NBC cancels "Book of Daniel"

[MaineDolFan]

I thought that this show was great.  A pill popping priest with a daughter selling dope, a gay son, an adopted son banging one of the parishoner's daughter's...

Not to mention the mob ties and the fact that Jesus himself came down and hung out with the priest just to shoot the shit.

America needs to lighten up.  My wife's mother is a minister - she thought it was a great show.  What the hell would Americans be doing if we weren't looking for the next things to offend us?

[Buddhagirl]

I kept meaning to catch this show.  Damn it.

[SCFinFan]

America needs to lighten up.  My wife's mother is a minister - she thought it was a great show.  What the hell would Americans be doing if we weren't looking for the next things to offend us?

Maine,

I hope you don't mind me adding my two cents. The way I see it, Americans want idealism. You can only take so much realism til you get sick of it (note: this is why many of the top selling books of the last 20 years have been 'magical realism' and why most of the enduring classics in English are tinged with mysticism). Frankly, I don't think people are offended by this show in the way you use the word (I am taking it that when you say "offended" you mean that they are pettily obbsessed with scruples). I think they're just tired of realism.

Americans know that they can't look up to politicians. Sports stars used to fit the bill of "hero", but no longer with the way they act. It's only natural to then look to another type of authority for idealism and hero worship once the political and physical fizzles out. Therefore, I think people want to see religious types in idealised ways. They want to see them succeeding, they want to see them do what's right. In short, they want to beleive in them, they want saints.

I don't necessarily think it's "offense" in the way you use the term, Maine. I think it's just being sick and tired with manufactured "realism".

[MaineDolFan]

SC - you might be right, but the article that I read about the show being cancelled - NBC cited poor ratings and multiple complaints about the show's content.  The complaints were that the priest's pill popping offended people, the perceived notion that Jesus is "okay with sinning" because he didn't stop people from mistakes were "offensive..."

Here, read the article yourself.

LOS ANGELES - The last chapter of the controversial religious drama "The Book of Daniel" has been written at NBC. Although the network stopped short of saying the low-rated show was canceled, a spokeswoman said Tuesday it has been dropped from the schedule.

The series, which starred     Aidan Quinn as an Episcopalian priest with a pill habit who holds regular conversations with Jesus, has a promiscuous son and a daughter who deals marijuana, proved better at drawing criticism than viewers.

Conservative Christian groups condemned the depiction of Jesus as blasphemous, accusing the writers of portraying Christ as tolerant of sin in talks with the priest. Seven NBC affiliates refused to air it.


"The Book of Daniel" drew an audience of 6.9 million on its first night. By its fourth airing, the number had dipped to 5.8 million viewers.

NBC's move was lauded by the Tupelo, Miss.-based American Family Association, which had condemned the show as a sign of what it called the broadcaster's "anti-Christian bigotry."

The group, along with James Dobson's Focus on the Family, asked supporters to lobby their local NBC affiliates to refuse to carry it. In an article posted on its Web site, the AFA credited viewer complaints for forcing the network's hand.

"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," "AFA founder and chairman Donald E. Wildmon said in the posting.

The network had no comment on the statement.

The show's creator and executive producer, Jack Kenny, has said his goal was to depict how "humor and grace" help a flawed man struggle with his faith and family. He said the writers never meant to mock religion or Jesus.

[Sunstroke]

I had never heard of the show before today...but it sounds like the kind of show I'd enjoy, for sure...

[pintofguinness14]

Show was cancelled because it got poor ratings.  Sure the usual complainers will came out of the woodwork to complain about the show, but it's real problem is that not enough people watched.  Better shows have been cancelled for the same reason.

[CF DolFan]

Show was cancelled because it got poor ratings.  Sure the usual complainers will came out of the woodwork to complain about the show, but it's real problem is that not enough people watched.  Better shows have been cancelled for the same reason.

I'd be willing to bet the same thing.

[SCFinFan]

Conservative Christian groups condemned the depiction of Jesus as blasphemous, accusing the writers of portraying Christ as tolerant of sin in talks with the priest. Seven NBC affiliates refused to air it.


"The Book of Daniel" drew an audience of 6.9 million on its first night. By its fourth airing, the number had dipped to 5.8 million viewers.

NBC's move was lauded by the Tupelo, Miss.-based American Family Association, which had condemned the show as a sign of what it called the broadcaster's "anti-Christian bigotry."

[/i]

Good point. That's the trouble with values, man. They're sticking points which cannot be argued.