-A detour from my usual uploads. In 1985, one of the first things I recorded on my new VCR was the NBC miniseries "A.D." a pseudo-sequel to "Jesus Of Nazareth" covering the first decades of Christianity and the tumult of the Roman Empire and featuring an all-star cast including James Mason (his final role), Richard Kiley, John Houseman, Susan Sarandon, Ava Gardner and many more. It aired over five nights, running nine hours (minus commercials) and never aired again on television. The only American home video release was an edited version on VHS that eliminated three hours of content since it was marketed for Christian bookstores only. Only in Germany has the complete miniseries been released.
-I am uploading my original 1985 NBC recording. I removed the commercials when I transferred this to DVD originally but I left in all the NBC intros and bumpers so this will be a new experience for even those who have managed to see the "reconstructed" original version that is elsewhere on YT. I present it as a piece of television history and also something that is appropriate to the post-Easter season.
-Original airdate, March 31, 1985. WNBC-New York.
