Entertainment News
2006-01-14
Another affiliate
may drop Book of Daniel
A Hattiesburg,
Miss., television station is the latest NBC affiliate
to consider pulling from its programming The Bo
A Hattiesburg,
Miss., television station is the latest NBC affiliate
to consider pulling from its programming The Book
of Daniel, a controversial series about a
pill-popping Episcopal priest and his conflicted
family. WDAM-TV general manager Jim Cameron told the
Hattiesburg American that the station has
not yet decided if it will run the second episode of
Daniel at its scheduled airtime of 9 p.m. Friday.
"At this point
the issue is still under advisement," Cameron said.
"Right now we're going over feedback with our viewers who
saw the program, as we said we would. We will be
making a decision whether or not to air the show again
on Friday." WDAM chose to air the two-hour premiere
episode of Daniel last Friday night after NBC
affiliates in Terre Haute, Ind., and Little Rock, Ark.,
pulled the program. Since last week four more NBC
affiliates, including WTVA in Tupelo, Miss., and
WGBC in Meridian, Miss., have pulled the show.
Cameron addressed
the issue in an on-air editorial Friday on WDAM. "I
said [in the editorial] that I never thought it was a good
show to begin with. It's not compelling television,
it's not that well done, and I don't think it's going
to last," Cameron said. The Tupelo-based American
Family Association, self-described as "America's largest
pro-family action site," has petitioned for a boycott of the
program by advertisers and network affiliates. Cameron
acknowledged that he spoke with the organization and
that he believes a large number of the complaints he's
received have come from AFA members.
The Book of Daniel, from gay creator Jack
Kenny, tells the story of an Episcopal priest named
Daniel Webster (actor Aidan Quinn), who is addicted to
painkillers and must lead his congregation while
dealing with an alcoholic wife, a gay
Republican son, a daughter caught dealing drugs, and a
brother embezzling from the church. Webster also has
conversations with Jesus Christ (actor Garret
Dillahunt), who appears throughout the show. (AP)
Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter.
Page 1 of 1