NBC Shuts `The Book of Daniel'

[Amelia]

Religious Conservatives Claim Victory

After NBC Shuts `The Book of Daniel'

BY KEVIN ECKSTROM © 2006 Religion News Service

Conservative critics are claiming victory after NBC pulled "The Book of Daniel," a racy primetime drama about an Episcopal priest struggling to hold his dysfunctional family together.

NBC officials in New York would not confirm or deny that the show has been cancelled, but the broadcaster's Web site lists "Law and Order" during the Friday 10 p.m. time slot that had been occupied by "The Book of Daniel."

A blog on NBC's home page contained an entry from Jack Kenny, the show's creator, who said the show will "no longer be aired on NBC on Friday nights" for "many reasons."

"Whatever the outcome, I feel that I accomplished what I set out to do: a solid family drama, with lots of humor, that honestly explored the lives of the Webster family," Kenny wrote, adding that he was "proud of our product."

The show, which debuted on Jan. 6, had only aired four of its eight scheduled episodes. Conservatives criticized the show's sex, drugs and alcohol and said its depiction of Jesus was disrespectful.

Complaints from the Mississippi-based American Family Association-- to the tune of 678,000 angry e-mails to NBC--prompted advertisers to pull out. At least 11 NBC stations in six states declined to broadcast the show.

"This shows the average American that he doesn't have to simply sit back and take the trash being offered on TV, but he can get involved and fight back with his pocketbook," said AFA Chairman Donald Wildmon.

Kenny had hoped the show would survive at least until Feb. 10, when the Olympics will take over for most NBC programming. Kenny had called the "bullies" who sought to kill his show "un-Christian and un-American."

For its part, the Episcopal Church declined to comment on the show since it was not consulted as the show was created.

[Ron Lambert]

Glad to learn this show is being cancelled. I recorded the first three episodes to view later. After the first two episodes I was pretty well fed up, and after the third decided I'd seen enough. It struck me as a combination of Joan of Arcadia and Fernwood (for those who may remember that goofy spoof of soap operas that had its run about 20 years ago).

I especially did not like the way Jesus was represented. He had nothing to say about any of the shenanigans going on, except to reprove Daniel mildly for popping Vicodins all the time. No wise advice, no reproof, just yukking it up like a good ol' buddy, and a general attitude of toleration of everything. The thing is, this never contributed anything to the story line. They could have left out the Jesus character, and it would not have taken anything away from the plot.

[Nicodema]

I normally don't side with the right-wingers. But I have to admit that when I read the description of what the tone of this show was going to be, I'm rather glad it got the axe.