Posted on 01/04/2006 2:58:52 PM PST by laney
There's a temptation to praise "The Book of Daniel" because it is a skillfully produced family drama about an Episcopal minister and his family and it comes along just as WB Network's "7th Heaven" reaches the end of its long run.
In the premiere, Rev. Daniel Webster (Aidan Quinn) sermonizes that we should forgive ourselves if we give in to temptation, but I'm not going to do it. Give in, that is. I'm going to call this a well-intentioned drama with a few comedic quirks but without depth or greater purpose.
When it comes to troubles, Daniel's sacramental cup runneth over. Eldest son Peter (Christian Campbell), 23, has come out of the closet to the family but to no one else. Meanwhile, Webster's father (James Rebhorn), a church bishop, can't let two minutes pass without encouraging Peter to settle down with a girl.
Sixteen-year-old daughter Grace (Alison Pill) is a reincarnation of Claire on "Six Feet Under." She's busted for selling pot and wears a perpetual scowl. Adopted teenage son Adam (Ivan Shaw) has more hormones than Pfizer and constantly breaks the rules. Supportive wife Judith (Susanna Thompson) is increasingly frustrated with staying at home and maybe a little too free with the alcohol. Meanwhile, Daniel's mother has Alzheimer's, and his brother-in-law has absconded with millions in church funds. Daniel is fighting -- and losing -- a battle with Vicodin addiction.
Add to this the death of a son (Peter's twin) a couple years earlier, and you'd expect anyone -- especially a religious leader -- to be tormented by a giant crisis of faith. Why is all this happening? What does it mean? How are we to face this? But this is the Book of Daniel, not Job, and the minister here scarcely prays or questions. Instead, Daniel just muddles through one situation after the next, trying to comfort where he can, sort of like "Father Knows Best" with a collar. If you're looking for someone to wrestle with difficult questions of life and what it all means, buy the boxed DVD sets of "Joan of Arcadia" or wait for the release of "Nothing Sacred" (but don't hold your breath).
The closest Daniel comes to a higher plane of thought is his frequent conversations with Jesus (Garret Dillahunt), whom no else can see. And what would Jesus do? Who knows? All Daniel gets from Jesus are insipid platitudes ("Life is hard, Daniel, for everyone. That's why you get a nice reward at the end of it.") At the very least, Jesus should be telling the reverend to stop lying to his father about Peter's sexual orientation. Then again, that's something that should be obvious to the minister to begin with.
Creator-writer Jack Kenny throws issues into the air like confetti and is content merely to see them swirl in the air without consequence. There needs to be more gravitas about Daniel, something not in evidence from Quinn's take on the role or director James Frawley's perspective. The series is limited, but the vision of those involved with it shouldn't be.
Following the two-hour premiere, filmed in Los Angeles, the series moves to hour-long episodes, shot in New York and scheduled for 10 p.m. Fridays.
When is this suppose to air?
Who are the sponsors?
Hopefully more NBC affiliates like the one in Indiana will reject this crap.
Sometimes conservatives make a mountain out of a molehill?
CAST:
Rev. Daniel Webster: Aidan Quinn
Judith Webster: Susanna Thompson
Peter Webster: Christian Campbell
Grace Webster: Alison Pill
Adam Webster: Ivan Shaw
Bishop Beatrice Congreve: Ellen Burstyn
Roger Paxton: Dylan Baker
Jesus: Garret Dillahunt
Bishop Webster: James Rebhorn
Kate "Grammy" Webster: Kathleen Chalfant
Father Frank: Dan Hedaya
FlodyCo & Bumpy Night Inc., NBC Universal Television Studio and Sony Pictures Television
Executive producers: Jack Kenny, Flody Suarez; Co-executive producer: Alice West; Director: James Frawley; Creator-writer: Jack Kenny; Director of photography: Thomas Del Ruth; Production designer: Veronica Hadfield; Editor: Paul Dixon Music: W.G. Snuffy Walden; Set director: Kathryn Peters; Casting: Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting, Liz Dean, Julie Tucker.
Not in my house...not in front of my kids...not on my TV
Soap was one of the funniest shows ever on television. The only show to have even come close is Arrested Development, but it's been cancelled :(
Another reprobate, heathen production by spiritually degenerate TV producers.
The impenitant are unforgiven.
Soap, at least Billy Crystal got to play himself. hehe
this show was developed in part by a gay "recovering" catholic. no agenda here.
Crap is right.
More anti-Christian Sleazywood sewage leaking into the already poluted American airwaves.
Oh I am sure it will die a slow death as most of this kind of junk does on TV.
My favorite actor on Soap was Robert Guillaume. He was hilarious.
My favorite was the old redhaired broad.
Sounds like more liberal crap shows that are on tv more and more nowadays.
I joined in on emailing the President of NBC to tell him what pathetic programming they've stooped to and that I refuse to watch that station anymore.
NBC = Network of Bad Consideration
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