Jottings on science, religion, technology, pop culture and faith from the Antipodes.

Church, Faith & Religion, Pop Culture, Religion and Media

Storying Pastors, Priests and Ministers (Part 4)

 

The final part of this series wraps a up a few additional entries. There may be others and if I come across them later I’ll add them to this post. A mix of denominations this time including a number of shows I only vaguely know about.

See previous posts:

Also, I’ll probably get this book by Richard Wolff sometime soon. I wonder if there is a British equivalent?

 

The Church on TV

Wolff, Richard. The Church on TV: Portrayals of Priests, Pastors and Nuns on American Television Series. New York: Continuum, 2010.


Hallelujah! (1983-1984)

Image result for hallelujah! tv show"Hallelujah! was a British sitcom made by Yorkshire Television for the ITV network. The series were set in a Salvation Army citadel in the fictional Yorkshire town of Brigthorpe during series 1 (and later in the fictional place of Blackwick in series 2). Captain Emily Ridley has been posted there, having been an active member of the Salvation Army for 42 years. Despite the town and residents being seemingly pleasant, Emily is determined to flush out sin from behind the net curtains.


Trinity (1998-1999)

Image result for NBC Trinity tv show"Trinity is an family drama television series produced for NBC that focuses upon an American Irish Catholic family living in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan.

 


Amen (1986-1991)

Image result for amen tv show"A series set in Philadelphia concerning the life of the fictional First Community Church of Philadelphia. The show primarily focuses on the relationship between Ernest Frye, a solo father and deacon of the First Community Church of Philadelphia, who also works as a lawyer and Reuben Gregory is the new, young pastor of the church. 


Nothing Sacred (1997-1998Image result for nothing sacred tv show")

In this short-lived (cancelled) show, Father Ray, a passionate priest/teacher who questions his calling, his existence, and his faith as he deals with the problems of the poor and the troubled. The series was created by a Jesuit priest named Bill Cain and producer David Manson. The show was criticised by some who saw its portrayal of church issues in the post Second Vatican Council era as favouring those with a more liberal view of the Council at the expense of those with a more conservative one.


The Soul Man (2012-2016)

Image result for soul man tv show"The sitcom follows R&B superstar-turned-minister Reverend Boyce “The Voice” Ballantine, who was living the high life in Las Vegas at the top of the music charts when he got “the calling” and decided to relocate to St. Louis with his family to become a preacher in his father’s church. His family members are less enthused about this.


Good News (1997-1998)

Image result for "good news" tv series 1997 randolph"This was a short-lived American sitcom (AKA The Good News) that on a young acting pastor, David Randolph, sent to Compton, California’s African American Church of Life. Not trusted by the church members, Randolph attempts to reunite the church and help his congregation.


More to be added here as they turn up.