Nothing Sacred
GenreDrama
Created byBill Cain
David Manson
Written byJeanne Blake
Lee Blessing
Michael Breault
Jason Cahill
Bill Cain
Sandy Kroopf
David Manson
Marlane Meyer
Jan Oxenberg
StarringKevin Anderson
Bruce Altman
Jennifer Beals
Scott Michael Campbell
Ann Dowd
Tamara Mello
Brad Sullivan
José Zúñiga
Theme music composerMark Isham
ComposerJeff Beal
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes20 (5 unaired)
Production
Executive producersRichard Kramer
David Manson
ProducersBill Cain
Greer Shephard
Cyrus Yavneh
Running time60 mins.
Production companiesSarabande Productions
20th Century Fox Television
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 18, 1997 (1997-09-18) –
March 14, 1998 (1998-03-14)

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.

The series centered on the daily goings-on at a parish in an inner-city neighborhood. The show drew criticism from some Catholic organizations for its frank treatment of sensitive issues such as AIDS, racism, and abortion, as well as its portrayal of church issues in the post-Second Vatican Council era, which some saw as favoring those with more liberal views of the Council. The show and its sponsors were targeted for boycotts by the Catholic League.[1] The series faced low ratings and ABC canceled its order for the final four episodes, eventually canceling the series entirely after the March 14, 1998 episode (with five completed episodes left unaired).[2]

The series did win critical acclaim, including a Peabody Award for its "honest portrayal of the complexity of faith in the modern era"[3] and a Humanitas Prize. It also received nominations for Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award nomination for actor Kevin Anderson.

Premise

Father Francis Xavier "Ray" Reyneaux is the head priest of St. Thomas Catholic Church, which is located in a low-income neighborhood of an unnamed city. Father Ray deals with his own personal crises of faith in addition to the challenges of serving the needs of his community. Besides Father Ray, the series also follows the predicaments of the parish staff, which includes feminist nun Sister Maureen "Mo" Brody, the inexperienced Father Eric, and church secretary Rachel.

The series included plot lines ranging from "the homeless and local opposition to their presence, the church’s soup kitchen, [Sister Mo's] insistence that God be addressed as both Mother and Father, Ray’s temptation to rekindle a romance with an old flame, the desire of his assistant priest to escape the turmoil of the city to a quiet monastery, the dissatisfaction of a pregnant parishioner at Ray’s refusal to answer her directly about abortion, and a broken father-son relationship."[4]

Cast

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod.
code
1"Proofs for the Existence of God"Richard PearcePaul LelandSeptember 18, 1997 (1997-09-18)5K79
In the pilot episode, Father Ray encounters his former girlfriend Gemma (Wendy Gazelle), who's now the stepmother of a troubled student in the parish school and in an unhappy marriage. He also experiences further stress after having his noncommittal advice in the confessional regarding abortion recorded and sent to the Bishop's office.
2"Song of Songs"John ColesPaul LelandSeptember 25, 1997 (1997-09-25)5K02
Things are brewing at the church soup kitchen: a politician (Jack Laufer) who wants to close the place accepts Father Ray's invitation to pay a visit---and brings a camera crew. On the same day, J.A.'s wedding plans go awry, forcing him to move his wedding reception to the soup kitchen.
3"Mixed Blessings"Eugene CorrStory by : Matt Fulony & Paul Leland
Teleplay by : Matt Fulony		October 2, 1997 (1997-10-02)5K03
Father Ray tries to reconcile a deceased parishioner's husband and daughters, a challenge complicated by the intense dislike that the widower (John Cullum) has for him. Meanwhile, the St. Thomas parish staff considers how to spend the anticipated windfall after a winning lottery ticket is donated to the church.
4"Parents and Children"Claudia WeillStory by : Jan Oxenberg & Paul Leland
Teleplay by : Jan Oxenberg		October 9, 1997 (1997-10-09)5K04
Rachel, who's seven weeks pregnant, tries to decide whether or not to have an abortion, while Father Ray and Father Leo passionately disagree on how to advise her on the matter. Meanwhile, a woman (Shelley Morrison) chains herself to the steps of the church to protest a parishioner who is a slum lord.
5"Roman Catholic Holiday"Sarah Pia AndersonStory by : Marlane Meyer & Paul Leland
Teleplay by : Marlane Meyer		October 16, 1997 (1997-10-16)5K05
Father Ray takes a day off and runs into a high school classmate at a pick-up basketball game; Father Leo struggles with feeling unneeded after a series of disappointments; Sidney, having recently separated from his wife Frances (Cindy Katz), makes a connection with a location scout (Judith Hoag) seeking to use St. Thomas to film a horror movie.
6"Spirit and Substance"Arvin BrownStory by : Marlane Meyer & Paul Leland
Teleplay by : Marlane Meyer		October 23, 1997 (1997-10-23)5K06
Disheartened by Father Leo's absence, Father Ray finds it mysteriously difficult to get in touch with God, while his old flame Gemma (Wendy Gazelle) is a constant presence as she plans St. Thomas' upcoming Halloween bash. Meanwhile, Sister Maureen attempts to help a traumatized parishioner (Donna Murphy) who's turned against God, while J.A. worries that his teenage cousin is working for a local drug dealer.
7"Calling"Robert YoungJason CahillNovember 6, 1997 (1997-11-06)5K07
After helping to commit a robbery, Father Ray's ex-con brother Michael (Jeff Kober) shows up at the rectory asking for a place to stay. Meanwhile, a traditionalist seminarian arrives to shadow Father Eric for a few days; and Sister Maureen is invited to preach at the local Episcopalian church.
8"Speaking in Tongues"John ColesSandy KroopfNovember 13, 1997 (1997-11-13)5K08
Father Ray questions his belief in miracles while trying to help a young man (John Cameron Mitchell) hospitalized for speaking in tongues and who claims to have visions. Meanwhile, Father Eric has feelings for a new musician (Bess Meyer) working at St. Thomas.
9"A Bloody Miracle"Tom MooreJan OxenbergNovember 29, 1997 (1997-11-29)5K09
After a young woman is shot in front of the church, her blood appears to form an image of Jesus. While everyone grapples with whether this is truly a miracle or not, Father Ray tries to stop the wounded girl's brother from carrying out a vendetta. Meanwhile, Father Leo returns to St. Thomas.
10"House of Rage"Joan TewkesburyMarlane MeyerDecember 11, 1997 (1997-12-11)5K10
Father Ray tries to help a couple in the parish (Laila Robins and Joseph Kell) who are experiencing marital difficulties. Meanwhile, their adopted son is escaping their arguments by drinking; and a recently deceased elderly couple bequeath their home to St. Thomas.
11"Hodie Christus Natus Est"David MansonStory by : Bill Cain & Michael Breault
Teleplay by : Michael Breault		December 18, 1997 (1997-12-18)5K11
Father Ray declares St. Thomas a sanctuary to a couple of Salvadoran refugees (Yareli Arizmendi and Ramon Franco) on Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, Father Eric is nervous about his parents coming to Christmas Mass; and Sister Mo is frustrated by her limited role as a woman in the church.
12"Signs and Words"Robert Allan AckermanLee Blessing & Jeanne BlakeJanuary 17, 1998 (1998-01-17)5K12
Father Ray is called on the carpet because of the trouble that occurred on Christmas Eve, and he's not happy with the bishop's decision to assign Father Martin Briggs (David Marshall Grant) to co-pastor with him and exert control over parish matters. Meanwhile, a young black parishioner (Theodore Borders) makes a bold statement at the church and resists his mother's (Lorraine Toussaint) insistence that he be confirmed in the Catholic faith.
13"A Nun's Story"Jan EglesonStory by : Jan Oxenberg
Teleplay by : Richard Kramer & Jan Oxenberg		January 24, 1998 (1998-01-24)5K13
Sister Maureen prepares to be the Maid of Honor at the wedding of a longtime friend (Talia Balsam). While also planning the funeral of her elderly housemate Sister Sebastian and dealing with the pressure and indignity of Father Martin's (David Marshall Grant) staff reorganization, she begins to question her future in religious life.
14"Kindred Spirits"Robert YoungStory by : Marlane Meyer & Gary Rieck
Teleplay by : Marlane Meyer		March 7, 1998 (1998-03-07)5K14
Father Ray and the staff grow steadily more unhappy with Father Martin (David Marshall Grant), who wants to close the soup kitchen. After learning that Father Martin has offered the Director of Religious Education position to Justine Madsen Judd, Sister Mo seeks another job. Meanwhile, Fr. Ray counsels a parishioner (John Posey) who is struggling with the news that his unborn child will have Down Syndrome.
15"The Coldest Night of the Year"David PetrarcaBill Cain & Michael BreaultMarch 14, 1998 (1998-03-14)5K15
Father Ray is caught in the middle of a family crisis after his ex-convict brother Michael (Jeff Kober) breaks into his parents' house and is shot and wounded by their father Vince (John Mahoney). Following this event, their mother Helen (Fionnula Flanagan) leaves home and comes to stay at the rectory. Meanwhile, St. Thomas opens its doors to the homeless on the coldest night of the year.
16"Holy Words"Donna DeitchAnn Lewis HamiltonUNAIRED5K16
Father Ray prepares to marry an interfaith couple, a Catholic woman and a Jewish man (Kellie Waymire and Michael B. Silver), whose marriage is opposed by family members on both sides. He collaborates with a female Rabbi (Lisa Edelstein) to attempt to overcome the numerous obstacles leading up to the wedding ceremony.
17"Sex, God and Reality"Joan TewkesburyJan OxenbergUNAIRED5K17
Father Ray and Justine search the school for a stash of condoms. Meanwhile, Sidney and his wife Frances (Cindy Katz) go for counseling, and Rachel is attracted to an ex-con (Steven Martini) who's working at St. Thomas on a work-release program.
18"HIV Priest"James HaymanStory by : Paul Leland & Richard Kramer
Teleplay by : Richard Kramer		UNAIRED5K01
Father Ray provides support to his longtime friend Father Jesse O'Connell (John Michael Higgins), a priest who is secretly gay and has AIDS. Meanwhile, Sister Mo brings communion to a woman (Irma P. Hall) who has not left her home in years, and Father Eric plays basketball with students from the school in Father Ray's absence.
19"Sleeping Dogs"Elodie KeeneMarlane MeyerUNAIRED5K18
A man (Leland Orser) comes to confession at St. Thomas and tells Father Ray that Father Leo had sexually abused him years earlier. After the accusation becomes public, Father Ray urges Father Leo to take steps to defend himself, while Father Leo tries to remain open to what God is trying to accomplish through the ordeal.
20"Felix Culpa"Robert Allan AckermanBill Cain & Cyrus YavnehUNAIRED5K19
As the St. Thomas staff prepares for Easter, Father Martin (David Marshall Grant) wants to close St. Thomas, Father Ray seeks counseling as he questions his faith, an elderly woman (Maxine Stuart) is eager to be baptized at the Easter Vigil Mass, and a mistake by Father Eric results in a fire which almost destroys the church.

Production

The show was created by David Manson and Bill Cain.[5] Manson had befriended Cain, a Jesuit priest and playwright, and wrote the pilot episode with him.[6] Cain chose to be credited under the pseudonym "Paul Leland" in order to “create some separation" and avoid the perception that he was "writing as an official voice of the church.”[6] Cain said that intention for the show was to "depict genuine people struggling to be faithful to the church, something that is no more easy to do than to raise a family."[7] Michael Breault, a Jesuit brother, also served as a consultant for the series.[8]

The pilot episode was filmed in Toronto.[6] The rest of the series was filmed in Los Angeles, where the Anglican Lutheran Church in the Pico-Union district was used for exterior shots of the fictional St. Thomas Church.[7][6] The sanctuary of Angelica was also used to represent the sanctuary of a fellow clergyman in one of the episodes.

Release

Nothing Sacred premiered on September 18, 1997 at 8:00pm/7c on ABC.

Broadcast history

  • Thursdays 8:00 p.m. (September 18, 1997 – December 18, 1997)[2]
  • Saturdays 8:00 p.m. (January 17, 1998 – March 14, 1998)[9]

Controversy

In 1997, the Catholic League, and board of advisory member Alan Keyes, specifically, declared the show a "sacrilege" according to one commentator, who also quoted Keyes as calling it "propaganda dressed up as entertainment, [infused with] the belief that there are no moral absolutes."[8] Among the sponsors who withdrew ads from the show in response to the boycotts were Red Lobster,[1] Ocean Spray,[1] Chrysler-Plymouth,[10] and American Honda Motors.[10]

Other Catholic organizations and figures defended the show, with one cardinal citing how the program depicts the "human struggles that people bring to their parishes.”[7][10][11] The Tidings, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, published an editorial in support of the series.[7] A group of more than 100 priests, nuns, and bishops also took out an advertisement in a November 1997 issue of the magazine Advertising Age, criticizing the Catholic League's boycott stance and urging advertisers to support the show.[7]

Despite the backlash and the show's low viewership, ABC announced plans in November to order more episodes because of the show's quality and critical acclaim.[7][12] However, the episode "HIV Priest", which was originally supposed to air as the second episode, was not broadcast and ultimately went unaired.[13] The episode concerned a storyline about a priest who contracted AIDS.

Cancelation

The series was initially aired in a competitive time slot, going up against popular sitcom Friends on Thursday nights.[14][15] In the series' second week, it ranked 92nd out of 114 network shows.[11] ABC preempted the series for the network's November sweeps period and later moved the show to a Saturday night airtime.[9]

The series was officially canceled after the March 14, 1998 episode, leaving five completed episodes unaired.[16] Four of these unaired episodes were screened at a two-night event at a New York fundraiser in May 1999.[17]

Reception

Nothing Sacred received praise for its writing, acting, and examination of modern faith. On review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, Nothing Sacred has an approval rating of 71% based on 21 critics' reviews. The site's consensus reads, "Nothing Sacred is an inquisitive study of religion in the modern world, with an appealing Kevin Anderson providing solid eloquence even when the series feels too self-satisfied in its sermon."[18]

David Wild of Rolling Stone called it "the best new show" of the fall and said "it's enough to give you faith in ABC."[19] Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly gave the series a grade of A−, writing "True to its title, Sacred holds neither political nor religious correctness as sacrosanct. It makes Roman Catholic policy clear, then shows how policy can play out in messy lives."[20] Caryn James of The New York Times also praised the show, stating "it is set above [other new shows] by the thoughtfulness of its writing, its ambiguity, its refusal to preach. Though the series offers a complex study of faith in the real world, its great strength is that it works as engaging human drama, apart from religious concerns."[15]

Ray Richmond of Variety was less positive, criticizing the show for its lack of realism and writing, "Smart though often flippant, 'Nothing Sacred' is gutsy but a bit too enamored of its envelope-pushing sense of rebellion."[14] Walter Kirn of Slate called the show "smug" and "just more phony Hollywood iconoclasm."[21]

In a retrospective review in 2020, Catholic magazine America opined, "Here was a profoundly Catholic show that laid bare the fault lines of the church while capturing the beauty of belief. It should have been celebrated."[22]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Result Category Recipient
1998ALMA AwardNominatedOutstanding Actor in a Drama SeriesJosé Zúñiga
Outstanding Drama Series
-
Art Directors GuildExcellence in Production Design Award (Television Series)Cate Bangs and Michael Baugh
Emmy Award[23]Outstanding Main Title Theme MusicMark Isham
Outstanding Art Direction for a SeriesCate Bangs, Michael Baugh, and William Vail (For episode "Hodie Christus Natus Est")
Golden Globe Awards[24]Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - DramaKevin Anderson
Humanitas Prize[25]Won60 Minute CategoryBill Cain
Peabody Award[26]
-
-
PGA AwardsNominatedTelevision Producer of the Year Award in EpisodicDavid Manson
Television Critics Association AwardsProgram of the Year
Outstanding New Program of the Year
Individual Achievement in DramaKevin Anderson
Viewers for Quality Television Awards[2]Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama SeriesAnn Dowd
Best Actor in a Quality Drama SeriesKevin Anderson
WonFounder's AwardDavid Manson
YoungStar AwardNominatedBest Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama TV Series Erika Christensen
1999Writers Guild of America Award[25]WonEpisodic DramaBill Cain (For episode "Proofs for the Existence of God")
Young Artist Award[27]NominatedBest Performance in a TV Drama Series - Guest Starring Young ActressKimberly Cullum


References

  1. 1 2 3 Jurkowitz, Mark (October 1, 1997). "Catholic League president leads attack on 'Nothing Sacred'". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Manson, David (August 22, 1999). "'DOGMA'; Undeserved 'Credit'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Ellen Wins Peabody Award". The New York Times. April 3, 1998.
  4. ↑ McNulty, Edward. "Nothing Sacred: Episodes 1 and 2". Visual Edits (March/April 2013). Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  5. ↑ Sterngold, James (October 25, 1997). "A Jesuit Takes the Heat For a Gritty TV Series About a Doubting Priest". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Michaelson, Judith (September 17, 1997). "In the Name of the Father : 'Nothing Sacred's' producers put their faith in viewers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dart, John (November 29, 1997). "ABC Opts to Extend 'Nothing Sacred'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  8. 1 2 Dowd, Maureen (September 24, 1997). "Opinion | Liberties; The Devil in Prime Time". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  9. 1 2 "'Nothing Sacred' Gets a Blessing from ABC". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 "Catholic paper defends TV show 'Nothing Sacred'". Deseret News. October 5, 1997. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Rubin, Sylvia (October 2, 1997). "'Sacred' May Not Have a Prayer / But local priests say TV show is realistic". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  12. ↑ "'Nothing Sacred' survives despite protests". Deseret News. November 24, 1997. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  13. ↑ Greeley, Andrew M. (March 1, 1998). "TELEVISION; A 'Nothing Sacred' Episode You Haven't Seen". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  14. 1 2 Richmond, Ray (September 17, 1997). "Nothing Sacred". Variety. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  15. 1 2 James, Caryn (September 18, 1997). "TELEVISION REVIEW/NEW SEASON; Priest With Many Questions But Not a Single Easy Answer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Is nothing sacred? ABC cancels it". San Francisco Chronicle. March 20, 1998. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  17. ↑ Blaney, Retta (October 8, 1999). "Nothing Sacred - Resurrecting lost episodes". National Catholic Reporter. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Nothing Sacred". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  19. ↑ Wild, David (September 18, 1997). "Fall Preview 1997: TV is Good?". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  20. ↑ Tucker, Ken (September 19, 1997). "Nothing Sacred". EW.com. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  21. ↑ Kirn, Walter (September 14, 1997). "Sympathy for the Devil". Slate Magazine. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Revisiting 'Nothing Sacred' : A show about gritty parish life we could use today". America Magazine. February 21, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Nothing Sacred". Television Academy. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Winners & Nominees 1998". www.goldenglobes.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  25. 1 2 Kaiser, Robert Blair (2014). Inside the Jesuits: How Pope Francis Is Changing the Church and the World. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 140. ISBN 978-1-4422-2901-3. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Nothing Sacred". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  27. ↑ "20th Annual Youth in Film Awards". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on November 28, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
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