# Book of Daniel: Closed **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579 "2006-01-25T18:22:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/1 "2006-01-25T18:22:09Z")
[NBC closes ‘The Book of Daniel’](http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/25/tv.bookofdaniel.ap/index.html) I guess this didn’t really affect me, since I couldn’t watch it after the pilot anyhow (it was pulled in Nashville due to complaints). Controversy aside, it wasn’t a very good show. I also had some problems with its portrayal of religion and the church. Cancelling it because it was bad and got poor ratings is one thing, but it bugs me now that conservative groups like Focus on the Family and American Family Association will take credit for getting it axed. That will only encourage them next time! Why oh why can’t FotF and AFA use their powers for good, like getting rid of truly offensive shows like _Yes, Dear_? ---
**Author:** ![Analogue\_Skywalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Analogue\_Skywalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Analogue_Skywalker)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/2 "2006-01-25T18:41:31Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Why oh why can’t FotF and AFA use their powers for good, like getting rid of truly offensive shows like _Yes, Dear_? offensive like a smell? or offensive because of subject matter? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/3 "2006-01-25T19:04:20Z")
> [@Analogue Skywalker](#): > > offensive like a smell? > > or > > offensive because of subject matter? Offensive in its banality. At least _Daniel_ was interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/4 "2006-01-25T19:09:04Z")
Geeze, how many episodes aired, two? I was going to give it a shot but missed it. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/5 "2006-01-25T19:16:08Z")
I watched the pilot and wasn’t interested enough to try to catch any more episodes. I guess I liked it better when it was _Six Feet Under._ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/6 "2006-01-25T19:16:12Z")
I saw part of the first episode. The ending was feel-good-y and didactic, IMHO. Not my thing, but not something that should’ve been shut down because some kooks have their panties in a buch. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/7 "2006-01-25T19:58:40Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Cancelling it because it was bad and got poor ratings is one thing, but it bugs me now that conservative groups like Focus on the Family and American Family Association will take credit for getting it axed. That will only encourage them next time! Why oh why can’t FotF and AFA use their powers for good, like getting rid of truly offensive shows like _Yes, Dear_? Throw _Joan of Arcadia_ in their face and see what they say. Yes, I’m still bitter. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/8 "2006-01-25T20:08:33Z")
I never even got to see what, exactly, was so offensive about it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/9 "2006-01-25T20:14:02Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > I never even got to see what, exactly, was so offensive about it. ☹ Not that I would agree with the “offensive” label, seeing as how I never saw the show, nor am I in a position to have been offended, not being Christian and all, as was stated in the article that was linked in the OP: > [@](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/10 "2006-01-25T20:18:35Z")
I couldn’t get past the first half of the pilot. I didn’t find the content offensive. I found the cliche writing, mediocre acting and the fact that they tried way to hard to be edgy offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/11 "2006-01-25T20:25:34Z")
> [@Kytheria](#): > > I never even got to see what, exactly, was so offensive about it. Basically, it was like this: This priest who is himself a sinner sees and talks to Jesus when he’s alone and Jesus keeps telling him to stop popping pills and try to love and understand his family and other people. Jesus is portrayed as a gentle person who befriends a sinner and listens to his problems, offering counsel but without being judgmental. Oooo, they’ll suck flaming cocks in the lake of fire for that blasphemy. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/12 "2006-01-25T20:37:47Z")
> [@Johnny Angel](#): > > Jesus is portrayed as a gentle person who befriends a sinner and listens to his problems, offering counsel but without being judgmental. Well, now I see why they were so offended. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/13 "2006-01-25T21:46:18Z")
Shame. Can’t say that I saw the show, but after listening to the Fresh Air segment in which Terry Gross interviews Aidan Quinn, the show sounded intriguing. Beyond that, anything that Donald Wildmon dislikes probably has some redeeming value. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/14 "2006-01-25T22:08:01Z")
I gave it a fair shot and I thought it stunk. I posted on this topic before, so I won’t repeat myself, but try to boil it down. Every single character had a “hot” storyline. Even the housekeeper was shown tokin’ up. It wasn’t a story as much as a bunch of hot buttons that the producers could push whenever they wanted to piss off someone else. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/15 "2006-01-25T22:22:18Z")
**kunilou** , I agree. I liked the first couple of hours, but after the characters were introduced, the writers wouldn’t get away from those buttons. I don’t think they did it to piss anyone off though. They just didn’t know how to write characters with any depth. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/16 "2006-01-25T22:31:16Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > **kunilou** , I agree. I liked the first couple of hours, but after the characters were introduced, the writers wouldn’t get away from those buttons. > > I don’t think they did it to piss anyone off though. They just didn’t know how to write characters with any depth. I want to clarify my OP - I wasn’t personally offended by it. It was just too out-there to be taken seriously enough to be offended: it would be like being offended by behavior on _Desparate Housewives_ or _Days of Our Lives_. The problem with the show, to parrot others in this thread, was not that it was too edgy or progressive or blasphemous. It was that as TV, it kinda sucked. So I’m not really bothered that it was cancelled (like I said, I was prevented from watching anyway) but that the groups mentioned in the OP will take credit from those who deserve it – the writers, producers and actors. ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/17 "2006-01-25T22:44:51Z")
Lets see… in one family lets count the problems -Priest addicted to prescription drugs -pot dealing daughter -1 horny son -1 gay son -a ?brother? that stole the building fund money from the church -money now in the hands of the MOB who is bribing the church -priests father the bishop is cheating on his wife -his wife has alzheimers I know I left out several things. Too corny, trying to push too many buttons. Too many problems in one family. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/18 "2006-01-26T00:07:36Z")
Also: Priest’s wife likes her martinis Priest’s sister-in-law is sleeping with her dead husband’s secretary Horny son’s girlfriend’s mother is racist Priest’s wife’s mother is controlling It wasn’t funny enough to be comedy or serious enough to be good drama. All the issues were treated so lightly, they weren’t issues at all. Daniel’s addiction didn’t cause him any problems, nor did mom’s martinis – they functioned just fine. Horny son had one girlfriend who he seemed to care for. Drug-dealing daughter sold enough to get her computer programs and stopped when she got caught. Gay son is content and well-adjusted. The lesbian sister was ditzy. Some of us might even sympathize with the adulterous dad. Like Skammer says, it wasn’t edgy or progressive or offensive. Pretty PC, actually. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/19 "2006-01-26T00:17:39Z")
> [@http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/25/tv.bookofdaniel.ap/index.html](#): > > 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.” Anti-Christian bigotry? OK, I get that AFA by definition doesn’t watch the shows they blaspheme, but that show was not bigoted against Christians. If anything, it assumed a Christian culture. Of course, the more confused certain charlatans in pulpits can keep their flocks about the meanings of words like “blasphemy” & “bigotry,” the more they can obfuscate actual incidences of what those words really mean. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579/20 "2006-01-26T00:45:01Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Anti-Christian bigotry? OK, I get that AFA by definition doesn’t watch the shows they blaspheme, but that show was not bigoted against Christians. If anything, it assumed a Christian culture. Uh…you didn’t get the sense that it was poking fun of religious types? I got that vibe. More “here’s a bunch of hypocritical religious people” than “here’s a bunch of religious people.” What I found upsetting about the show was that it had a frantic amount of plots woven in and not one of them was interesting! If you’re going to write a show like you’ve got severe ADD, at least attempt to make the plots you need to cram in worth being there. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-of-daniel-closed/341579.md?page=2)