NBC Affiliate Drops Daniel

[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Allison Romano]
WTWO, the Nexstar Broadcasting-owned NBC affiliate in Terre Haute (IN), says that “due to emails and calls from viewers,” it will not air the debut of NBC’s new drama, The Book of Daniel, which premieres Friday. The Book of Daniel stars Aidan Quinn as an Episcopal priest with an addiction to pain killers and a stressful relationship with his church superiors. He is guided by a contemporary Jesus who appears only to him. The American Family Association has been attacking the show, urging affiliates not to air the series and calling on advertisers to boycott. The AFA says several major advertisers have pulled out, but will not name them. The AFA says NBC is promoting the show as a serious drama about Christians, but calls Quinn’s character “a drug-addicted Episcopal priest whose wife depends heavily on her midday martinis." In a statement, AFA Chairman Donald E. Wildmon said, “We are tired of NBC’s anti-Christian bigotry.” The group also points to a gay character as another problem with the show. AFA has been urging supporters to call their local affiliate and circulate petitions at churches. NBC has described the show as "a fictional drama about an Episcopalian priest's family and the contemporary issues with which they must grapple." They go on to say that, "We're confident that, once audiences view this quality drama themselves, they'll appreciate this thought-provoking examination of one American family."
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* Two NBC affiliates throw book at 'Daniel'
KARK-TV in Little Rock, also owned by Nexstar, will not air The Book of Daniel.
http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=televisionNews&storyID=2006-01-05T090634Z_01_ROB532721_RTRIDST_0_TELEVISION-DANIEL-DC.XML