Is Hollywood Actively Anti-Christian? You Decide.

NBC is kicking off a new show this Winter called The Book of Daniel. I'm not going to judge the show itself until I actually see it, but one has to wonder just what focus group enticed Hollywood to think that this show is a good idea. Here's the official summary of the show from NBCs website:

Emmy nominee Aidan Quinn stars as Reverend Daniel Webster, an unconventional Episcopalian minister who not only believes in Jesus - he actually sees him and discusses life with him. Webster is challenged on many levels as he struggles to be a good husband, father and minister, while trying to control a nagging addiction to prescription painkillers, and an often rocky relationship with the church hierarchy, led by Bishop Beatrice Congreve (Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn), Roger Paxton, a senior warden of the parish and stalwart churchgoer (Dylan Baker).

The reverend also has loving, but challenging relationships with his three children: Peter (Christian Campbell), his 23-year-old gay son, who struggles with the loss of his twin brother; Grace (Alison Pill), his 16-year-old daughter who doesn't try to push her father's buttons but succeeds at it nonetheless; and Adam (Ivan Shaw), his 16-year-old adopted Chinese son, a handsome and cocky high school jock with a wicked sense of humor. Keeping Webster grounded is his strong and loving wife Judith (Susanna Thompson), who is fighting her own fondness for mid-day martinis, as well as Jesus (Garret Dillahunt), whose frequent chats with Daniel serve to remind him of his strengths and weaknesses.

Again, at this point I'm not saying the show will be good or bad, but it seems obvious by the show description that Hollywood doesn't give a crap about the dreaded "red state" Americans. The sheer fact that "red state" Americans represented the majority of the nation, you would think that Hollywood would want to make money off of all of those viewers by tapping into what the conservative viewer feels is important. And after the success of The Passion of the Christ, you would think Hollywood would be more in tune or more considerate of the feelings of Christians and create films and TV shows to take advantage of that untapped market. After all, Hollywood is all about money and Passion made more money than Hollywood ever imagined.

Creating a show like The Book of Daniel reaffirms one thing... Hollywood does not have a clue as to how to reach Christian Americans. Otherwise they would.

American interests are dynamic and varied. Hollywood has a big struggle to try and identify what the average American will like next. Once they find out, everyone sucks that market dry by sending out multiple copies of the same thing.

Gladiator is a success? Let's make Troy, Alexander and Kingdom of Heaven.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is a success? Let's make Greed and Weakest Link.

Survivor is a success? Let's make Amazing Race, The Apprentice, The Bachelor and Wife Swap.

Once something makes money, Hollywood will tap that money geiser for all its worth.

So, The Passion of the Christ comes out and fills an aching void of Christian film fans. It makes a gabillion dollars. And how many Hollywood films came out afterwards that dealt with Christ in a postive manner?

None.

Why? Because they don't know how. Otherwise they would have. They worship money above all things, yet they didn't have an inkling on how to make money off of Passion.

Hollywood studios purchase tens of thousands of screenplays and idea pitches every year, yet only make a couple hundred films. That means they have libraries of scripts just waiting to be made. They are just waiting for the public to direct them on which films into which they should invest their money. The public directs them with their wallets.

So, Hollywood's lesson from the success of The Passion of the Christ? To make The Book of Daniel? That's what they learned? To have a show about a reverend with a drug addiction, with a gay son, an alcoholic wife and who sees Jesus in person? That's what they came up with? That's what their billion dollar industry reseach departments were able to garner from the success of Mel Gibson's film?

Pathetic.

It just goes to show just how blatantly out of touch they truly are. Or, if you are of a more cynical mindset, it shows how Hollywood is actively trying to undermine the faith of those who valued Passion by showing people of faith in weakened and non-Christian positions.

Either way, it only validates the idea that Hollywood is no friend to faithful Christians. Could you imagine such a show being presented with the main character being a Jewish Rabbi or a Muslim Cleric? Please! It's absurd. But because it's a Christian reverend that makes it okay? No, that makes it hypocrisy.

As for the actual show, The Book of Daniel, I'll reserve judgement until I watch an episode. But, for the apparent lack of understanding to what the conservative, average American really wants out of their entertainment, it appears Hollywood isn't interested if it involves a positive representation of Christ, no matter how much money they'll lose.

And that is something that should concern all of us.