Posted on 12/27/2005 3:12:45 PM PST by 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.
I read the line up of characters seems they forgot the sensitive abortion doctor who's a member of the KKK, the wacky group of scientologists who volunteer at the soup kitchen down the street and the Muslims who run the Adult Video shop on the corner. Hmm did I leave anyone out? That's right I forgot the militant band of Hindus who are recruiting for the NRA in the Parish.
LOL - exactly. J&P has been a big part of Southpark for years.
NBC considers new show featuring a completely dysfunctional family a positive portrayal of Christ and Christians
On January 6, NBC will begin a new series entitled The Book of Daniel.
While the public has not seen the program, NBC is promoting "The Book of Daniel" as a serious drama about Christian people and the Christian faith. 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.
NBC and the mainstream media call it "edgy," "challenging" and "courageous." The series is written by Jack Kenny, a practicing homosexual who describes himself as being "in Catholic recovery," and is interested in Buddhist teachings about reincarnation and isn't sure exactly how he defines God and/or Jesus. "I don't necessarily know that all the myth surrounding him (Jesus) is true," he said.
NBC considers The Book of Daniel a positive portrayal of Christ and Christians.
Please take action now! Here is what you can do:
1. Call your local NBC affiliate and ask them not to air the program. You can find their contact information in your local phone book or by Clicking Here.
2. Print out a copy of AFA's pass along sheet, fill in the affiliate call letters and phone number, make copies and pass out at your church. Ask your pastor to announcement it and put information in the bulletin and newsletter. [doc version] [pdf version]
3. If you haven't already done so, send an email to NBC by Clicking Here.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! Please help get the word out by forwarding this to your family and friends. They probably aren't aware of it!
Finally, if you believe we are making a difference, would you consider a small financial gift to AFA? There is so much more we could do if funds were available. Click here to help.
Sincerely,
Don
Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association
Bob Wright, Chairman
NBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
Primary Phone: 212-664-4444
Fax: 212-489-7592
E-Mail: Bob Wright, NBC
That's a DUMB statement. Myth is never true. So how can he not know if myth is true or not? He has already decided, obviously, by calling it myth. So the statement is just stupid.
The more they show this stuff the more the reveal to the world who they really are. It's a statement about the show's makers and nothing more. For that matter, that's true of all shows/movies.
Uh, "Rescue Me" and "South Park" come immediately to mind.
"At least they had the common sense to make the pill popper an Episcopalian, rather than a Catholic"
The Episcopalians may actually like the show.
NBC is too scared to do a show on Muhammad as described Ishaq's 'Sirat Rasul Allah' (which is the oldest and ONLY record of Muhammads life and sayings)
They would be too afraid of the reactions from Muslims, who would no doubt be awfully upset of the truth of Islam being told.
NBC are too cowardly to do that and stand by the same arguments they will no doubt use to keep this derogatory put down of Christianity on the air.
later pingout.
I of course would not watch this (except for taking notes on how the "entertainment" rulers are trying to corrupt and ruin people) even if I had a TV.
But I would be ineterested (for the above reason) to know what they have the "Jesus" character saying. Will he be saying things consistent with his teachings in the Bible? (Year, right!)
They really need to get out more.
susie
They dare not do such a story on Islamics.
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?"
I suspect the entire production crew would be in hiding within a week of its premiere.
This reminds me of a theme for a new movie....
In the movie, a lone killer stalks Hollywood producers, celebrities, and writers.
He finds different ways to get each one of them. He uses a random means to select the weapon and the victim so that the authorities can not catch him. He uses interesting means to get them. Even to the point of hiring as a waiter in a restaurant just so he can spike the soup of a producer with a mushroom that has an interesting taste, and destroys the liver in hours.
The only clues he leaves, are Bible passages referring to Sodom, Gommorrah, and Ninevah. Of course, such a theme is outlandish and fictional.
I wonder if anyone in Hollywood will pick it up?
Willowcreek.... Saddleback??? :)
While this show is likely just more hollywood trash and I will probably never watch it, I don't see any problem with a show portraying Jesus tending to people who are having trouble. He came to earth to minister to sinners not the just. At least that was His sentiment when asked why He hung out with the publicans.
However, I doubt the show will convey such a message, nor convey a message that Christ is the means to salvation from sin.
That is indescribably disgusting. So...when are CHRISTIANS due to wear some emblem on our sleeves, to warn the public away from our evil contamination?
I've seen the promos for this show & it is emphasizing all the scandalous aspects. Hardly puts Christianity in a favorable light. I can't believe they have the nerve to put this on tv. I'll definitely be letting them know what I think about this.
I hope it's during the same hour as 24, then we know nobody will be watching NBC.
24 aught to be interesting. He's now dead. He'll be able to do anything!
I'm cynical, but I suspect he will be an "I'm ok, you're ok" kinda Jesus. Not the guy who turned over the money changers tables.
susie
New series don't get bumped to midseason because they're just too good to waste on a September premiere. Friday nights are death slots on NBC, too. My guess is they're going to put it on the air just to burn off the episodes and hope for a Hail Mary (pun intended). If it actually captures some ratings, great, but otherwise it'll be gone and forgotten by March.
Risky would also be, say, a portrayal of a prominant black civil rights leader, who has an affair with a Communist organizer in the 1960's. The civil rights leader's daughter would be experimenting with LSD, and the civil rights leader's son would be having gay sex with a guy that he met at the first Earth Day.
Yeah, but they're not making a documentary, you know...(smile)
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