AFA Slams NBC's Book of Daniel

[Sean Mota]

AFA Slams NBC's Book of Daniel

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]John Consoli[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DECEMBER 27, 2005 -

[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Donald Wildmon's American Family Association is calling on NBC affiliates to refuse to air the upcoming, short-arc, midseason series The Book of Daniel, saying the show "mocks Christianity."

The organization is also calling on TV viewers to send via its Web site, a letter composed by AFA, calling on NBC Universal Chairman Bob Wright to "inform all NBC affiliates, in writing that they are not required to air this program if they choose not to."

The AFA said contrary to the show being a "serious drama about Christian people and Christian faith," the main character, Daniel Webster, "is a drug-addicted Episcopal priest whose wife depends heavily on her midday martinis."

AFA continues that "the Webster family is rounded out by a 23-year-old homosexual Republican son, a 16-year-old daughter who is a drug dealer, and a 16-year-old adopted son who is having sex with the bishop's daughter. And at the office, his lesbian is sleeping with his sister-in-law."

The AFA said it "would be beneficial to all if NBC showed a little more respect for Christians who believe in the Bible," and the AFA plans to "monitor" advertisers who "underwrite this program."

The AFA in the past has called for boycotts of advertisers who advertise in programming that the organization is opposed to. AFA has protested such shows as ABC's Ellen and the Howard Stern radio show, among others.

NBC plans to air the show beginning Jan. 6, but had no official comment on the AFA's latest letter writing campaign.
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[Jamey K]

Sounds like all the more reason to watch it.

 

[ravma479]

Shouldn't we, as the viewer, be given the choice as to whether or not to watch? If our affiliate blocks the program, how can we CHOOSE to watch or not watch? They make the decision for us.

 

[chunchma]

Just GREAT - more reality TV!!!

 

[Foxbat]

Wasn't this the same group that slammed "Bob, God, and the Devil"? I was never able to watch this because our NBC affiliate was owned by Notre Dame and they had issues with showing it. I can imagine that Michiana will likewise be denied "The Book of Daniel" even though ND is selling the station.

The AFA said it "would be beneficial to all if NBC showed a little more respect for Christians who believe in the Bible," and the AFA plans to "monitor" advertisers who "underwrite this program."

Are these the same Christians who stayed away from "Saved by an Angel" and "Joan of Arcadia", thereby ensuring more Reality TV and "Law & Order"/"CSI" clones? Do us a favor, get SkyAngel and stop watching OTA...

 

[TheTimm]

Shouldn't we, as the viewer, be given the choice as to whether or not to watch? If our affiliate blocks the program, how can we CHOOSE to watch or not watch? They make the decision for us.

Of course we shouldn't have a choice. As good Christians we're just supposed to let the better Christians make our choices -- all of our choices -- for us.

Sounds like all the more reason to watch it.

I'm all over it.

 

[Sean Mota]

pair of NBC affiliates -- one in Indiana, the other in Arkansas -- have dropped the network's new drama "Book of Daniel" from their schedule, citing concerns from viewers and, in the Indiana station's case, a protest against the network's "unilateral decisions." "Book of Daniel," which stars Aidan Quinn as an Episcopal priest who has a prescription-drug problem, a gay son and regular conversations with Jesus (Garret Dillahunt), debuts Friday (Jan. 6). The series, which has drawn middling to good reviews from critics, has also been the target of a boycott campaign by the influential conservative group the American Family Association, which claims the show "mocks Christianity."

source

 

[long_time_DNC]

You can bet that if it mocked Islam, it'd never make it past the NBC execs...

 

[Foxbat]

I can imagine that Michiana will likewise be denied "The Book of Daniel" even though ND is selling the station.

Well, what do you know... WNDU announced that they will be showing "Book of Daniel" and letting the viewers make a decision about whether or not to continue the show. They said on their newscast the other night that they had received a number of complaints already, even though the show hadn't aired before that report.

 

[dimi1963]

What happened to the Freedom of Speech? Join the revolution. Let freedom ring, and let it be rung by a stripper!!!!!!!!!:devil:

 

[Fgsilva]

i watched it and loved it! Looking forward to next week's episode!

Sounds like all the more reason to watch it.

 

[Sean Mota]

NBC's Book of Daniel Had Ad Shortfall

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Steve McClellan, Adweek[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]JANUARY 10, 2006 -

[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]NBC aired just 23 commercials spanning 12.5 minutes over the two-hour premiere of its controversial new series Book of Daniel on Friday (Jan. 6) night from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. That’s just over six minutes of commercials per hour or about half the usual load of commercials for network prime time, according to network and agency sources.
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[TheTimm]

I thought it was excellent. Loved it.

 

[cablewithaview]

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=50412
also why in the HD section ?

 

[cablewithaview]

You can bet that if it mocked Islam, it'd never make it past the NBC execs...

or anything else for that matter.

 

[Sean Mota]

I missed the first episode (hope to watch it later) but I watched the second episode. Controversial yes. But does it mock Christians (I do not know yet!).

 

[cablewithaview]

NBC in Nashville pulled it, see thread: http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=50412
for details.

 

[Sean Mota]

'Daniel' Pre-Empted in Another Market

By Michele Greppi
NBC's "The Book of Daniel" has taken another pre-emptive hit from a Nexstar Broadcasting-owned affiliate refusing to carry the midseason series about a pill-popping priest (Aidan Quinn) whose Episcopal flock includes a surfeit of black sheep. The show, which debuted Jan. 6, has only three episodes remaining.

"Daniel" will be pre-empted on KNWA-TV and KFTA-TV, which are based in Fayetteville, Ark., and operate together to serve the northwest part of the state. Blake Russell, the VP and general manager of the stations, posted a statement on the KNWA/KFTA Web site that said the decision to stop carrying the series was made "after viewing the latest episode and continued passionate feedback from our community."

Equity Broadcasting-owned UPN affiliate KFDF-TV will pick up the remaining three installments of "Daniel" and carry it on Friday nights in the market, an NBC spokeswoman said.

The pre-emption in Arkansas means that a total of eight NBC affiliates, four of them owned by Nexstar, are not carrying "Daniel" and that 2.41 percent of the U.S. TV universe will be unable to see the series.