NBC'S 'THE BOOK OF DANIEL' TO PREMIERE JAN. 6 AT 9 P.M. ET/PT

NBC'S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED NEW SERIES 'THE BOOK OF DANIEL' PREMIERES FRIDAY, JAN. 6 AT 9-11 PM, WITH BACK-TO-BACK EPISODES

Series Stars Aidan Quinn, Susanna Thompson, Christian Campbell, Ivan Shaw, Alison Pill, Garret Dillahunt, Dylan Baker and Ellen Burstyn

NEW YORK - January 5, 2006 - NBC's critically acclaimed new family drama "The Book of Daniel" premieres Friday, Jan. 6 at 9-11 p.m. ET/PT with back-to-back episodes. The limited series stars Aidan Quinn ("An Early Frost," "Legends of the Fall") as the Rev. Daniel Webster, an unconventional Episcopalian priest, husband, and father who finds strength in his personal relationship with Jesus (Garret Dillahunt) to help navigate the successes and challenges of everyday life. The all-star cast also includes Susanna Thompson, Christian Campbell, Ivan Shaw, Alison Pill, Dylan Baker and Ellen Burstyn. "The Book of Daniel" returns the following week (Jan. 16) at its regularly scheduled time, Fridays at 10-11 p.m. ET/PT.

"I'm looking forward to the premiere of 'The Book of Daniel' because I'm eager for America to meet Daniel Webster and his family," said Jack Kenny, creator and executive producer. "They are so steeped in support and affection for one another that they can willingly look past each other's faults and imperfections, and with humor and grace, truly love each other."

Webster is challenged on many levels as he struggles to be a good husband, father and minister, while navigating an often rocky relationship with the church hierarchy, led by Bishop Beatrice Congreve (Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn, "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "Requiem of a Dream") and Roger Paxton, a senior warden of the parish and stalwart churchgoer (Dylan Baker, "Kinsey," "Happiness").

Webster also has loving, but challenging relationships with his three children: Peter (Campbell, "Trick"), his 23-year-old gay son, struggling with the loss of his twin brother; his 16-year-old daughter Grace (Pill, "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen"), a talented Manga artist dealing with typical teenage angst; and Adam (Shaw, "All My Children"), 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, loving wife Judith (Thompson, "Once and Again") - who is also coming to terms with the loss of her son and her own future and ambitions now that her children are nearly grown - and Jesus (Dillahunt, "Deadwood"), his best friend and confidante who serves as a sounding board and encourages Webster to find the answers to his questions within himself.

"The Book of Daniel" is produced by flodyCo, Bumpy Night, Inc., NBC Universal Television Studio and Sony Pictures Television. Creator Kenny, Flody Suarez and John Tinker are executive producers.