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.

[NYer]

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

[NYer]

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[Riley]

The assault on Christianity continues.

[mosquewatch.com]

And the muslims get upset about a cartoon of Mohammed.....

[snarks_when_bored]

Risky? Gimme a break... What would be risky is if they criticized mohammed in an episode.

[Hildy]

They just...don't...get it.

[Gordongekko909]

If by "courageous" they mean "guaranteed to be hyped by straw-man 'censorship' arguments," then yes.

[Bommer]

And the muslims get upset about a cartoon of Mohammed.....

Wait until you see what Christians will do to NBC....especially during the Winter Olympics!

[Ben Mugged]

They approach secularism the same way they approached Hillary as president. Desensitize the public through mass media then get their message through by influencing MSM stories that reflect their agenda.

[Brilliant]

Well, I don't watch NBC anyway, so I guess I can't stop watching them in protest.

[RolandBurnam]

only show on tv that has jesus as a recurring character?? wrong: see southpark

[manwiththehands]

The Hollywood brats are still having a tantrum and rubbing our noses in it.

[Steel Wolf]

Well, I don't watch NBC anyway, so I guess I can't stop watching them in protest.

I'm trying to imagine the potential fan base of this show. I can't quite visualize them. This is just WILD speculation on my part, but I'm guessing this is gonna be 'so edjy that it forgot to be good'.

[mosquewatch.com]

If you haven't already done so, send an email to NBC by Clicking Here :

send an email to NBC

There was no link in the original story hope this one works.

[willyboyishere]

At least they had the common sense to make the pill popper an Episcopalian, rather than a Catholic, which
would have DOOMED the show from the start, believe it or not, rather than assured its popularity.There wouild have been an unbelievable, and well deserved swirl of controversy if he was Catholic. The Episcopalians are "progressive" enough to embrace a less than perfect image of themselves, so it all works out well. However, I don't see more than 2 seasons.

[Westlander]

Will Katie Couric have starring role ?

[horse_doc]

Agreed - this is pretty standard fare.

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.

[karnage]

This is Hollywood Outreach to the Christian community. I haven't seen the show, so I can't comment. But I saw "Nothing Sacred" a few years back... it was not good.

[Westlander]

That was good.

[BigCinBigD]

I think that's the same night 24 premiers on Fox. Guess what I'll be watching.