NBC & the Christians’ Den

I’m trying to figure it out. Why does every move NBC makes seem coldly calculated to anger, inflame, and insult Christians? I mean, in general, I think Christians have a pretty good sense of humor about ourselves. Unlike Muslims, Christians don’t go staging riots when a political cartoonist depicts Jesus Christ or God in a drawing. We don’t call for fatwa against those who write books that we deem blasphemous. So why does NBC seem (forgive me) Hell-bent on trying to poke a sharp stick in Christianity’s eye? Allow me to explain…<p><strong>Exhibit A: </strong><em><strong>The Book of Daniel</strong></em>. Given an astoundingly short run by the Peacock, The Book of Daniel featured as it’s central character a drug-addicted Episcopal priest who talked directly to a vision of Jesus in the flesh – a vision, I might add, that gave him some very un-scriptural advice. Daniel was surrounded by a bevy of characters with, shall we say, non-tradtional lifestyles. NBC called this show “bold,” “provocative,” and claimed it would “break new ground” on television. But only for what – three weeks? </p>
<p>From the outcry – not to mention the low ratings – you’d think they’d learn that there are a LOT of Christians out there (the vast majority of Americans identify themselves as “Christian,” and a siginificant number of those found <em>The Book of Daniel </em>to be offensive. You’d be wrong. </p>
<p><strong>Exhibit B: </strong><em><strong>Will & Grace</strong></em>.  Now before you jump to the conclusion that I’m gay-bashing here, I’m not. (You can’t grow up in the music business and musical theatre without having a serious number of gay friends, not to mention just being able to work in these industries. The prejudiced against gays need not apply.) No, I’m not talking about Will & Grace as a series, I’m speaking specifically of their plans to invite well-known Pop-Tart, adulterer, and proto-slutpuppy Britney Spears on the show as a guest star. La Britney will be portraying a Christian who’s company takes over a gay cable network, and becomes the co-host of a show with “Jack.” Let me quote from the NBC press release:</p>
<p><ul><em>In the episode, when “Out TV” is bought by a Christian Television Network, Spears is brought on to be Jack’s new religious co-host—until Will (Eric McCormack) and Jack loosen her up.</em></ul></p><p>
</p><p><ul><em>Britney brings her own additions to the talk show when she decides to do a cooking segment called “Cruci-fixin’s.”</em></ul></p><p>
</p><p>Pause with me for a nanosecond. Cruci-FIXIN’S?!</p>
<p>Let’s see if I have this right. A pop singer who shot to fame doing a “Lolita” schtick and by parlaying this into a “little girl lost” riff, who constantly proclaimed her virginity while writhing across the stage dressed provocatively will be playing a conservative Christian on a show about gays. That about sum it up? Oh, wait – and she’s going to fix a dish called “crusi’fixin’s.” </p>
<p>I was going to provide other examples of NBC’s Christian-o-phobia, but after writing this, I think it’s gone far enough. I don’t know what to do about this. NBC just doesn’t get it. They seem perfectly willing to alienate over 80% of the country to pander to special-interest groups (like atheists, agnostics, and humanists) and to segments of the population that seem to get a vastly disproportionate amount of attention (gays & lesbians). When is this going to stop? </p>
<p>Here’s a hint, people. We need to take our cues not from the Islamic extremists, but from Ghandi and Martin Luther King. Just turn NBC off. No viewers = no ratings. No ratings = no advertisers. No advertisers = no network. It’s not rocket science. It’s a little more fundamental than that.
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