Local news reporting "Book of Daniel" may not only be offensive,

[RevCheesehead]

but also immoral.

So who do they interview? A conservative Episcopal priest, and a conservative Christian talk radio deejay.

Then they conclude with "watch the controversy right here at 7 pm."



I'm popping in a videotape - I don't want to miss this! :evilgrin:


ON EDIT: This show airs tonight at 9/8 central on NBC, for 2 hours.

[Miss Marmelstein]

1. I am excited for this program.

They are running a 2 hour premier tonight which gives the audience more time to get to know the characters and such. Also it has the fabulous oscar winning actress Ellen Burstyn...you know it will be good.
:bounce:

[RevCheesehead]

2. I hope all Liberal Christians watch, and CONTACT NBC

Tell them you appreciate hearing a more balanced approach, and a more honest portrayal of religion.

[Miss Marmelstein]

8. I'm going to watch and then write in support....

even tho I'm not a liberal christian but a liberal jewish american princess...accent on the princess. :7

[RevCheesehead]

10. hooray!!

I think viewer support for these shows is crucial. We've got to let them know - just because.

[TheMightyFavog]

17. Unless Dad thinks there's something better on PBS..

I'll Watch it, and write in.

I may be a Discordian, but i'll throw my support behind it.

[RevCheesehead]

23. Write in, even if you DON'T see it.

After all, that's what the fundies are doing. :evilgrin:

[TheMightyFavog]

3. You saw this too?

I found it amusing. The DJ was telling people to watch it and them decide for themselves wheter to pressure NBC 26 to take it off the air.

Whatevr happened to just changing the fucking channel?


Oy, I'd like to take that DJ, strap him to a chair, prop his eyes open ala A Clockwork Orange and expose them to Episodes of The Vicar of Dibley and Father Ted. His head would probably explode at the thought of a femal minister alone.

[RevCheesehead]

4. Did you see it on GB or Point TV?

I took it as a drawn-out advertisement. But they're going for the "I want to hate it" market. Notice how they didn't interview anyone who might actually appreciate the show??

[TheMightyFavog]

5. NBC 26 - Green Bay

I'm not due back in Point until the 22nd. (Maybe earier if I get the job with Stevens Point's Cable Access channel.)

[RevCheesehead]

6. Wow - what a nice vacation break!

Good luck with the job. I hope it turns out for you. :thumbsup:

[TheMightyFavog]

12. Yeah, a nice month long vacation stuck in the middle of freeper central.

At least I have my work on my Modern D20 adventure set aboard a great lakes carferry to keep me sane.

[supernova]

7. When did the RR become the voice of xtainity in this country?

How dare they tell me what is "immoral?" :eyes:

:bounce: Got my DVR set! :bounce: :bounce:

I liked the other show too about the catholic priest. I forget the name of that. But it was very well done, too.

[RevCheesehead]

9. "Nothing Sacred."

That was so excellently done. They had two priests as advisors to the show.

I also liked "Joan of Arcadia," simply because it dared to show God as something other than George Burns.

[TheMightyFavog]

14. Then there was that cartoon

God, the Devil, and Bob.

I liked that one, too.

[supernova]

20. Yes, Nothing Sacred.

Thanks for remembering.

I never got to see God, The Devil, and Bob. They took it off the air before I could watch it. I'll have to find it on DVD somewhere.

I thought Joan of Arcadia was great too, I think Goth God was my fav there. That an the liquor store clerk when Joan thought God told her to have a booze party. :rofl: Talk about exploding a few myths. :crazy:

[TreasonousBastard]

28. I was pretty well outraged when they killed off "Nothing Sacred"..

no thanks to some whiny wingnut Catholics who would rather their priests stay drunk and bugger little kids than have realistic doubts about their faith while trying to put it to practice in the real world. Methinks it hit too close to home for some people.

I was also surprised that "Joan of Arcadia" stayed on so long. Maybe they just had the good sense to not have Alannis Morissette as God in primetime so the nutjobs wouldn't get what was really going on.

Anyway, I guess I'm going to have to catch at least some of it to see what this is all about. Can't help but wonder if this is a phony controversy sent out to build ratings, though.

[TheMightyFavog]

11. Nothing Sacred, IIRC.

I think the real reason the fundies don't like this show is because this show illustrates the fact that people of the cloth are human and filled with flaws just like the rest of us. I'm willing to bet that if you went rooted around in the closets of a lot of these fundie preachers and personalities, you'd find quite a bit of skeletons.

[RevCheesehead]

13. Not just the fundies...

People don't want to believe that their clergyperson is human, flawed, and just as much in need of forgiveness and grace as anyone else.

It's part of the dysfunction of their theology. Pastor = God, the rescuer. They are the victim, and the "evil du jour" is whatever pisses them off.

[Left Is Write]

32. I'm very fortunate...

Both pastors at my church are more than willing to show their humanity, their flawed sides, their "realness." The associate pastor was divorced two years ago, and I think her very real approachability helped US help HER through a very difficult time.

[supernova]

15. Leaders as less than perfect

Fundies especially hate situations were leaders are seen as human and fallible, goes against their authoritarian grain, bigtime. And I'd venture to say, if you scratched the serfaces of these people, they'd tell you its for that reason, moreso than all the other aspects of a story.

[RevCheesehead]

16. I just saw an NBC ad for the show....

The priest is talking to Jesus, saying "I thought you were supposed to comfort me?"

Jesus looks at him, and asks "where do you read that??" :rofl:

Damn, this is going to be great!!!

[supernova]

18. SNORT

Jesus as post-ironic, cynical hipster. :thumbsup:

[tjdee]

19. Wait, WTF is this? What is this Book of Daniel?

I keep hearing about the controversy, I don't think I've ever heard what it's actually about.

[supernova]

21. It's about an Episcopal priest an his dysfunctional family

and He also talks to God.

Sounds cool.

[tjdee]

24. Thank you....and I just read that dreamboat Aidan Quinn is in it.

I'll give it a watch for a while, see if I like it.

[politicat]

22. My response from KUSA:

What I wrote:
Please don't bow to the pressure of a few loud and fanatical
extremists who hate all television, not just this one program. Choice
in broadcasting means choices for all, not just a few bigots. If they
don't want to watch, they can turn their TVs off or tune to another
channel. Please don't deprive the rest of us of this choice because a
few people refuse to allow everyone else to make choices for
themselves.


Their response:
Thanks for sharing your comments with us on the program. We have
received several e-mail both for and against the airing of "The Book of
Daniel." It will air tonight, 1/6, at 8pm. As with all new network
programming, ratings determine whether it will be continued. Thanks,
again, for your note.


So I guess I will be watching it....

[khashka]

25. I got slammed today over it

Apparently some guy called into the radio and said he was an atheist and wanted it banned because it might lead people to Christianity. And we have the same name. So people thought it was me. Hell, even my mother confronted me! But I didn't do it.


Khash.

(This whole controversy is silly and serves no one's purposes)

[supernova]

27. Sorry to hear that Khash,

That's just crazy.

Why do people get so worked up over a TV show? On top of that, a TV show no one has seen yet?!

[khashka]

31. I've been accused of worse

But really, how can anyone judge something from a few lines in a newpaper article?

Let's watch and see. If it's offensive, fine, say so.

But this preemptive crap gets up my nose.

And it annoys the fuck out of me to be berated for viewpoints I don't hold!


Khash.

[RevCheesehead]

33. Are you sure that was accidental?

Could someone be playing a joke on you? Or, could a freeper be trying to smear you? There can't be that many Khash's around... at least, none that matter. :hug:

[khashka]

36. It could be an accident, but I doubt it.

It is an unusual name.

And I tend to be very vocal about my opinions. Doesn't make me a lot of friends. But the ones I do make... superb!

Like Jesus, I'd rather hang with publicans and sinners.

I don't care if anyone tries to smear me. My acts speak for themselves.

Still it was little surprising to wake up, walk outside and be the most hated man in town. When I had no idea what anyone was even talking about.

Khash.

[RevCheesehead]

37. You know, in a twisted sort of way, it's kind of funny.

"As an atheist, I'm afraid this show is going to turn people to Christianity." Just imagine how the freepers would react to that!! :rofl:

[khashka]

38. It cracks me up.

Christians (some of 'em, not all) claim it's anti-Christian.
Some dude using my name claims it's too pro-Christian.

But no one has seen it yet! Gotta laugh!


Khash.

[Lefty48197]

26. 9 pm EST in Detroit.

I read banned books too.

[Left Is Write]

29. Ha! My closest friend is a not-so-conservative Episcopalian...

and I'm betting both of us will like it. :D

[RevCheesehead]

30. I GOT THE TIME WRONG!! SORRY!!

It's on at 9/8 central.

Right now, the local station is airing a PAT ROBERTSON SHOW!! :puke:

[Left Is Write]

34. Ew!

let me join you in that :puke:

[supernova]

35. That man grows more hateful by the year

:grr: :grr: :grr: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[RevCheesehead]

39. Anyone offended yet?

Ellen Burnstyn as the Bishop??? :bounce:

[Initech]

41. Time to cue up the Tivo!

:popcorn:

[supernova]

42. Olives!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[RevCheesehead]

44. I heard that!!

So I went to the kitchen to get some.

Oh, look - here's Jesus!!! O8)

[TreasonousBastard]

60. I'm offended! But not by...

anything religious. I'm offended by the OTT dramatics they tried to get in there.

In the first 45 minutes--

his daughter gets busted for pot
he has an Asian adopted son who's a Casanova
he has a gay son
he's on pills himself
his wife is on the edge of a breakdown
he pisses off the bishop with his sermon
his sister-in-law is a little closer to the edge than his wife
his brother-in-law stole church money and got found dead in a compromising situation
he knows a Catholic priest with mob connections who helps him out at times

Sorry-- this really has no place to go but downhill. I'm checking out the new Num3ers.

[RevCheesehead]

69. oh, OK.

whatever. I just think that anything less would be considered, well, boring - by TV standards.

[TreasonousBastard]

74. Heh! I'm not against throwing...

the kitchen sink into an hour or two, I just think that having all this happen to this one guy in the pilot is a bit too much. It would work better dramatically if, like a lot of other shows, all this stuff happened to different people.

OK, I'm being picky here, and I suppose whoever wrote this thing is deliberately putting the priest at the center of things for some reason, but it just kinda bothers me that they think they have to overwhelm us with a season's worth of plot gimmicks in the first show. And, they now have to find enough stuff screwing up everyone else in the show's lives to make it interesting. Can't have the priest be the only one with problems, can we?

I liked the Jesus's in "Joan of Arcadia" better-- this one makes me compare him with Joan's, and that comparison doesn't bode well. Alanis Morisette would actually have been a better choice here.

But, that's just my humble opinion. I really hope this one straightens up and finds an audience. It's got possibilities, but it looks a bit muddled so far.

[RevCheesehead]

82. You'd be surprised at how involved clergy ARE....

and many times it does feel like you're at the center of everything.
But I agree - it's a bit unusual that everything is happening within the clergy's own family. Then again, I'm single. I have no idea just how f'ed up my family would be! :)

[TreasonousBastard]

89. One thing that did get me was...

the complete disconnect between the parents and the daughter-- it rang so true it was scary. That, and some other stuff, didn't bother me so much that it was in there, but that they didn't have time to develop it any more. I hope they take the time in the future.

And, yeah, clergy is in the middle of everything in the congregation, I've seen it enough. that's kinda why I expected him to be dealing with other people's problems, not so much of his own.

OTOH, every other show does that.

[RevCheesehead]

90. That's one area where I think "Seventh Heaven" gets it right.

Or, at least they did in their first few seasons. I got bored, and stopped watching.

Some days, you simply can't deal with your own family's problems because church comes first. I'm struggling with this right now, myself. But I told them that when my parents really need me, they will come first.

[TreasonousBastard]

91. Didn't pay much attention to...

Seventh Heaven, but that's a tough call between flock and family.

You've got some solemn obligations, and it would be very difficult to have to choose among them.

[xmas74]

40. Thanks for the reminder!

I just got home from a family night at the rec center and I've got it on now!

[RevCheesehead]

43. Stained glass windows reminiscent of The Wild, Wild West

Funny, smart-assed dysfunctional family. How real!

[supernova]

49. I had the same idea

about the Wild Wild West. I loved that show.

[RevCheesehead]

50. There's a thread in GD on the show...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x71312

Not a lot of discussion going on - and a number of bored people.

But, I liked the comment on how this show is reminiscent of 6 Feet Under.

[xmas74]

45. Now I know what the RW fundies will hate.

Daniel "Why are you talking to me?"
Jesus "I talk to everyone. Few hear me. Some hear what they want. Some ignore me."

[RevCheesehead]

46. I loved that line.

I also loved "Am I chosen?" "(laughter)...no." (humility check here)

[xmas74]

47. That was great.

Seems like a show I will keep up w/ so far.

[RevCheesehead]

48. Ooh - he said "God Damned!!!"

Good for him. :thumbsup:

[Ilsa]

54. I loved how he justified it!

I like this show. These are real people! Families are like this, Preacher's kids and all.

[RevCheesehead]

56. Preachers, too.

Oh, oh - looks like some kind of sex going on...
Damn, they cut away! :(

[RevCheesehead]

51. Oh, the funeral scene!!!

:rofl: That bitch!!

You know this one's going to end up in the daughter's comic!

[supernova]

52. Ha Ha!

Pretty nervy of the secretary to show up an a shiny new (italian?) sports car.

[Eric J in MN]

83. Hmm, I didn't think of it that way until you pointed it out (nt)

nt

[lavenderdiva]

53. So far I really like it, and will keep watching it--

I like the writing. It does kinda make me wonder if it is going to be somewhat reminiscient of 'Desperate Housewives' in its plot lines, but I still like it!

[skiddlybop]

I think...

I'm falling in love with Aidan Quinn....

for real.

[lavenderdiva]

67. boy, he sure is a cutey-patooty!

And I like his character in this show!

[RevCheesehead]

55. "Judith? That's your mother!"

:rofl: "yeah, I figured she used to be hot"

[supernova]

58. "It would be nice to see him dating...

people talk" :D :D

:wtf: The wife and the mistress are laughing over coffee?

This might be even more insane than 6 ft under. :crazy:

[RevCheesehead]

63. Even better - the mistress is his sister-in-law!!

Ho-lee shit!!!

[lavenderdiva]

57. wow what an ending!

'Ya never know do ya?'

[RevCheesehead]

61. There's another hour yet...

Look! The other woman is his sister-in-law!!!

Damn, this is good!

[lavenderdiva]

66. Goody, goody, goody!

this sister-in-law is a ring-tail-tooter! And I'm not so sure I like Daniel's Dad.

[RevCheesehead]

68. He's "old school" priest.

Prim and proper, follows the rules, probably sold his soul to get where he is... Reminds me of a LOT of clergy I know, sadly. :(

[rusty charly]

59. tell NBC

http://boards.nbc.com/bb/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=261691&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

[Staph]

62. Garret Dillahunt

I just realized (via IMDB) who is playing Jesus -- the same actor that played both Jack McCall (the man that murdered Wild Bill Hickock) and Francis Walcott (the totally evil representative of George Hearst) in the HBO series Deadwood. Interesting casting! He actually looks just like the picture of Jesus above the altar in little church my grandmother attended.

[LostinVA]

64. What does Bishop Spong say?

[RevCheesehead]

65. Jesus has a sense of humor!

I'm not surprised. :7:loveya:

[supernova]

70. From Outrage to Acceptance - Local news

Our NBC affiliate is doing a story on the show during the 11:00 News. I'll probably tune it for that to see what they say.

[RevCheesehead]

72. At least your station is doing the "acceptance" part.

I'm going to have to write to the local affilliate - and sign my name AND title. I hate it when I have to be more than just another person.

[Reverend_Smitty]

87. They just had a piece on the Philly station...

the Episcopalian parish they visited all loved it. Although the minister was openly gay, so methinks it was a liberal bunch to begin with

[RevCheesehead]

88. I got a phone call during that news segment...

But from what I could tell, the priest and his wife both said that they really enjoyed what they saw (from the first hour). They didn't spend as much time on the "controversy" this time.

[Reverend_Smitty]

79. The Philly affiliate is doing a story on it too

lets see what they say

[supernova]

81. Report results from Raleigh/Durham

Station received 12 calls during the show, but 10 out of the 12 were in FAVOR. :woohoo:

The show's writer, Jack Kenny (?) is a graduate of Millbrook High in Raleigh. Wants to entertain, abov all, and also get people to think.

The Episcopal minister of Fayetteville was pleased that his denom is getting some airtime.

Station got "hundreds" of emails. Those are split 50/50 in opinion so far.

http://www.nbc17.com/index.html

[RevCheesehead]

93. Sounds like my alma mater came through!!!

Duke Divinity School. :evilgrin:

[madrchsod]

71. now that`s my kind of jesus!

i known a few episcopals and they aren`t all angels. by the way, methodists do have a sense of humor and they cook better...i`m sure the fundies will not get it.

"jesus is just alright with me"
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/doobie-brothers/42470.html
DOOBIE BROTHERS — ( Jesus is Just Alright Lyrics )

[RevCheesehead]

73. I thought Episcopalians cook better?

And, Methodists (me) are Baptists who can read. :7

[madrchsod]

76. i love that--

"baptists who can read" nah, i`ll put my church ladies against the ladies down the street...

[AntiCoup2K4]

84. Not ALL Methodists can read!

[RevCheesehead]

85. I wish I could see what you posted!

can you just post the link, please? :)

[northzax]

75. single best line:

"Well, she did go to Vassar." single best Vassar slam since Lisa Simpson's.

[KitchenWitch]

77. I missed it

Just turned it on and caught the tail end...What is the controversy? Our late local news has an Episcopal Priest about to talk about it.

[Eric J in MN]

86. It's a show about an Episcopalian priest with a complicated family.

One of his sons is gay. His daughter was convicted for selling pot, etc.

[Guava Jelly]

78. the show reminds me of 6 feet under but tamed down for tv

looks like they are using the same formula.

[Wilber_Stool]

80. The lead story on Asheville NC NBC

is the B of D.

[Oeditpus Rex]

92. Local news tease just led with the 'controversy'

And I'm wondering, has anyone seen this portrayed as "news" on anything other than an NBC affiliate?

[RevCheesehead]

94. Keith did a segment on it on Countdown.

Oh, wait - that's MSNBC. Nevermind. :hi:

(Did you watch it?)

[Oeditpus Rex]

95. Watchin' it now

Left Coast, 'member? :7

[RevCheesehead]

96. Shouldn't it be ending by now?

I loved this show!

[Oeditpus Rex]

97. Premier episode

Two hours.

It's 10:05 here now. Started at 9. :hi:

[RevCheesehead]

98. It started at 9?

I thought central/pacific were on a similar schedule. I guess not.
Enjoy it! :)