NBC cancels ‘Book of Daniel’
by Matt | January 24th, 2006 |According to an article published by 365gay.com, NBC has pulled “The Book of Daniel” from its Friday night lineup.
With a simple blog entry by creator Jack Kenny, no explanation on the decision made was given from NBC.
When “The Book of Daniel” was first announced a firestorm of controversy erupted, mainly from the anti-gay, radical Right group, the American Family Association. The AFA fought bitterly to get the show pulled from local NBC affilaites. Their efforts were succesful in about five markets, including Nashville, TN, and Wilmington, NC. Surprisingly, the local affiliate in the Triad area, WXII 12, which is based in Winston-Salem, NC, never pulled the show from its lineup.
According to the article:
The series was immediately targeted by the Christian right. The American Family Association called on its members to pressure stations to drop the series and issued veiled boycott threats against advertisers..
A number of stations throughout the Bible Belt refused to air the series, and several sponsors pulled out.
But NBC insists it was ratings and not pressure from conservative Christians that sank the show.
“The Book of Daniel” lost about a quarter of its viewers over its few weeks on the air.
Nevertheless, the AFA declared victory.
“This shows the average American that he doesn’t have to simply sit back and take the trash being offered on TV, but he can get involved and fight back with his pocketbook,” said AFA Chair Donald E. Wildmon in a statement Tuesday.
“We want to thank the 678,394 individuals who sent emails to NBC and the thousands who called and emailed their local affiliates.”
The AFA has a long history of boycotts and threats against companies that are perceived as gay friendly.
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Darnit… that was like the only television show I was probably ever going to watch on an on-going basis. Now I’m sad. 
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Matt, 21, is an LGBT activist and youth advocate working mainly within the cities of Greensboro & Winston-Salem and the State of North Carolina. He is the Owner & Editor of InterstateQ.com and has been active in LGBT advocacy work since the age of 14, now currently serving as the Executive Director/Co-founder of Activate! - The North Carolina Advocacy Coalition.
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