I may watch "The Book of Daniel" tonight, no thanks to NBC. I have one or two episodes stored on my DVR that I haven't gotten to yet. Since the network has pulled the show, apparently permanently, I'll just have to watch the recorded telecasts instead of NBC's substitute.

I know, the ratings were not good. But they weren't good for "The Office" at first, and the network held that show to its bosom, nurtured it, waited for a time slot where it might perform, searched for a compatible show — until tadaaa, everything came together on Thursday nights. The comedy — which, don't misunderstand, I also like — has already been renewed for 2006-07.

I know the competition is brutal now, and that "Book of Daniel" had a longer run than "Emily's Reasons Why Not," killed after a single telecast. Imagine the joy that quick hook brought to the Life magazine newspaper supplement, which today has Heather Graham on the cover, and calls her "TV's sexiest star" and "TV's new darling." I guess that's meant in terms of, "Darling, I have some bad news …"

But "Emily's Reasons" was a really horrible show. Regular blog readers will recall my apologies to Target Demo — aka my 30-year-old stepdaughter — after I asked her to watch it. "Book of Daniel" was a good show, one that deserved a chance to find an audience. So I have to conclude that the controversy about the show, however wrong-headed, played a role in its demise. And I have to believe NBC lost faith in the program.

So, NBC, you'll understand if I don't attend your services tonight.

The other day, another Beacon Journalist forwarded me a cranky e-mail about "Book of Daniel," the NBC drama premiering Friday. It came from one of those groups that apparently stopped liking TV around the time it stopped being in black-and-white (which, after all, is the way such groups view all issues, including appropriateness of content). Whoever wrote the letter — and I'm not giving the group the benefit of extra publicity by naming it — had not obviously not seen the show, since there was a big error in its description. But this group is claiming that "NBC demeans Christian faith" because the show involves a clergyman with some human flaws, family and friends who were also flawed, a gay regular character and another character who is at the very least bisexual.

I know. You're all aflutter.

Well, I have seen two episodes of "Book of Daniel," and part of a third. I finally stopped watching the third one because it jumped several episodes ahead in the serialized story, and I want to watch the series in sequence. That's how much I like the show, and you may like it as well.

At the center of the show is an Episcopal priest, Daniel Webster (played with charm and befuddlement by Aidan Quinn). Daniel's a godly man, and he talks regularly to Jesus, who — with beard and white robe — talks back. Jesus is deliberately enigmatic with Daniel at times, since Daniel has to figure out situations for himself. But He does provide guidance, and a comforting presence when all else is crazy around Daniel.

And all else is crazy. By the end of the show's second hour, it feels as if we are barely into all the complexities in Daniel's world, which includes his pot-selling daughter, his gay son, his adopted horndog of a son, his bishop boss, his father (who is also a bishop), his Alzheimer's-battling mother, his boss, his semi-bored wife, his wife's skittish sister and an all-too-knowing and powerful church member whose agenda is not Daniel's.

I was hooked early on, not only by the plot (which begins with a mystery involving missing church funds) but because I was fascinated by the characters and all the ways they intersect. Some of those intersections overreach (including in one hidden romance), but I kept watching just to see how people were going to handle situations. I also very much liked Jesus, played nicely by Garret Dillahunt ("Deadwood").

At times, it felt like a gentler, more amusing "Six Feet Under." That was a show weighed down by its moroseness, especially in the later seasons, but it was also about a lot of people seeking solace wherever they might find it. Same thing applies to "Book of Daniel." Painkillers, martinis, manga and money are all meant to provide happiness. Love is a better answer for some of them, and faith is a constant even when other things don't pan out so well. And that's where "Book of Daniel" distinguishes itself. While it does not pretend that faith will wipe out all the problems in the world, especially one as crazy as "Book of Daniel," it is also certain that Daniel would be much worse off if he didn't have Jesus to talk to.

In today's TV mailbag I have a reader question about "Scrubs" and its possible return. Didn't have an airdate for it then, but I do now, since NBC has announced mid-season plans, including the much-speculated-about move of "My Name Is Earl" from its Tuesday stronghold to Thursdays, and the benching of "Joey."

These are short-term fixes, since NBC will toss things aside to make room for Olympics coverage beginning Feb. 10, and we'll have to see how the lineup looks when the Olympics are done. But here's what the network plans for January and early February:

Monday — A pat hand of "Surface," "Las Vegas" and "Medium."

Tuesday — "Fear Factor" at 8 p.m. (returning Dec. 6), with telecasts of "Scrubs" from 9 to 10 p.m. beginning Jan. 3. "L&O: SVU" stays at 10 p.m.

Wednesday — "E-Ring" remains at 8 and "L&O" at 10. In between, "The Biggest Loser: Special Edition," free-standing specials with the "Biggest Loser" theme, starting Jan. 4.

Thursday — "Will & Grace" moves to 8 p.m., followed by new comedy "Four Kings," then "My Name Is Earl," "The Office" and old warhorse "ER." The new comedy block begins Jan. 5.

Friday — "Most Outrageous TV Moments" (now a weekly series) at 8, "Dateline" at 9 and "The Book of Daniel," a new drama, at 10. "Book of Daniel" was one of the most intriguing pilots I saw last summer, and I'm eager to see how it works as a series — and how audiences take to the physical presence of Jesus as a sounding board for the main character, a minister. It will get a two-hour premiere on Jan. 6 at 9 p.m., pre-empting "Dateline" that week, before settling in at 10 p.m. on Jan. 13.

Saturday — Still movies, specials and reruns.

Sunday — Still "Dateline," "West Wing," "Criminal Intent," "Crossing Jordan."

And, as I did with Fox, here's a show-by-show rundown of things that are moving, getting benched or new to the schedule:

"The Apprentice" — benched until after the Olympics.

"The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" — finished for good once the current series ends.

"The Biggest Loser: Special Edition." Self-contained episodes on the "Biggest Loser" theme beginning  Jan. 4.

"Book of Daniel" — promising and unpredictable drama about a minister (Aidan Quinn), his family, his work and his personal relationship with Jesus. Two-hour premiere on Jan. 6 at 9 p.m., then regular episodes on Fridays at 10 p.m. beginning Jan. 13.

"Fear Factor" — Returns on Dec. 6.

"Four Kings" — new comedy about four childhood friends, now adults, with Seth Green. Premieres Jan. 5.

"Joey" — benched until after the Olympics.

"My Name Is Earl" — moves to 9 p.m. Thursdays on Jan. 5.

"Most Outrageous TV Moments" — Specials become a weekly series on Jan. 6.

"The Office" — moves to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays as of Jan. 5.

"Scrubs" — back on Jan. 3, with two episodes per night.

"Will & Grace" — moves to 8 p.m. as of Jan. 5.