March 1 (Bloomberg) -- Roll over, Anna Nicole. There's another burial drama in the headlines.

The Discovery Channel's ``The Lost Tomb of Jesus,'' which airs March 4 at 9 p.m. New York time, contends that an excavated Jerusalem tomb may have contained the remains of Jesus of Nazareth, Mary Magdalene, a son named Judah and other family members.

If true, the Greatest Story Ever Told will need a serious rewrite.

Enormous pre-airtime publicity, fueled by a New York press conference and strong reaction from archaeologists, historians and clerics, should give the program a ratings boost. The spotlight, of course, is nothing new for producer James Cameron (``The Terminator,'' ``Titanic'') and director Simcha Jacobovici (TV's ``Naked Archaeologist.'')

The show revisits a 1980 find known as the Talpiot tomb, whose contents have been in the news before, including a 1996 BBC documentary that also created something of a stir.

This presentation offers a few new wrinkles, including statistical analysis the show says all but proves the tomb contained members of Christianity's first family.

Also new is DNA evidence taken from residue within the bone- bearing ossuaries (the actual remains were reburied soon after discovery) that, according to the show, strongly suggests Jesus and Mary were not only married but had a son named Judah.

DNA Link?

This is hardly convincing stuff because it indicates only that the occupants of the ossuaries weren't related by blood and may have been a couple. A direct DNA link to Jesus would require an authenticated sample for comparison, and unless Cameron comes up with a piece of the True Cross or the Holy Grail such a link remains elusive.

Cameron's conclusion echoes the gospel according to Dan Brown, author of ``The Da Vinci Code.'' As it happens, a companion book co-authored by Jacobovici (forward by Cameron) has just been published.

The argument, presented in a fairly straightforward fashion, is augmented by re-enactments and interviews with corroborating experts.

Jacobovici seems to experience a series of Road to Damascus moments, perhaps as a result of longstanding interest in the story. He directed a 2003 documentary on an ossuary said to belong to James, believed by some to be the brother of Jesus.

That particular ossuary has had a checkered past. It turned up in the antiquities market and was eventually dismissed by many experts as a fake. A fraud trial is ongoing in Jerusalem.

Skeptics

According to this program, the James ossuary was originally in the Jesus tomb and its presence helps seal the case.

Although skeptics such as professor Amos Kloner are included in the show, they're not given much time or credence. So the viewer is left to wonder why, for instance, the Bible never mentions any union between Jesus and Mary, let alone a child. Or why so many respected scholars have dismissed the idea that this ossuary was Jesus' final resting place.

Kloner, who participated in the original Talpiot excavation, calls the Jesus tomb theory ``completely impossible'' and suggests that Cameron and company may be more interested in cashing in on the controversy than solving a historical riddle.

Cameron's reply: ``We've done our homework, we've made the case, and now it's time for the debate to begin.''

Some viewers will find this show engrossing; others may say, ``Praise the Lord and pass the remote control.''

(Dave Shiflett is a critic for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the writer of this story: Dave Shiflett at dshifl@aol.com.

Last Updated: March 1, 2007 00:07 EST