NBC has pulled from its lineup a controversial show called The Book of Daniel, a prime-time drama about an Episcopal priest struggling to hold his dysfunctional family together.
NBC officials in New York would not confirm or deny that the show has been canceled, but the broadcaster’s website lists Law and Order in the Friday 10 p.m. time slot that had been occupied by The Book of Daniel.
A blog on NBC’s home page contained an entry from Jack Kenny, the show’s creator, who said the show will “no longer be aired on NBC on Friday nights” for “many reasons.”
“Whatever the outcome, I feel that I accomplished what I set out to do: a solid family drama, with lots of humor, that honestly explored the lives of the Webster family,” Kenny wrote.
The show only aired four of its eight scheduled episodes. Conservatives criticized the show’s inclusion of sex, drugs, and alcohol abuse, and said its depiction of Jesus was disrespectful.
Complaints from the Mississippi-based American Family Association—to the tune of 678,000 angry e-mails to NBC—prompted advertisers to pull out. At least 11 NBC stations in six states declined to broadcast the show.
“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,” said AFA Chairman Donald Wildmon.
Kenny said the “bullies” who sought to kill his show were “un-Christian and un-American.”
The Episcopal Church declined to comment on the show since it was not consulted as the show was created.(RNS)
