Nothing Sacred (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Nothing Sacred is an American
drama series
that aired from 1997 to 1998 on ABC
. The series was created by a Jesuit priest named Bill Cain and producer David Manson
.
and retro-1970's priest
with self-doubts, and was criticized by many for its portrayal of faithful Catholics
as cold and cruel while glorifying heterodoxy
and irreverence. The show and its sponsors were targeted for boycotts by the Catholic League
, a Roman Catholic civil rights organization.
Despite promises that the show would air for at least one full season, after the failure of the program, ABC canceled its order for the final four episodes, and then canceled the series entirely after the March 14, 1998 episode (with four completed episodes left unaired).
The show won the Peabody Award
, being described as "an honest portrayal of the complexity of faith in the modern era." It also won the 1998 Humanitas Prize
for a sixty-minute television series.
Nothing Sacred premiered on September 18, 1997 at 8:00pm/7c on ABC, replacing the cancelled/ended High Incident
s Thursday slot.
and Alan Keyes, on its board of advisors, specifically, declared the show in 1997 a "sacrilege" according to one commentator, who also quoted Keyes as calling it "propaganda dressed up as entertainment[, infused with] belief that there are no moral absolutes."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
drama series
Dramatic programming
Dramatic programming in the UK, or television drama and television drama series in the US, is television program content that is scripted and fictional along the lines of √a traditional drama. This excludes, for example, sports television, television news, reality show and game shows, stand-up...
that aired from 1997 to 1998 on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. The series was created by a Jesuit priest named Bill Cain and producer David Manson
David Manson (producer)
David Manson is a Peabody Award-winning American film and television producer, screenwriter and director.He is perhaps best known for having executive-produced and co-created , the acclaimed drama Nothing Sacred , and developed and executive-produced Birdy , winner of the Special Jury Prize at the...
.
Synopsis
Nothing Sacred starred Kevin Anderson as a liberalLiberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and retro-1970's priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
with self-doubts, and was criticized by many for its portrayal of faithful Catholics
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
as cold and cruel while glorifying heterodoxy
Heterodoxy
Heterodoxy is generally defined as "any opinions or doctrines at variance with an official or orthodox position". As an adjective, heterodox is commonly used to describe a subject as "characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards"...
and irreverence. The show and its sponsors were targeted for boycotts by the Catholic League
Catholic League (U.S.)
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, often shortened to the Catholic League, is an American Catholic anti-defamation and civil rights organization...
, a Roman Catholic civil rights organization.
Despite promises that the show would air for at least one full season, after the failure of the program, ABC canceled its order for the final four episodes, and then canceled the series entirely after the March 14, 1998 episode (with four completed episodes left unaired).
The show won the Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
, being described as "an honest portrayal of the complexity of faith in the modern era." It also won the 1998 Humanitas Prize
Humanitas Prize
The Humanitas Prize is an award for film and television writing intended to promote human dignity, meaning, and freedom. It began in 1974 with Father Ellwood "Bud" Kieser — also the founder of Paulist Productions — but is generally not seen as specifically directed toward religious...
for a sixty-minute television series.
Production
It was filmed in the administration of St. Thomas' church, a Roman Catholic parish in Chicago, Illinois.Nothing Sacred premiered on September 18, 1997 at 8:00pm/7c on ABC, replacing the cancelled/ended High Incident
High Incident
High Incident is a police drama series produced by DreamWorks Television for the ABC network. The show was created by Steven Spielberg, Michael Pavone, Eric Bogosian and Dave Alan Johnson...
s Thursday slot.
Broadcast history
- Thursdays 8:00 p.m. (September 18, 1997 - December 18, 1997)
- Saturdays 8:00 p.m. (January 17, 1998 - March 14, 1998)
Cast
- Kevin Anderson.....Father Francis Xavier "Ray" Reyneaux
- Bruce AltmanBruce AltmanBruce Altman is an American film and television actor. He is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama.-Film:*Regarding Henry - Bruce*My New Gun - Irwin Bloom*Glengarry Glen Ross - Larry Spannel...
.....Sidney Walters - Scott Michael Campbell.....Father Eric
- Ann DowdAnn DowdAnn Dowd is an American actress.She decided to become an actress while a premed student at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. She graduated in 1978 and went on to study at The Theatre School at DePaul University. In 1993 she won the Clarence Derwent Award for her performance...
.....Sister Maureen "Mo" Brody - Tamara MelloTamara MelloTamara Beccam Mello is an American actress. Her career began in 1993 with appearances on various television programs and films...
.....Rachel - Brad SullivanBrad SullivanBrad Sullivan was an American actor known for character roles in television and on film and stage.-Early life and career:...
.....Father Leo - Jose ZunigaJose ZunigaJosé Zúñiga is an American actor.Zúñiga was born in Honduras. He is best known for his roles in films such as Alive, Ransom, Con Air, Fresh, Crooklyn, Next Stop Wonderland and Twilight...
.....Juan Alberto Ortiz
Season 1
| Ep # | Title | Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Proofs for the Existence of God" | September 18, 1997 |
| 2 | "Song of Songs" | September 25, 1997 |
| 3 | "Mixed Blessings" | October 2, 1997 |
| 4 | "Parents and Children" | October 9, 1997 |
| 5 | "Roman Catholic Holiday" | October 16, 1997 |
| 6 | "Spirit and Substance" | October 23, 1997 |
| 7 | "Calling" | November 6, 1997 |
| 8 | "Speaking in Tongues" | November 13, 1997 |
| 9 | "A Bloody Miracle" | November 29, 1997 |
| 10 | "House of Rage" | December 11, 1997 |
| 11 | "Hodie Christus Natus Est" | December 18, 1997 |
| 12 | "Signs and Words" | January 17, 1998 |
| 13 | "A Nun's Story" | January 24, 1998 |
| 14 | "Kindred Spirits" | March 7, 1998 |
| 15 | "The Coldest Night of the Year" | March 14, 1998 |
| 16 | "Holy Words" | Never aired |
| 17 | "Sex, God and Reality" | Never aired |
| 18 | "HIV Priest: Film at 11" | Never aired |
| 19 | "Sleeping Dogs" | Never aired |
| 20 | "Felix Culpa" | Never aired |
Award nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | ALMA Award Alma Award The American Latino Media Arts Award, or ALMA Award is a distinction awarded to Latino performers who promote positive portrayals of Latinos in the entertainment field... |
Nominated | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Jose Zuniga |
| Outstanding Drama Series | |
|||
| Art Directors Guild Art Directors Guild The Art Directors Guild is an American labor union and branch of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees representing almost 2,000 motion picture and television professionals.... |
Excellence in Production Design Award (Television Series) | Cate Bangs and Michael Baugh | ||
| Emmy Award Emmy Award An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various... |
Outstanding Main Title Theme Music | Mark Isham | ||
| Outstanding Art Direction for a Series | Cate Bangs, Michael Baugh, and William Vail (For episode "Hodie Christus Natus Est") | |||
| Golden Globe Award Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign... |
Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Drama | Kevin Anderson | ||
| Humanitas Prize Humanitas Prize The Humanitas Prize is an award for film and television writing intended to promote human dignity, meaning, and freedom. It began in 1974 with Father Ellwood "Bud" Kieser — also the founder of Paulist Productions — but is generally not seen as specifically directed toward religious... |
Won | 60 Minute Category | Bill Cain | |
| Peabody Award Peabody Award The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting... |
|
|
||
| PGA Awards | Nominated | Television Producer of the Year Award in Episodic | David Manson | |
| Television Critics Association Awards TCA Awards The TCA Awards are awards presented by the Television Critics Association in recognition of excellence in television excellence. There are eleven categories, which are presented every summer.-Categories:... |
Program of the Year | |||
| Outstanding New Program of the Year | ||||
| Individual Achievement in Drama | Kevin Anderson | |||
| Viewers for Quality Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series | Ann Dowd | ||
| Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series | Kevin Anderson | |||
| Won | Founder's Award | David Manson | ||
| YoungStar Award | Nominated | Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama TV Series | Erika Christensen Erika Christensen Erika Jane Christensen is an American actress whose film appearances include Traffic , Swimfan , How to Rob a Bank , and The Perfect Score , among others. She also co-starred in the short-lived drama Six Degrees on ABC... |
|
| 1999 | Writers Guild of America Award Writers Guild of America Award The Writers Guild of America Award for outstanding achievements in film, television, and radio has been presented annually by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America, West since 1949... |
Won | Episodic Drama | Paul Leland (For episode "Proofs for the Existence of God") |
| Young Artist Award Young Artist Award The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist... |
Nominated | Best Performance in a TV Drama Series - Guest Starring Young Actress | Kimberly Cullum Kimberly Cullum Kimberly Cullum is an American former child actress who had many film and television roles during the 1990s. Her younger sister Kaitlin Cullum is also a former child actress.-Biography:... |
Opposition
The Catholic LeagueCatholic League (U.S.)
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, often shortened to the Catholic League, is an American Catholic anti-defamation and civil rights organization...
and Alan Keyes, on its board of advisors, specifically, declared the show in 1997 a "sacrilege" according to one commentator, who also quoted Keyes as calling it "propaganda dressed up as entertainment[, infused with] belief that there are no moral absolutes."