So far, NBC has lined up the two prerequisites crucial to a midseason success: a smart, engaging new hour and an organized protest of same.
“The Book of Daniel,” which feels like a cross between “Once and Again,” “Six Feet Under” and something wonderfully new, has a two-
hour premiere Friday, 8-10 p.m. on KUSA-Channel 9.
The story of an Episcopalian minister and his thoroughly modern family, it’s a provocative drama with strong comedic undercurrents and an impeccable cast.
The protest comes courtesy of the Rev. Donald Wildmon and his reliably outraged American Family Association. They’re calling on followers to send complaints to NBC Universal Chairman Bob Wright, demanding the network show “a little more respect for Christians who believe the Bible.” Wildmon’s group hates this show and finds it disrespectful – sight unseen, naturally.
You can’t buy that kind of publicity.
But “The Book of Daniel” has more to recommend it than the wrath of close-minded literalists.
It may be the most authentically religious series on television. Certainly it’s the most committed in its exploration of faith since “Nothing Sacred.”
More adult than “7th Heaven” and less saccharine than “Touched by an Angel,” the witty new “Book of Daniel” is more biting and irreverent but also more honestly probing in its approach to Christian beliefs than these earlier efforts.
Aidan Quinn plays Daniel Webster, bedeviled head of a WASP family who has a fondness for prescription painkillers, a running battle with the church heirarchy and very real discussions with Jesus.
Garrett Dillahunt (“Deadwood”) plays Jesus, a long-haired, white-
robed and placid-looking version, visible only to Daniel. Frowning at Daniel’s Vicodin habit, Jesus reminds him that life is hard for everyone, and, “That’s why there’s such a nice reward at the end of it.”
This Jesus is a calm, reasonable best friend, a resource accessible to everyone but acknowledged by only a few.
Among the tribulations making life hard for Daniel are a church money scandal and the earlier death of a son, which has scarred the whole family.
At home Daniel ministers to a pot- dealing daughter (Allison Hill), a gay Republican son (Christian Campbell, in his dimpled glory) and an adopted Chinese son (Ivan Shaw) who is having sex with the deacon’s daughter and who makes fun of the family diversity in phony pidgin English.
Then there’s Daniel’s martini-swilling wife, Judith, played by the glorious Susanna
Thompson (“Once and Again”), who ministers to Daniel.
Judith is the repressed Connecticut version of a Desperate Housewife without the goofy antics and with a loving, functional marriage.
Dylan Baker plays the buttoned-down, henpecked Roger Northrup, the senior warden of the parish forever nudging Daniel about church financial business and public appearances.
Ellen Burstyn is Dr. Beatrice Congreve, Daniel’s boss the bishop, who has a more than platonic relationship with Daniel’s father.
NBC advertises the hour as “edgy,” but there’s a calm center to the drama that keeps it from veering into outrageousness. (Not that NBC would consider that a bad thing.)
The virtue of this wry comedy-drama is that it doesn’t sacrifice credibility to be provocative. “The Book of Daniel” tackles religiosity, hypocrisy, love, the dilemmas of modern parents and faith with an essential honesty.
“Daniel” flirts with over-the- top outrageousness – when Dan’s son is caught in a girls’ dorm, locked out of the room without his clothes, the moment echoes Teri Hatcher’s naked lock-out on “Desperate Housewives” – but is rooted firmly in credible personalities and an intact family unit.
Judging by the first three episodes, there’s enough character development and serious storyline to balance the kooky, “edgy” high jinks and keep the fluff in check.
The network has limited the episode order for “The Book of Daniel” but solid ratings could change that. At a time when faith is a rich topic in popular culture, viewers should give “Daniel” their blessing.
TV critic Joanne Ostrow can be reached at 303-820-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com.
