• Broadcasting & Cable, Tuesday, January 10, 2006 11:30 AM

The Mississippi-based American Family Association, which espouses a conservative, Christian-values philosophy and often leverages its membership's presumed buying power against media outlets, says five TV stations refused to air the two-hour premiere episode of "The Book of Daniel," a new series on NBC. Four of the stations that joined in the boycott are in the South; the fifth is in Indiana. It's not known if those stations will air future episodes of the show. According to AFA, Daniel mocks Christianity and, in doing so, is offensive to its members. In particular, the group opposes some of the plotlines in the limited-run series, including stories that involve a gay son and an abusive Episcopal priest. NBC defended its new show, which has opened to mixed reviews. In a statement, the network said, "We're confident that, once audiences view this quality drama themselves, they'll appreciate this thought-provoking examination of one American family."

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