") to do that show.

Terrorists? I wonder how they would get THAT idea?!?!?

[i.l.e.]

While this show is likely just more hollywood trash and I will probably never watch it,

It took 10 years for me to be able to sit through 15 minutes of Seinfeld. I still can't take more than 5 minutes of the homo-dialog-disguised-as-trollop-speak Sex in the City and forget Queer Eye and that sociopath Carson dude. Any dupe who allows himself to be pictured on TV with that bunch of Trolls is an embarrassment to all humanity.