Product Description

The Two-Disc DVD of the Complete Series includes the two-hour Pilot Deleted Scenes and the final four episodes that were never aired.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 025193121721 Manufacturer No: 31217

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30859 in DVD
• Brand: Universal Studios
• Released on: 2006-09-26
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .30 pounds
• Running time: 345 minutes

Amazon.com
A pill-popping Episcopalian priest, an affair between the clergyman's father and the female church bishop, and a wisecracking Jesus Christ. Is it any wonder that there was so much controversy surrounding the January 2006 debut of The Book of Daniel? The series, which lasted less than a month before NBC canceled it, isn't quite as controversial as it was made out to be. If you take religion out of the mix, you're left with a loving but conflicted family that argues, loves, and tries to make the best of what they have. Aidan Quinn stars as Father Daniel Webster. He's the married father of three children--a gay college student, an adopted Chinese boy, and an artistic 16-year-old girl who resorts to selling pot to save enough money to buy herself a new computer for her Japanese anime-influenced comic drawings. When one of her brothers asks, "You do manga?" Daniel freaks out. "Is that some kind of marijuana?"

The show was canceled after just four episodes, but all eight are available on this two-disc DVD set. (The first two episodes are presented as one here.) Truth be told, with the exception of the series' final unaired episode, the four that were televised were the strongest. The story arc revolving around Daniel's brother--a rising politician--and the priest's martini-swilling wife goes nowhere. Same for the plot between adopted younger son Adam (Ivan Shaw) and his boarding school girlfriend. While the series doesn't present the clergy as perfect religious role models, it does show them as hard working and caring. The series has a lot of heart--sometimes so much that it resembles Seventh Heaven more than a cutting edge series. But Quinn is incredibly likeable as the conflicted priest who knows from right and wrong but can't always prevent himself (or others) from falling prey to their darker side. And Ellen Burstyn is hilarious as Beatrice Congreve, a bishop who tells it like it is. Of Daniel's latest lackluster sermon, Beatrice says, "I would describe your service as flaccid." What can you say? When she's right, she right. --Jae-Ha Kim

Customer Reviews

Finally, some respect for a small show that thought big...
I'm so pleased that this wonderful show will be available to enjoy again; I only saw a few episodes because our affiiate in Milwaukee bowed to the protests of a small few, and it was taken off. It's been a while, but I remember Aidan Quinn giving a fine interpretation of a conflicted man; a just and right and Christian man, facing issues that affect all of society. Also, a family man, with those profound concerns as an added challenge. As I recall, Jesus Christ had conversations with him, and this seemed to offend some closed-minded fundamentalist types. What I found intriguing was that we all like to think of our own clergymen as having some kind of connection to the Lord. Clergymen pray, and all this show portrayed was a clergyman's converations with the Lord, and his interpretation. Apparently, anyone who didn't appreciate "The Book of Daniel" are those who don't believe in prayer or their clergymen. Anyone who thinks that Jesus Christ isn't with us all the time shouldn't call himself a Christian. If the fundamentalists are offended by this show, then I'm offended by their idiot, closed-minded approach to spirituality. This show must have been especially interesting to the agnostics, if only for it's soft approach to a touchy subject matter. I write this with absolute respect to other religions, but encourage them to witness a well-written show, rife with humor as well as serious subject matter, to know that no one, even a clergyman, has all the answers, and that the Lord, whatever you may call him, is always there and it's comforting to know that we're not alone. We're also not alone with a brilliant cast and writing staff, that attempted to portray life and its foibles with aplomb and generous amounts of common sense. If you don't like it, don't watch it. How hard is that to understand...? I particularly liked the idea that Jesus was portrayed with a sense of humor; the doom & gloom fundamentalists can stew in their virtue. Let the (majority) rest of us alone.

Canceled before it's time
I loved this show - it depicted the human side of religion. I was incredibly disappointed when the network pulled the plug on this show. I don't know what the ratings were like, but I doubt they were low enough to merit a mid-season cancelation. This well-done series deserves a second chance - I'd love to see it on a cable station. Don't be bullied by the lobbyists! I'm glad to see it's being released on DVD!

FINALLY someone came to their senses!!!
Elated would be an understatement as to how I feel about this show being available for purchase on DVD. This was THE only quality television show available to watch before it was cancelled (and we all know why...low ratings my %$#%@). I urge EVERYONE to buy it and hopefully the interest will spark Showtime or HBO to pick it up and run with it!! This show is not only funny, but warm, thought provoking, and incredibly acted by all the actors especially by Aidan Quinn. BRAVO!!