The Book of Daniel

This is one of the best premieres since "Desperate Housewives". Edgy as an HBO show, spiritual as 7th Heaven, and as beautifully dysfunctional as Six Feet Under. Aiden Quinn brings an offbeat rudder to this ship of wonderfully happy dysfunctional family. A talented cast of familiar faces play straight men to the priest and his tribe. A spiritual adviser offers well placed advice which, I'm sure, puts the Christian right on edge. Ellen Bursten is rediscovered as the pill popping Bishop while the acceptance of the gay son is the first truly poignant integration of a true gay role in a true family.

The closest drama to a true reality show on television. Welcome back NBC

Wow that was actually a really awesome show. I didn't really know what to expect but that was great. I was just kinda putting it on for the sake of watching the first five minutes and seeing what it was like and maybe switching to it on commercials but wow! I ended up watching the whole 2 hours and flipped to OTHER shows on the commercials. I was wondering about the big hype on it being wrong and actually somewhat agreed by how the commercials portrayed it but it wasn't like that at all. I am not religious even though I've tried lol... but i loved the way they portrayed Jesus. They showed him as a human being and i loved it. So anyways.. what i was trying to get across was that i loved it and it's a great show! I also loved how they embraced their son's homosexuality.. they showed him not really wanting it but at the same time accepting him for who he is and loving him anyway.

I enjoyed watching the 2 hour premiere of this show. It was light-hearted and I thought the character development was great! The issues of the characters were real situations that probably exist more than you would think in families. Aiden Quinn is fantastic as Daniel. The person who plays his wife is funny as well. The adopted son was a little obnoxious at first but I think that was just part of developing the character. I really liked the scenes when Daniel talks to Jesus. Again is mostly light-hearted. It shows the close relationship he has with Jesus and how he always looks to him for guidance. I hope they develop the Nanny lady's character more in the future. I felt they kind of left us hanging when it came to her. I think she will be an important part of the plot line of the show. This show makes me want to start going to church again! I hope this show has a long shelf life. I recommend it totally!

Great plot, funny and serious at the same time. It's about a dysfunctional family (eek, gag me with a spoon), but it's actually really good. The show breaks lots of stereotypes and is really funny.

so it's about a priest named Daniel, who is part of the typical family in America. There's the daughter who is very artistic and needs to express herself and draws Managua and sells pot to make money. Then there's the gay brother and the adopted cool adopted Asian brother. Then there's the mom who always drinks. When they come together for dinner, it is Hilarious!!! You guys have all gotta see it. I give it 15 stars out of ten.

I've heard all the bad press on this "anti-Christian" show. Well, I am a Christian. I am also a conservative, real conservative. I find myself loving old reruns and old movies quite a bit and disliking "modern" shows more and more. Yet, I'm still trying to decide where I stand on this show. I actually recorded it so I could watch w/o missing anything.

Something I loved was when Daniel asks Jesus if he is chosen, since Jesus so often talks with him. Jesus responds. that he talks to most people, but most don't listen. As a Christian, I can totally agree with that concept. I also love Daniels apparent practice of grace. Grace is the concept that allows Christians to accept people without judgment. But, it's one thing not to judge people, it's quite another to let someone play with fire, w/o telling them they'll be burned.

For example, when that engaged couple comes to him for counseling. My church and most other churches will tell the couple that sex before marriage is wrong, instead he gives them advice less out of the Bible, and more out of Dr. Ruth's handbook.

Outside of my Christian viewpoint, I've one other criticism of the show. It's trying too hard. This one family has a gay son, another son that has sex with every girl he meets, a daughter that is dealing drugs, a father/husband that appears to have an addiction to his pain pills, an alcoholic wife/mother, a lesbian sister in law, a mother/grandmother that has Alzhimers--sorry for the spelling on that one-, a father/grandfather that may be having an affair, and a best friend with mob connections.

SLOW DOWN!!!! I know that we all have problems, but egad, can't they let someone be normal.

I am glad of the positive portrayal of Jesus though. Was I the only one that noticed he was wearing a seat belt?