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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Group asking stations to withhold ‘Daniel’

Los Angeles Times

A conservative Christian organization critical of the new NBC drama “The Book of Daniel” has launched a campaign asking local affiliates not to air the program and warning that supporters will lodge protests with the show’s advertisers.

The Mississippi-based American Family Association says the show about an Episcopal priest who sees and talks to Jesus, which premieres Friday night, disrespects Christians by depicting the Rev. Daniel Webster and his family as “deeply dysfunctional.”

Webster, played by Aidan Quinn, is addicted to painkillers, while his wife has a drinking problem, one of their sons is gay and their teenage daughter sells drugs.

“It seems they made every decision they could to alienate us,” said AFA spokesman Ed Vitagliano.

NBC released a statement expressing the network’s support for the show, saying: ” ‘The Book of Daniel’ is a fictional drama about an Episcopalian priest’s family and the contemporary issues with which they must grapple. We’re confident that once audiences view this quality drama themselves, they’ll appreciate this thought-provoking examination of one American family.”