Jim Kouri
NBC Must-See TV gets religion
By Jim Kouri
With the holiday season admittedly a slow news week or two, a big story hitting the newspapers, airwaves and the Internet is the controversy surrounding NBC TV's upcoming drama series titled, "The Book of Daniel."
As usual the mainstream news media are portraying the controversy as one in which the crazy holy rollers are up in arms over this show. Why are they upset? Well, the show is about an Episcopal minister who's hooked on Vicodin and has a martini swigging spouse, a gay son and a pot dealing daughter. There's also promises of lesbianism thrown in to get the Spike TV-Howard Stern crowd interested.
The show's star, Aidan Quinn, has told the entertainment media that he believes the show grapples with real life situations and that it's a wholesome show. Perhaps the dope-sucking perverts who populate La-La Land would find a show about a junkie priest wholesome, but most Americans would probably take a pass on the show.
Hence the controversy, which appears to have been manipulated by NBC's entertainment division, if not out-and-out fabricated. It's a widely held belief that "there's no such thing as bad publicity" may translate into an initial ratings bonanza for a show essentially about a dysfunctional "Christian" family.
Meanwhile, this controversy is welcomed by the Hollywood crowd because it allows them to indulge in the illusion that they are brave, creative intellectuals who are always looking to push the envelope while being attacked by neo-Nazi Philistines of the Christian Right. The truth is, these are pseudo-intellectual immature beings who enjoy taking cheapshots at the things most Americans who live in the so-called "fly over states" hold dear — God, country and family. Some geniuses, they have the ardent task of producing shows designed to be understood by an 8-year old.
It's the same mentality that puts a crucifix in a vat of urine or covers a picture of the Madonna with excrement and calls it art. It's not about bravery, because these folks are far from brave. It's about taking cheap shots. It's about being "in your face."
If these creative poseurs really want to tear down the perceived barriers to their creative freedom, perhaps I have a few ideas for some groundbreaking television. Here are a couple of show ideas to get the ball rolling:
Sitcom: "Hey, Rev." A weekly comedy series about a high-profile African-American Baptist minister who marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., the civil-rights movement, but now enjoys the life of a celebrity. The Reverend Jamie Johnson gets into hot water each week, but the Lord always gets him out of his self-made messes. For instance, one episode has him providing spiritual guidance to a US President who can't keep his trousers zipped, while Rev. Jamie is in the midst of being blackmailed by his latest former sex-partner. Rev. Jamie has to use his Blue Skies charity fund to pay off the woman and somehow the story hits the frontpages of the nation's newspapers. Jamie's wife and Blue Skies CEO is heard saying, "Show me the money!" Cut to commercial.
Drama: "The Oval Office." A Democrat President named Ben Clipper wins the election and quickly finds himself in hot water when his wife decides to fire the entire White House security staff so her friends can obtain a contract for their private security firm. While Senators visit the White House to discuss this highly suspicious action on the part of the First Lady, one Republican Senator trips over a stack of files he quickly discovers are classified FBI files. President Clipper smiles an embarrassed smile and says, "How the hell did those get there?" Cut to commercial.
In a crossover show, President Clipper guest stars on "Hey, Rev!" and Rev. Jamie guests on "The Oval Office." For comedy relief, the Rev drops in unexpectedly to visit the President, not knowing that an intern is under Clipper's desk pleasuring the people's choice.
And the First Lady is a hoot as she walks down the hall screaming obscenities at White House staff and throwing flower pots and other inanimate objects at her philandering husband. Now that would be must-see TV.
© Jim Kouri
With the holiday season admittedly a slow news week or two, a big story hitting the newspapers, airwaves and the Internet is the controversy surrounding NBC TV's upcoming drama series titled, "The Book of Daniel."
As usual the mainstream news media are portraying the controversy as one in which the crazy holy rollers are up in arms over this show. Why are they upset? Well, the show is about an Episcopal minister who's hooked on Vicodin and has a martini swigging spouse, a gay son and a pot dealing daughter. There's also promises of lesbianism thrown in to get the Spike TV-Howard Stern crowd interested.
The show's star, Aidan Quinn, has told the entertainment media that he believes the show grapples with real life situations and that it's a wholesome show. Perhaps the dope-sucking perverts who populate La-La Land would find a show about a junkie priest wholesome, but most Americans would probably take a pass on the show.
Hence the controversy, which appears to have been manipulated by NBC's entertainment division, if not out-and-out fabricated. It's a widely held belief that "there's no such thing as bad publicity" may translate into an initial ratings bonanza for a show essentially about a dysfunctional "Christian" family.
Meanwhile, this controversy is welcomed by the Hollywood crowd because it allows them to indulge in the illusion that they are brave, creative intellectuals who are always looking to push the envelope while being attacked by neo-Nazi Philistines of the Christian Right. The truth is, these are pseudo-intellectual immature beings who enjoy taking cheapshots at the things most Americans who live in the so-called "fly over states" hold dear — God, country and family. Some geniuses, they have the ardent task of producing shows designed to be understood by an 8-year old.
It's the same mentality that puts a crucifix in a vat of urine or covers a picture of the Madonna with excrement and calls it art. It's not about bravery, because these folks are far from brave. It's about taking cheap shots. It's about being "in your face."
If these creative poseurs really want to tear down the perceived barriers to their creative freedom, perhaps I have a few ideas for some groundbreaking television. Here are a couple of show ideas to get the ball rolling:
Sitcom: "Hey, Rev." A weekly comedy series about a high-profile African-American Baptist minister who marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., the civil-rights movement, but now enjoys the life of a celebrity. The Reverend Jamie Johnson gets into hot water each week, but the Lord always gets him out of his self-made messes. For instance, one episode has him providing spiritual guidance to a US President who can't keep his trousers zipped, while Rev. Jamie is in the midst of being blackmailed by his latest former sex-partner. Rev. Jamie has to use his Blue Skies charity fund to pay off the woman and somehow the story hits the frontpages of the nation's newspapers. Jamie's wife and Blue Skies CEO is heard saying, "Show me the money!" Cut to commercial.
Drama: "The Oval Office." A Democrat President named Ben Clipper wins the election and quickly finds himself in hot water when his wife decides to fire the entire White House security staff so her friends can obtain a contract for their private security firm. While Senators visit the White House to discuss this highly suspicious action on the part of the First Lady, one Republican Senator trips over a stack of files he quickly discovers are classified FBI files. President Clipper smiles an embarrassed smile and says, "How the hell did those get there?" Cut to commercial.
In a crossover show, President Clipper guest stars on "Hey, Rev!" and Rev. Jamie guests on "The Oval Office." For comedy relief, the Rev drops in unexpectedly to visit the President, not knowing that an intern is under Clipper's desk pleasuring the people's choice.
And the First Lady is a hoot as she walks down the hall screaming obscenities at White House staff and throwing flower pots and other inanimate objects at her philandering husband. Now that would be must-see TV.
© Jim Kouri
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