With Leah Remini’s third season of “regular” Scientology and the Aftermath episodes coming to an end last night (we think there’s still more in the way of “special” episodes to come), we thought it was time to pay some attention to that other great television experiment going on.
We’re talking, of course, of Scientology TV.
Now, we know we’ve been a bit hard on David Miscavige’s new obsession. A steady 24-hour diet of church propaganda (interrupted by some legit films on Friday nights) might be tough for us to sit through, but that doesn’t mean that someone out there might not actually enjoy Dave’s taste in programming.
And now, here’s proof. The latest copy of International Scientology News includes this happy announcement of the 24 — count ’em, 24! — awards the young channel has already pulled in…
This year marked the launch of the Scientology Network, and it was a splash of epic proportions. From the day it premiered in March, the Network — which airs 24/7 with original programming produced in-house — has been a powerhouse of dissemination. Shows invite viewers inside our Orgs, tell the story of humanitarian campaigns and introduce the world to Scientologists from every walk of life. The programming is beamed to 24 time zones across the globe, and that just happens to be the number of awards the Scientology Network has received, recognizing excellence in categories ranging from technical expertise to powerful storytelling. We’ve garnered five prestigious Telly Awards that honor the best in TV and video production on multiple platforms. Nods included a Silver Award for Art Direction and another Silver Award in the Not-for-Profit Series category. There were also 11 Silver Davey Awards, which recognize the very best in not-for-profit television. Our Network struck gold and platinum too, with eight MarCom Awards, one of the world’s most respected competitions acknowledging excellence in marketing and communications. Beyond the multitude of statuettes, we are also winning hearts and minds, as the fastest-growing television network in broadcast history gives rise to the largest surge in services in Scientology history. Opening access to the Bridge for millions the world over, well, that is the biggest prize of all.
Telly Awards? Now where have we heard that before. Oh, that’s right. In 2011 Scientology boasted about one of its DVDs winning a Telly, and that’s when we learned that of the 11,000 entrants in the contest that year, more than 2,750 ended up taking home awards. That’s a pretty generous proportion!
We’re sure that the Daveys and MarComs are just as prestigious, and wouldn’t we all be proud to have those statuettes on our mantles!
As for the assertion that Scientology TV is the “fastest-growing television network in broadcast history,” we sure would like to see some, you know, documentation?
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We told you a Scientologist double-murderer was on trial
Trial resumes today in a double-murder case in Prescott, Arizona tomorrow after opening statements were made last week.
The Arizona Republic captured some key portions of the defense statement which, as we predicted, included the information that Kenneth Thompson had grown up a Scientologist, had been indoctrinated to hate psychiatry, and was enraged that his wife’s former ward, a child of 9, had been put on “psych drugs” and had been confined to the Phoenix Children Hospital’s child psychiatry unit. Thompson took it out on the boy’s mother, Penny Edwards, and her fiance, Troy Dunn, killing them with a hatchet — something you will see the defense is not denying. (And we hear from our sources that the jury enjoyed the cute little aside about Tom Cruise.)
With their argument that Scientology was part of what motivated Thompson, his defense team is trying to get him a life sentence rather than the death penalty…
Oh, hey, also…
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Start making your plans!
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology spies coming forward to spill their guts, then and now: A key example from the past
[TWO years ago] L. Ron Hubbard’s daughter — the one he wanted to disappear — surfaces online
[THREE years ago] ‘Are you 100 percent American?’ — ‘Ross & Carrie’ investigate joining Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Scientology vs. the mayor: The full Gabe Cazares interview from 1997’s Secret Lives
[FIVE years ago] The BBC’s John Sweeney gives us another glimpse of creepy Scientology intimidation
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s secret vaults: A rare interview with a former member of hush-hush “CST”
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,352 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,483 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 1,985 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,465 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 528 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 416 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,723 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,591 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,365 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,139 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,485 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,051 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 6,971 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,138 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,719 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 2,979 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,019 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,731 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,257 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,346 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,486 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,806 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,662 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,781 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,137 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,439 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,545 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 1,948 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,819 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,402 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,897 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,151 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,260 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 6, 2019 at 07:00
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Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, 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 can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | 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 | 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 | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
