Book of Daniel

NUPE4LIFE · #1 01-06-2006, 05:59 PM

This show looks interesting. It premieres tonight on NBC at 8pm. It's already been shrouded in controversy and it hasn't aired yet.

This is what I got from the show's website: http://www.nbc.com/The_Book_Of_Daniel/about.shtml

Emmy nominee Aidan Quinn (“An Early Frost,” “Plainsong,” “Legends of the Fall”) stars as Reverend Daniel Webster, an unconventional Episcopalian minister who not only believes in Jesus - he actually sees him and discusses life with him. Webster is challenged on many levels as he struggles to be a good husband, father and minister, while trying to control a nagging addiction to prescription painkillers, and an often rocky relationship with the church hierarchy, led by Bishop Beatrice Congreve (Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn, “Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore,” “Requiem of a Dream”), Roger Paxton, a senior warden of the parish and stalwart churchgoer (Dylan Baker, “Kinsey,” “Happiness”).

The reverend also has loving, but challenging relationships with his three children: Peter (Christian Campbell, “Trick”), his 23-year-old gay son, who struggles with the loss of his twin brother; Grace (Alison Pill, “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen”), his 16-year-old daughter who doesn't try to push her father's buttons but succeeds at it nonetheless; and Adam (Ivan Shaw, “All My Children”), his 16-year-old adopted Chinese son, a handsome and cocky high school jock with a wicked sense of humor. Keeping Webster grounded is his strong and loving wife Judith (Susanna Thompson, “Now and Again”), who is fighting her own fondness for mid-day martinis, as well as Jesus (Garret Dillahunt, “Deadwood”), whose frequent chats with Daniel serve to remind him of his strengths and weaknesses.

Honeykiss1974 · #2 01-06-2006, 06:40 PM

This show got the pre-empted (the boot) in my area. I forgot what they replaced it with.

Even if they would have kept it, I wouldn't have watched it anyway.

NUPE4LIFE · #3 01-06-2006, 07:34 PM

May I ask why Honeykiss?

Gina1201 · #4 01-08-2006, 03:00 PM

I watched the show. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Sistermadly · #5 01-08-2006, 03:37 PM

It was actually a pretty well made show... which won't find an audience because it's on Friday nights at 9:00pm. I have some lingering issues with the fact that they have a black maid (who seems to have addiction issues of her own), but other than that, I admire what they're trying to do with the show.

If the show were on HBO or Showtime, I'm sure it would probably be a lot better, but it's a pretty decent effort for free tv.

Gina1201 · #6 01-08-2006, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sistermadly
It was actually a pretty well made show... which won't find an audience because it's on Friday nights at 9:00pm. I have some lingering issues with the fact that they have a black maid (who seems to have addiction issues of her own), but other than that, I admire what they're trying to do with the show.

If the show were on HBO or Showtime, I'm sure it would probably be a lot better, but it's a pretty decent effort for free tv.

I agree with your comments. However, I didn't pay too much attention to the maid's addiction because it seems as if EVERYONE on the show has a problem/addiction.

Honeykiss1974 · #7 01-08-2006, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NUPE4LIFE
May I ask why Honeykiss?

Sure. Unless this comes on Lifetime, I probably won't catch it. I don't watch primetime TV on ABC, NBC, or CBS (aside from a few select shows like Extreme Makeover or Wife Swap).

Not to mention the synopsis of it doesn't sound like something I'd be interested in watching anyway.

AKA2D '91 · #8 01-09-2006, 07:55 PM

Commentary: With All Their Fuss Over ‘Daniel,’ Christians Should Create Family Programs
Date: Monday, January 02, 2006
By: Joseph C. Phillips, BlackAmericaWeb.com

I recently received an email petition urging me to contact my local NBC affiliate and ask them not to air their new hour-long religious drama, “The Book of Daniel.”

The series, set to begin airing on Jan. 6, depicts the life and family of an Episcopal priest named Daniel Webster. Webster has an alcoholic wife, a 23-year-old homosexual son, a 16-year-old, drug-dealing daughter and a 16-year-old adopted son who is having sex with the bishop's daughter. At the office, Father Webster’s secretary is a lesbian who is sleeping with his sister-in-law. NBC calls the new series “edgy” and “courageous." Many Christians call it offensive.

After viewing the commercials, it is not a program I intend to watch, however, nor am I going to write my local NBC affiliate. I prefer a different kind of activism.

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site....ud/philips0103

Honeykiss1974 · #9 01-09-2006, 08:18 PM

The thing is...there are quality christian-based channels and programming out there. There is TBN (Trinity Broadcast Network) and all their affiliate channels, the Gospel Channel, I-Life Channel, the Family Channel, etc. Every last one of these channels have TV shows, movies, cartoon (for the kids), dramas, etc. I only know this because I work for a cable company and get everything for free. But before that, I would have NEVER known that this type of programming even existed.Why?

Unlike your NBA, ABC, and other analog channels (to where you don't even need to have cable in order to access) these channels are carried on some of the top tiers of digital cable so you basically have to purchase top level tiers of programing ($65 and up dependinig on your provider) to receive these and more than likely a whole bunch of other channels that you don't want. I mean if I actually paid to receive all of those channels, it would be about $85 a month!

I'm sorry, but that's just too much to pay for TV. lol

This is one reason why many people are pushing for al a carte cable.

Anyway, this is my favorite piece of the article...

Quote:

"Daniel" supporters argue that the program’s message is about having compassion and learning to love all people. The arrogance of Hollywood constantly fascinates me. The very people who show contempt for religion at every opportunity now want to preach to Christians about the true meaning of Christianity. Hollywood’s real message is that those claiming to be Christians are hateful hypocrites that do not love all people, proof of which is in our rejection of the normalization of homosexuality and sexual promiscuity.

I hope this inspires more channels that do offer more programming similiar to those listed above. Although I don't think the al a carte programming will pass, it would be nice if it did.

RACooper · #10 01-09-2006, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
The series, set to begin airing on Jan. 6, depicts the life and family of an Episcopal priest named Daniel Webster. Webster has an alcoholic wife, a 23-year-old homosexual son, a 16-year-old, drug-dealing daughter and a 16-year-old adopted son who is having sex with the bishop's daughter. At the office, Father Webster’s secretary is a lesbian who is sleeping with his sister-in-law. NBC calls the new series “edgy” and “courageous." Many Christians call it offensive.

Havent seen it myself... yet...

But if it's funny and the characters work - who cares really?

Afterall you didn't see many Catholics up in arms over Father Ted (heck Father Jack is my MSN avatar) - well other than the hard-core conservatives or fundies...

The show will sink or swim on it's own merit (or lack thereof); I wouldn't be surprised if the people associated with the show or studio didn't leak "controversial" details to the more reactionary Christian groups just to still up a little PR prior to the show's airing.