Scientology’s new celebrity TV talk show is a warmed-over idea, says former insider

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Another ‘season’ debuts Monday on Scientology TV, and among the new offerings is a talk show hosted by actor Jason Dohring. Former insider and film director Mitch Brisker has some great observations about how David Miscavige’s weird TV experiment got to this point. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

“Withholds don’t add up to withholds. They add up to overts, they add up to secrecies, they add up to individuations, they add up to games conditions, they add up to a lot more things than O/W. Although we carelessly call them withholds, we’re asking a person to straighten out their interpersonal relationships with another terminal. Our normal Confessional is addressed to the individual versus the society or his family. It’s what people would consider reprehensible that makes a withhold. In a Catholic society, not having kept Mass would be a reprehensible action. In a non-Catholic society, nobody would think twice about it. So, most of our Confessionals are aimed at transgressions against the mores of the group. That is the basic center line of the Confessional.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1977

 
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON

We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.

 
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?

[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH

— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see

[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf

— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond

[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones

 
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Source Code

“Tech — on both the 1st and 3rd dynamics — is proceeding at lightning speed. And early tech and books are coming into their own also. If everyone on Flag and on station ships know and wear their own hats well and insist on the fellow next to him wearing his, we have a potentially brilliant future. First and Third Dynamic Tech was never better, or orgs are doing well. We can greatly improve our actions and lines. If we can continue to best the enemy and get things running right we will really E-X-P-A-N-D. It took 100 years to abolish slavery. We are 20 years up on abolishing barbarism in psychiatry in a much faster moving age. If we keep at it and get better on our own jobs and get the breaks, I give us three years to have full command of the situation.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 31, 1970

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“SHIP REVENGE: I made a derogatory comment about the current abilities of Flag. Promptly the ship itself started getting even with me! A hot water line burst and flooded a corner of my cabin. My bridge cabin got varnished without being properly scraped down and wasn’t available. I got no real sleep and had a bath one finger deep and dressed in a torn up repair area. I hastily and humbly apologize to the ship, admit my overt and will mend my ways! Three bows and the sign of triangle to Apollo! I hereby warn all snipes, sailors, stewards, officers, mates and midship mites that it doesn’t pay to abuse, revile, mock or insult the ship or she will take her revenge!” — The Commodore May 31, 1970

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“The body is an electro-mechanical gizmo that is permeated by an electro-spiritual entity, the thetan. A thetan can generate a voltage or electromotive force, that’s how it kicks neurons in the brain to make the brain do things. It would be interesting to note where in the neurons the extra resistance to current flow comes from. The meter is one of the few things that actually objectifies Scientology theory and approach, it grounds things in hardball physics that anyone can measure and notice the results of auditing, before and after. And I dare any one of these meatballs to explain the results away with their stupid sweat, or hand squeezes or whatever bullshit they want to delude themselves with. 20,000 hours solo on a meter across 30 years and one finally gets the idea that something is going on here that hasn’t been said. Certainly not by the skeptics or the prove-it cases.”

Past is Prologue

2000: The Evening Argus published an article on former Scientologists in Brighton, UK. “Richard Ford stepped out of the taxi and walked through the entrance of Saint Hill Manor, the Church of Scientology’s UK headquarters. Richard had been a cult member before but had been expelled. Now he had been asked to rejoin and he looked on the day as a fresh start and an opportunity to prove himself. About seven months later he walked down the same drive a broken man. During his time with the Church of Scientology, Richard lost his possessions, had become so ill he had suffered premature hair loss and was so depressed he considered suicide. Auditing is the process where Scientologists are put into a trance-like state and relive past traumas, repeatedly going over the events until they feel cheerful about them. Richard said: ‘I went out walking on air, feeling wonderful and thought I would like to learn to help other people feel like this.’ ‘They separate you from all outside influence and blast you with auditing and get a commitment from you and get you to sign a contract. I was invited into the London group and that continued for slightly less than a year. During that time my health was going down quite badly because I wasn’t eating properly because of no money. ‘I had to move address a couple of times in the middle of the night for not paying my rent. I was working and not sleeping very much. In the mid-Nineties, the British arm of the Church of Scientology was plunged into crisis due to a decline in membership and a lack of people successfully completing their courses. Richard said: ‘There was a condition of danger declared. It means if the statistics of any Scientology group are declining rapidly enough, a senior body can declare a condition of danger and can directly intervene in affairs and carry out a purge. Richard was told to spend four months away from the cult. During this time he experienced a mixture of relief and a sense of failure at his dismissal. Richard, now 37, is philosophical about his time spent with the cult: ‘When I left I had nothing, I had debts of about 2,000 pounds. I felt ‘how come an intelligent person like me fell for something so stupid?’ ‘Why did I believe all those things so contrary to common sense? I’m still coming to terms with it.’ Richard has set up a helpline called Leaving Scientology to help other people who have left or are considering leaving the cult.”

 
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Random Howdy

“No way is D.M. going to intentionally beach a whale. The obvious solution would be to send someone to their mansion to audit them. I’ve read they do this. First of all, it makes the whale feel special, and secondly, it prevents the whales from going to the Orgs and seeing how empty they are.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due June 13.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing June 16.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Sentenced to 7 years in prison.

Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s appeal brief due June 3.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.

 
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SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.

LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH

An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.

SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

 
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. 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 a weekly series. How many have you read?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology wants more days of ‘arbitration’ but Valerie Haney tells judge what’s going on
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s huge investment in Ireland pays off with 50 percent growth!
[THREE years ago] Danny Masterson: Attorney Tom Mesereau is out, trial delayed to October 11
[FOUR years ago] For Memorial Day: Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s bogus war injuries
[FIVE years ago] VIDEO: Scientology shill admits infiltrating NAACP to forward crusade against psychiatry
[SIX years ago] DOX: Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard wanted kids to form his personal military
[SEVEN years ago] Bad boys, part two: Scientology’s involvement with drug smugglers had a long legacy
[EIGHT years ago] As Scientology coverage blows up, get ready for major network attention on Clearwater
[NINE years ago] Hold your horses! We can tell you who were the big celebs at Scientology’s grand opening
[TEN years ago] What happened when an actual scientist of the mind checked out L. Ron Hubbard in 1950
[ELEVEN years ago] Apparent suicide of witness to a mysterious Scientology drug rehab death
[TWELVE years ago] Is After Earth Will Smith’s Scientology Coming Out Party?

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 31, 2025 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, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), 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, 15 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…

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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

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone