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'Kings' Puts New Spin On Biblical Tale OfDavid

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By WALT BELCHER wbelcher

@tampatrib.com

Published: March 13, 2009

NBC's ambitious drama series "Kings" may have been inspired by the biblical story of David, but it plays like a futuristic fantasy.

Series creator Michael Green has even said it's more science fiction than Old Testament.

Set in modern times, the story takes place in the kingdom of Gilboa, which resembles the United States. The capital city, Shiloh, looks like a pristine version of New York (minus some landmark buildings such as the Empire State Building).

Gilboa is ruled by the charismatic King Silas Benjamin (Ian McShane), a cunning monarch who wears business suits and knows how to manipulate the media and the public.

He also truly believes that he rules by divine right. His god has called him to power. He relies on a spiritual adviser, the Rev. Ephram Samuels (Eamonn Walker, "Oz").

All is not well in Gilboa because the country is at war with a bordering militaristic nation.

When the prince, Jack (Sebastian Stan), is taken hostage by enemy troops, a young clean-cut soldier, David Shepherd (Australian Chris Egan), risks his life to save him by taking on the enemy's dreaded Goliath tank.

Shepherd becomes a national hero and seems destined to win the hand of the king's daughter, Michelle (Allison Miller). But keeping them apart is Queen Rose (Susanna Thompson).

The biblical parallels are obvious. Silas is a stand-in for King Saul. The minister represents the prophet Samuel. The enemy are the Philistines. The tank is the giant that the biblical David killed with a stone thrown from a sling.

Debuting at 8 p.m. Sunday, "Kings" isn't to be taken as a literal translation. Those expecting a faithful retelling of the story of David may be upset with characters that are gay and a god who uses monarch butterflies as messengers.

Green, whose mother is Israeli, has said the idea came to him while he was visiting Jerusalem years ago. He started writing "Kings" while he was working on "Heroes." He also was influenced by current U.S. politics, including the Iraq war and the 2008 presidential election.

McShane, who was so impressive in HBO's "Deadwood," is a commanding presence in the opening episodes. His character is far more fascinating and fun to watch than Egan's somewhat insecure, wimpy David.

My guess is that if this series is successful, it's going to take a long time for David to get the throne.

GLOBAL FOOLING: Officials at WTVT, Channel 13, declined to comment on Fox 13 chief meteorologist Paul Dellegatto making the "Worst Person in the World" list, a nightly gag on MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann's show.

Dellegatto was ripped by Olbermann on Wednesday for "putting global warming denial propaganda" in a recent forecast.

Olbermann said Dellegatto cited a late-season cold snap as an example that global warming may not be happening. He chided Dellegatto, saying that global warming can cause climate changes such as cold weather in unexpected places.

A WTVT spokesperson said, "No one cares what Keith Olbermann has to say. He is irrelevant."

NOT A 'SURVIVOR': The "Survivor" adventure ended for Lakeland native Spencer Duhm on Thursday night's episode of "Survivor: Tocantins - The Brazilian Highlands."

The 20-year-old University of Florida student became the fifth person voted off the CBS reality show. Duhm, the youngest contestant in show history, apparently was considered a weak link by the members of the Jalapao Tribe.

He was 19 when the episodes were taped last fall in Brazil and lasted 15 days on the reality series.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

"Dollhouse," 9 p.m., Fox

The heroine Echo (Eliza Dushku) goes undercover in a deadly cult to save a woman who is being held against her will. But blank-slate Echo has been given the personality and memories of a blind woman.

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