The Book of Daniel - 01/06/06 **2-hour Series Premiere**

[B.A.]

"Temptation and Forgiveness"

Spoiler:

Reverend Daniel Webster's daughter Grace is arrested for possession of marijuana; an embarrassed Judith confronts Daniel about discussing the couple's personal sex life during his counseling sessions.

Cast: Aidan Quinn, Ellen Burstyn, Dylan Baker, Christian Campbell, Alison Pill, Ivan Shaw, Susanna Thompson, Garret Dillahunt.
Producer(s): Jack Kenny, Flody Suarez .

Original Airdate: January 6, 2006.

The Book of Daniel

______________________________________________________________________________

I am a fan of Aidan Quinn, so I have been looking forward to this for some reason.

[12thmonkey]

I wonder if this show will lean more towards "warm and fuzzy" or "quirky and controversial".

I'm not looking for a quirky show that reinforces religion with the occasional oddball character, but I would be more likely to embrace one that has the balls to boldly question things without resorting to cheesey TV-typical depictions of faith. Maybe it's because I'm an atheist and it's network television, but I have a feeling it will ultimately play things safe rather than daring.

Still, I'm very curious about this one.

[Snowmaker]

So, from the previews, it looks like the man of many faces from Deadwood is now playing

Spoiler:

Jesus

.

[rfduncan]

Originally Posted by 12thmonkey

I'm not looking for a quirky show that reinforces religion with the occasional oddball character, but I would be more likely to embrace one that has the balls to boldly question things without resorting to cheesey TV-typical depictions of faith. Maybe it's because I'm an atheist and it's network television, but I have a feeling it will ultimately play things safe rather than daring.

It is billed as Drama/Comedy so who knows. But it does have a pretty stellar cast - Ellen Burstyn, Adain Quinn, Christian Campbell (Neve's brother from Trick playing Quinn's gay son), Garret Dillahunt.

This show is already being rampantly protested at the midwest NBC affiliates by the American Family Association (AFA). A priest hooked on painkillers with his wife drinking too much, his daughter selling drugs and a gay son? I'm SO there.

[12thmonkey]

Originally Posted by rfduncan

This show is already being rampantly protested at the midwest NBC affiliates by the American Family Association (AFA). A priest hooked on painkillers with his wife drinking too much, his daughter selling drugs and a gay son? I'm SO there.

Yep, those are selling points for me, as well. Time to set the Tivo, I guess.

[Y2K Falcon]

Originally Posted by rfduncan

This show is already being rampantly protested at the midwest NBC affiliates by the American Family Association (AFA).

At least one affiliate is taking the opportunity to air something else instead. There's an article floating around.

EDIT: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../ENTERTAINMENT

[The Bus]

Thanks for reminding me to put it on my DVR...!

[silentbob007]

Originally Posted by rfduncan

A priest hooked on painkillers with his wife drinking too much, his daughter selling drugs and a gay son? I'm SO there.

Hmmm ... sounds like to me it is already trying too hard to be edgy.

[B.A.]

Critic's TV picks: "Book of Daniel"
By Gail Pennington
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Friday, Jan. 06 2006

"Book of Daniel"

8 p.m. on NBC (Channel 5)

Spoiler:

Daniel Webster (Aidan Quinn) pops pills to distract himself from the fact that
his family is the most messed-up bunch since the Ewings.

Daniel's wife (Susannah Thompson) drinks more than a bit.

Their daughter (Alison Pill) has just been busted for selling pot. Their son
(Christian Campbell) is in the closet.

And, especially awkward for Daniel, an Episcopal minister, his brother-in-law
has run off with big bucks from the church's building fund.

Luckily, Daniel has someone to lean on: Jesus. Daniel doesn't necessarily call
on the son of God for help, but Christ (Garret Dillahunt) is there for him,
riding around in his car and offering advice that Daniel sorely needs,
especially with his mother suffering from Alzheimer's and his father (James
Rebhorn) getting cozy with the bishop (Ellen Burstyn, seemingly born to wear a
clerical collar).

By this point, if you're not intrigued, there's a chance you're frantically
looking up NBC's number to phone in a protest. But although the plot
description of the two-hour opener is over-the-top outrageous - probably
necessary to draw attention to a series making its debut in the Friday night
wasteland - "Book of Daniel" itself shapes up as a well-crafted and even
good-hearted prime-time soap about a man of God trying to do his best while
enduring the trials of a contemporary Job.

For open-minded adult viewers bored with Friday night television, "Daniel"
could be the answer to prayers.

[dadaluholla]

This just sounds like Rescue Me without the firefighters.

[Dan G]

This show won't be airing in Terre Haute, IN or Little Rock, Arkansas.

[Tscott]

Originally Posted by dadaluholla

This just sounds like Rescue Me without the firefighters.

I'm thinking Rescue Me meets 7th Heaven.

The local NBC news was featuring this show in its broadcast last night, talking about how local religious officials were shown advance screenings by our local affiliate to see if it should be pulled from the air. They decided not to pull it (which kind of surprised me since it took NYPD Blue winning a bunch of Emmys before an episode of that show ever aired in our area).

[DRG]

I'm getting a 'Desperate Housewives' tone from the ads, but that may just be the marketing team's spin. Still, I'm interested enough to check it out.

[pinata242]

Originally Posted by Dango727

This show won't be airing in Terre Haute, IN or Little Rock, Arkansas.

Here's the article regarding the IN NBC affliate: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...MENT/601050485

My favorite part has to be this quote

"I will not allow [the network] to make unilateral decisions affecting our viewers," [WTWO's general manager] said. "If my action causes people in our community to pay more attention to what they watch on television, I have accomplished my mission."

If that isn't the very definition of hypocracy, I don't know what is. Also, people can't "pay more attention to what they watch on television" if they don't have the choice.

[Eddie W]

Wow, I hadn't even heard of this show. Now thanks to the protests, I'm looking forward to watching.

Thanks to the AFA for the heads up on something that would have flown completely under my radar!

[Lunatikk]

show doesnt interest me

[Pistol Pete]

Sounds awesome! Now if they would only change him to a Baptist minister...

[wildcatlh]

Originally Posted by pinata242

Here's the article regarding the IN NBC affliate: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...MENT/601050485

My favorite part has to be this quote


If that isn't the very definition of hypocracy, I don't know what is. Also, people can't "pay more attention to what they watch on television" if they don't have the choice.

The station manager "amended" his quote, and now it's even worse...

WTWO Station General Manager Duane Lammers today [January 6] has issued a revised statement regarding WTWO`s decision to preempt the NBC show "The Book of Daniel".

"After reading and hearing much of the reporting on my decision to pre-empt "The Book of Daniel", let me update my comments as follows:

"My first obligation to my station is to protect the license granted by the FCC. Current regulations could subject this station to severe punishment, up to and including revocation of our license if even a single person's objection to the FCC found material broadcast by our station to be indecent or obscene. Subsequent viewing of the material within "The Book of Daniel" leaves me no choice but to do my job and uphold the standards of our community."

[big whoppa]

Good actors in Aiden Quinn, Christian Campbell, and Ellen Burstyn. Sounds good.

[Dead]

Originally Posted by Dango727

This show won't be airing in Terre Haute, IN or Little Rock, Arkansas.

Another article said that it would be aired in Little Rock, but on another network (maybe WB?).

[beencrazier]

Originally Posted by Dango727

This show won't be airing in Terre Haute, IN or Little Rock, Arkansas.

Being from Terre Haute, I can assure you that many people are relieved that the meth-makers aren't taking a break to watch this show (seriously, Terre Haute has been called the "meth" headquarters of the midwest). Watching a show about a priest with problems may encourage people to....well.... I don't know. Maybe they'll play a nice family oriented "R" rated film instead.

I had no interest in watching this... however, now that I can't I want to watch it. What am I missing..... the alcohol, the pill-popping, the POT?!?!? Someone please spoil the show for me after it's over. I may just have to move.

[BravesMG]

Originally Posted by silentbob007

Hmmm ... sounds like to me it is already trying too hard to be edgy.

Totally agree, sounds like hype.

[leepyswetr]

This show is terrible.

[MrX]

The first hour felt like two hours by itself.

It can't figure out if it wants to be funny or serious and it doesn't do either particularly well.

[B.A.]

I liked it. Dillahunt plays an awesome Christ.

And I think one of my favorite parts was the fact that his relationship w/ Father Frank pissed almost everyone off - they need to make sure Hedaya's character pops up every now and again.