Today happens not only to be Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s 106th birthday, it’s also a big day for Scientologist and That ’70s Show actor Danny Masterson, who turns 41 today and we didn’t want to miss the occasion.
You may already know that the Underground Bunker broke the news on March 3 that Masterson is being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department in three cases of rape or sodomy of women who were also members of the Church of Scientology. We want to stress that Masterson has not been charged with a crime, and he put out a statement denying any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, in a Feb. 22 letter to LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, the person we’re calling Victim A complained that the investigation has been plagued with mistakes and inaction caused, she believes, by the LAPD’s relationship with the Church of Scientology.
That first story, on March 3, included details about Victim A’s case that she spelled out in her letter to Chief Beck. On March 8, we told the story of the woman we’re calling Victim C. And on Saturday, we learned the grim details of what the Church of Scientology put Victim B through after she came forward with her allegations of being raped.
Currently, Masterson and his friend Ashton Kutcher are filming the second season of their Netflix comedy series, The Ranch, and on Friday, the cast and crew were on Stage 19 at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank to shoot a couple of scenes for an upcoming episode.
A person who was on the set that day let us know that Masterson’s approaching milestone was noted, and the assembled crowd sang him a round of “Happy Birthday” during a break in filming. But our source tells us that the feeling on the set was pretty tense as our stories were being talked about when Masterson was out of earshot.
Oh, and here’s an odd detail we didn’t know. Kutcher’s stand-in on the show is Travis Case — yes, the actor Scientology “twinned” with Cathriona White to get through the Purif and Survival Rundown courses before, in September 2015, the young actress who had been dating Jim Carrey killed herself with drugs she had stolen from Carrey’s apartment.
Anyway, our source said the atmosphere on Friday was not only a little bizarre because of the birthday, but also because Masterson had dialogue that was typically filled with sexual innuendo, which is par for The Ranch, a sitcom which the viewers of Netflix have rated at only one and a half stars, although Esquire called it “surprisingly entertaining and fun.”
Our source supplied us with a few pages from the day’s shooting script, in which Masterson’s character, Rooster, flirts with “Jen.”
Says our source: “There was another scene that he was in with the same actress, and the lines are about going back to her place to hook up. She had to kiss him at the end and it was extremely uncomfortable to watch.”
We’ll let our readers take a look at the script pages and tell us for themselves if this is comedy gold or not. We will say that we can see why crew members who have been reading our stories might have winced.
Miss September of the Colorado Avalanche “ice girls.” What a classic.
(Meanwhile, as Masterson celebrates a birthday, we’ll remind the LAPD that Scientology will still have on file at the Celebrity Centre a trove of information about him, as well as the ethics files of Victim B, if not others.)
Many happy returns of the day, Mr. Hubbard.
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Bonus items from our tipsters
Miami, are you excited that your Ideal Org is nearing completion?
Scenes from the Birthday event Patrons Ball in Clearwater this weekend, featuring Jim Mathers and Ruddy Rodriguez!
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HowdyCon 2017: Denver, June 23-25. Go here to start making your plans.
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder
Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 4,689 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 1,792 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 2,286 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 1,326 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy in 1,038 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 505 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 4,623 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 1,793 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,113 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,088 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 444 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin in 4,746 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 853 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis for 1,255 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,128 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 709 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike in 1,214 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 1,458 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 12,567 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 13, 2017 at 07:00
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Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information about the book, and our 2015 book tour, can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2016 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2016), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield
