The Book of Daniel

[awlrite4now]

The show has already been banned by the station KARK in Little Rock. Can you see how tight the Bible Belt is around here?

[shmeep]

I just read what is at the link. Thank you, inuvik, for telling me how to get there and for saying it is different from what is posted. This article made me even more curious about the show!

I'm going to post the article here in case there are any other issues with the link. Before I do that, I want to point out that a priest from All Saints Episcipol Church in Pasadena is quoted in the article and the pilot was filmed there. That was my brother's church for many years. I can tell you with great certaintly that the stone floor there is very hard. I still have a numb spot on the back of my head from the time I fainted while I was a bridesmaid in my brother's wedding. (Hey, do we have an embarrassing moments thread anywhere? Or could that get too disturbing...)

Anyway, thanks for the article, Mouse! This is the one to which the current link connects:

NEW YORK — The latest skirmish in the culture wars revolves around a mild-mannered Episcopal priest who nurses a secret Vicodin habit and regularly sees and converses with Jesus.

The Rev. Daniel Webster, played by Aidan Quinn, is the main character in NBC's drama "The Book of Daniel," a series premiering tonight at 9 about an earnest but often harried New England minister and his efforts to cope with the challenges of modern-day parenthood — including a moody teenage daughter who is caught selling marijuana to finance her manga animation — and the politics of leading a church congregation. Along the way, he consults with a very real-looking Jesus, a character who looks as if he stepped straight off the canvas of "The Last Supper."

Even before it has aired, the show has added fuel to a building debate about the portrayal of faith and religion in popular culture. The American Family Assn., a conservative Christian organization based in Tupelo, Miss., launched a campaign to get local NBC affiliates not to air the program, arguing that it is disrespectful of Christians. By Thursday afternoon, stations in Terre Haute, Ind., and Little Rock, Ark., had decided not to show it.

Meanwhile, some Episcopal priests are urging their congregants to watch the program, saying that it offers a refreshingly candid portrayal of religious leaders and showcases the Episcopal Church as a tolerant denomination. The Episcopal Diocese of Washington has even launched the Blog of Daniel — found at blog.edow.org/weblog — a website designed to spur discussion about the issues raised on the program.

All the fuss has come as somewhat of a surprise to creator Jack Kenny, who originally wrote the pilot as a writing sample a year ago. Kenny — who most recently produced "Wanda at Large" and "Titus" — said he intended to make Webster's vocation merely the background, not the focus of the show.

"It's never been about religion," said Kenny, who was raised Roman Catholic and describes himself now as an unaffiliated Christian. "It's about a family that loves each other unconditionally and is ready to catch each other when they fall.

"I was always very clear with the writers and actors that this was never to make fun of or mock Christianity," he added. "It was always a show about people of faith who believe in Jesus Christ as their savior. But it's not about that — that's just there."

Kenny said he got the inspiration for the show from his partner's family, a tight-knit but often taciturn clan.

"I always wanted to examine that world of the WASP, that uptight, Northeastern, 'Let's not talk about the world, let's have a martini instead,' " he said. "I remember Michael telling me that once when he was a kid, he said, 'God bless you, Mommy.' And his mother said, 'We don't say that.' I love that world; I love the unspoken, because really good actors can do so much with that."

NBC executives were drawn to Kenny's script because it was unlike anything else on the air, said Vivi Zigler, the network's executive vice president of current programs.

"You've got at its core a character that you don't usually see on television," Zigler said. "His family and surrounding extended family have so much drama, and he himself is a flawed character. And you have it set in a backdrop of a church, where his job is dealing with issues of faith and morality. There's this great juxtaposition, and the dramatic conflict and the humor come from that."

Critics, however, take issue with the depiction of Webster and his family, including his wife, who frequently partakes of a midday martini; his 23-year-old son, Peter, a gay Republican; his 16-year-old adopted son, Adam, who tries to have sex with his girlfriend just about everywhere he can; and his sister-in-law, who has an affair with another woman.

"We certainly understand that Christians have difficulties in life, even ministers," said Ed Vitagliano, a spokesman for the American Family Assn., who watched the pilot Tuesday night, along with other clergy, at the NBC affiliate in Memphis. "But this was not a realistic portrayal of a minister's life. This was so far beyond the pale, it was almost a comic strip version."

Vitagliano said that the group was also offended that Kenny is gay, as are two of the show's characters.

"We look at that and say, 'If they wanted to try to alienate conservative Christians, they're making every effort to do so,' " he said.

Responded Kenny: "That strikes me as both non-Christian and un-American. It seems to me I should be able to write about anything I want to write about. They have a perfect right not to watch it."

However, Vitagliano said more than 500,000 people had used the group's website to send e-mails to NBC and its affiliates demanding that the show be pulled.

"This has really struck a nerve with people," he said. "I don't know that I've personally been this busy doing interviews since Ellen DeGeneres came out on her sitcom."

The two stations that decided not to air the program were receiving letters, e-mails and phone calls complaining about the content.

"There are just so many things that bother me about it," said Duane Lammers, station manager of WTWO in Terre Haute, who noted that in the first episode, Webster says he wants God to damn his brother-in-law. (He later tells Jesus he didn't mean it.) "That just doesn't belong on broadcast television."

KARK in Little Rock has also decided not to air it, although the show will be carried in that market by the local WB affiliate, NBC officials said. Although the network has received a couple of thousand e-mails complaining about the show, 99% of stations in the country will be showing the program, Zigler noted.

"We feel that it is actually a very good, uplifting, hopeful kind of show," said Zigler, adding that the producers consulted with Episcopal priests to ensure an accurate depiction of church hierarchy and liturgy. "Once you see it, you can see that it doesn't take [religion] lightly. I think the respect is there."

Quinn agreed.

"I don't understand all the talk about it, because if you ask me, this show is pretty wholesome, down the middle," he said in a recent conference call with reporters. "It deals with some controversial subject matters, certainly, but in a way that I don't think is that salacious."

And some religious leaders have embraced the program.

"I'm thrilled we have the opportunity to offer to the mainstream media the story of a progressive protagonist in a faith-based story where life is never tidy and neat," said the Rev. Susan Russell, senior associate for parish life at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, where the show's pilot was filmed. "I think it's a realistic portrayal of a faithful man facing 21st century challenges."

Russell, who has watched the pilot and read the scripts for the rest of the episodes, said she has sent a message to her congregants urging them to tune in to the program. She and other Episcopal leaders believe the show could actually draw more people to the Episcopal Church. The Blog of Daniel, in fact, includes links to a film about Episcopalians and information about the Washington diocese, and invites visitors to join others in online prayer and meditation.

"I think a lot of people are looking for a spiritual home that doesn't look like the welcome mat that Jerry Falwell puts out," Russell said.

If the public debate has turned rancorous, however, producers said that internally the topics provoked some fascinating dialogues.

John Tinker, a born-again Christian who is one of the program's three executive producers, said the issues raised by the show's themes spilled into the writing room, where the staff frequently engaged in discussions about "life and death and everything in between."

"I've worked on a lot of shows, and I had never had an experience that came close to it when it came to people just offering up for their fellow writers what they felt their place was in the universe," he said. "What I learned from non-Christians was really a blessing. It was nice to be around people and reminded of our common humanity."

[inuvik]

admin said:

I just read what is at the link. Thank you, inuvik, for telling me how to get there and for saying it is different from what is posted. This article made me even more curious about the show!

I'm going to post the article here in case there are any other issues with the link. Before I do that, I want to point out that a priest from All Saints Episcipol Church in Pasadena is quoted in the article and the pilot was filmed there. That was my brother's church for many years. I can tell you with great certaintly that the stone floor there is very hard. I still have a numb spot on the back of my head from the time I fainted while I was a bridesmaid in my brother's wedding. (Hey, do we have an embarrassing moments thread anywhere? Or could that get too disturbing...)

It's also the church where Eric Stoltz got married in August--sigh...

[maggiethecat]

Warning: Don't read the following if you have high hopes, or haven't watched your TiVo yet!!!

What can I say about The Book of Daniel?

Oh, dear. I was so looking forward to it.

What a waste of Aiden Quinn!

As you can tell by the time of this post, the second hour of the premiere is not holding me. In fact, the urge to surf hit me at about the five minute mark, which is not a good sign!

If I had to describe it in one phrase? A sort of pseudo-ecclesiastical Desperate Housewives rip-off that doesn't make the most of a terrific cast . . .

. . . plus, I caught the end of Injustice, which is looking better and better, and according to the promos for next week, Marisol Nichols is heavily featured. So I guess I know what I'll be watching at 9:00 on Fridays when I'm home.

Plus the "appearing" Jesus is a dead steal from Rescue Me, which, as if I even needed to say it, used the device much more effectively.

Gotta go watch Numbers.

And I had such high hopes! Sigh.

Really, this is not making me happy.

[anna]

I kept waiting for someone to throw in the kitchen sink. That's the only thing that was left out.

[doobrah]

Yeah, one thing I really despise in series TV is the compulsion to throw everything at you in the first 10 minutes of the pilot. Anyone else's head reeling by the 10-minute mark?

I was surprised James Frawley directed --he's got to be ancient by now, but one of the go-to guys for series development.

And episode 2 put me to sleep. Literally.

AGreed Mags, what a waste of Aidan Quinn.

[maggiethecat]

Thanks, anna and doobrah, for not leaving me out all on that lonesome limb.

I can't imaging this show staying around for long. NBC can be amazingly ruthless, as witness that fertility clinic show with Angie Harmon that was touted to the skies all summer and then aired exactly twice. Then again, if they keep whipping up the "controversy" it could be around for a while.

(And I know the wife is meant to be an icy WASP, but does this automatically mean she has only one facial expression? Can we say cliche, class?)

In Justice is looking better and better.

[bjobsessed]

I wasn't home last night so I missed it. I was see sawing back and forth over which show to tape: Injustice or the Book of Daniel. Injustice finally won out. Guess I made a good choice from what you guys are saying.

[doobrah]

My TV listings say Book of Daniel will repeat TONIGHT from 8 -10 pm.

What were they thinking? The first hour is NOT suitable for 8 pm.

[bjobsessed]

doobrah said:

My TV listings say Book of Daniel will repeat TONIGHT from 8 -10 pm.

What were they thinking? The first hour is NOT suitable for 8 pm.

maybe I'll watch it so I can discuss it with everybody else.

[maggiethecat]

Because maggiethecat has a built-in guilt complex, please let me just say that I hope I didn't shut down the discussion for those who liked the show. I didn't dislike it -- I was just disappointed.

Then again, looking back over the past few years? The only pilot in living memory that met the hype and then some was -- oh, can't we all see this one coming -- Blind Justice.

For me, it all comes down to the quality of the writing. And therein lies my disappointment with The Book of Daniel. No way can you blame anything on the actors when you have the likes of Aiden Quinn (I've adored the man since Avalon), Ellen Burstyn, James Rebhorn, and Cynthia Nixon.

Maybe it'll get better?

We live in hope.

[bjobsessed]

I didn't mean to imply that you shut down the discussion Mags. To each his own right? That's what is so great around here. I just thought I might as well watch it and make up my own mind, but I probably won't like it either since I seem to be in pretty good agreement with everyone else around here.

[inuvik]

It's interesting, maggie, that you call it a Desperate Housewives ripoff. My mother watched it and taped it for me and also said it has the same tone and feel as Desperate Housewives (which neither of us like).

She did not like it either, and said much of what you did. I am interested mostly in the Episcopal Church aspects and apparently there is not much of that in there either. But, she will continue watching it a little longer and continue to record it for me.

Where I live, it aired from 10-12 PM. WAY to late for many people, even for a Friday night, so I'm sure that won't help it in the rating dept either!

Saw a picture of Aiden Quinn in TV guide--my, he's a lot pudgier than I remember. Can you say middle age spread?

[bjobsessed]

I never did get to see it. They didn't rebroadcast it in my area.

[shmeep]

I just finished watching it on tape and...

[whisper]I liked it.[/whisper]

I didn't love it and I won't be devastated if it is (as will probably happen) yanked off the air in a week, but I was entertained and found many of the characters likable--or at least fun to dislike. It isn't as funny or as outrageous as it was hyped to be, but I see it as campy and fun and slightly tongue-in-cheek. Desperate Housewives meets Rescue Me? I can see that a little, but there was also something almost--dare I say it?--fresh about the story. Sometimes. I agree that the Jesus bit was done far better in Rescue Me and that every soapy plot ever written was thrown into the mix, but I'd hardly say Aiden Quinn was "wasted"--although his character seemed to be much of the time.

I guess I wasn't disappointed because it was pretty much as I had expected it to be. It's obviously not for everyone and I can see the points of everyone who didn't like it but...this show is listed under the "guilty pleasures" category here, right? If I keep watching, that's what it'll be and I won't be ashamed of it because I watch all sorts of crap.

Also, I won't have to choose between this and injustice in the future because one is on at 9 and the other at 10.