The series creator, Dallas Jenkins, went this route because he knew that Hollywood, in its current state, would never finance or support it… “a series about the life of Jesus? Who would want to watch that?” 

Nearly half a billion people, that's how many people would want to watch a story on the life of Jesus. I just checked my Chosen app and the running total to date is over 466 million views. And if you haven’t guessed by now I am a huge fan of the series. I discovered it last year when it was less than the phenomenon it is now. 

I was extremely impressed with the high production values, the depth and skill in the writing, and the first-rate actor performances. The portrayal of Jesus by actor Jonathan Roumie is hands down the best I have ever seen; his humanity, humor, and humility bring Jesus alive in a way that no film or television production ever has. This actor was destined for the role.

The Chosen series has achieved all this on a less than modest budget, which has also been the story of my career in creating films on small budgets and making them look high quality and much bigger budgeted. I’ve been in the trenches. I know the amount of work, planning, and long hours that have to go in when you have limited resources to produce something of quality. So I may have a deeper appreciation for what the series has been able to achieve.

The proof is in the pudding. The third season of the series launched on November 18, 2022 with the first two episodes in theaters across the country. It quickly soared to number three at the box office in its opening weekend. Achieving this box office position is beyond amazing because the production was only in 2027 theaters and the film at the number one position during that time, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was in over 4300 theaters. 

What I enjoy watching as well are the fan video testimonials that viewers have posted on the Chosen app and other places, where they detail how the series has changed their lives, renewed their faith, and compelled them to dive deeper into the Bible’s teachings. I believe this was what the goal of the series was all along and I fully support it. 

This divisive world has truly “gone off the rails” in my opinion where people with differing beliefs can’t even speak to one another. It is a recipe for a continuing disaster. With more and more people discovering truths in the teachings of Jesus, perhaps one day humans will heal their differences and come together as one. With faith-based messages contained in a series such as The Chosen, it's a very good start.

Thanksgiving week on Wednesday, November 23rd Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of four books, including the New York Times bestseller Three Nights in August and Friday Night Lights, Buzz Bissinger stopped by the show. His latest book is called, The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II. 

To close the month, November 30th we learned the story behind the creation of the legendary American fighter plane the P-51 Mustang with authors David and Margaret White and their new book, WINGS OF WAR: The World War II Fighter Plane that Saved the Allies and the Believers Who Made It Fly.

Expressions of America is a first-of-its-kind nighttime sound and light experience celebrating the power of individual Americans to impact the world around them during a time of monumental conflict. Available exclusively at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans starting on Veterans Day 2022, Expressions of America will immerse audiences in written words, songs, and personal reflections of the everyday men and women who served our country in every way imaginable during World War II. Generously presented by the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation, Expressions of America will uniquely combine the latest outdoor projection technology with wartime letters and oral histories from the Museum’s collection to allow audiences to experience the stories of the WWII generation like never before.  Check out the Teaser/Trailer below.