Book 'em, Daniel
The latest flare-up in the cultural wars may involve an NBC-TV show, "The Book of Daniel," an apparently quirky depiction of the misadventures of an Episcopal minister.
Among the series potentially controversial elements:
1. The minister has ongoing conversations with Jesus (portrayed by anactor in the flesh, but who no one else can see).
2. His son is gay.
3. His daughter has been busted for selling pot.
4. Well, do you really need a fourth one?
Judging from NBC's promotional spots on the show, which debuts tonight on WXII (Channel 12), the network isn't running from controversy; it's probably courting it. The drugs, Jesus and homosexual angles are emphasized.
After all, the only thing worse than a big fuss is small ratings.
Channel 12 hosted a roundtable of Triad clergy who voiced mixed reactions to a preview screening.
But it may all amount to another new show that comes and then goes in the blink of an eye.
Some reviewers give it points for skirting convention but more than one has said it tries too hard.
Others have not been that kind.
Notes the headline of a Reuters preview of the first episode: "Even Jesus might not forgive 'Book of Daniel.' "
Comments (7)
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Not as bad as some preachers' kids I've known.
Posted on January 6, 2006 6:43 PM
Doesn't it just reflect the times? Now a days those situations with the kids are common. More and more women are being put in jail for drug related crimes. Many individuals are feeling more comfortable to let the world know of their sexuality, just like Swoopes.
Posted on January 6, 2006 9:51 PM
Watched the show almost entirely. Pretty prosaically typical trash TV. A waste of talent (Ellen Burstyn and others). There was only TWO advertisers other than NBC-parent-company-owned products: H&R Block (one ad) and an ad that ran a few times with a buch of 20-somethings eating and one of them having pizza fall on his lap. No other marketing department wanted to touch it. It was not so much offensive as merely insulting.
Posted on January 7, 2006 1:58 PM
I tried very, very hard to watch the entire program. I thought it was horrible. Bad acting, bad script and just a terrible show. The scene of the family trying to eat dinner with all the bickering, insults and total lack of respect for each other was sad and depressing. The network and writers were trying to make jokes in situations were there are none. This show is bad on all levels and I will not waste my time by watching it again.
Posted on January 8, 2006 9:04 AM
I wholly agree with the thumbs-down assessments. What a waste of two hours, even on a Friday night. The kitchen-sink approach to one social issue/subplot after another was strained and totally unbelievable. The show was so tepid as drama or satire or social commentary or whatever it was trying to be that we honestly could not watch the second hour.
Posted on January 9, 2006 9:08 AM
I want forgive any of the people that paid for the ads.
Posted on January 10, 2006 3:13 PM
I do, however, wish someone would make a decent satire of holier-than-thou Christians. I suppose 700 Club already is, and The Simpsons ahve good episodes regularly skewering such; but it seems advertisers and producers alike either overplay their hand or balk completely. This topic is so ripe for the picking, I am shocked no one's done a better job with live actors.
Posted on January 12, 2006 2:59 PM