For years we were hearing that it was coming: David Miscavige was going to launch a Scientology TV channel. It finally happened on March 12, 2018 with a remarkable few minutes of Miscavige himself broadcasting from the Flag Building in Clearwater.
And then it immediately settled into a 24-hour stream of unwatchable Scientology propaganda.
The unrelenting infomercial style of Scientology TV wasn’t even worth making fun of, and we remember the pain experienced by YouTubers vainly sitting through it for comedy material.
Scientology TV was a massive disappointment, but it’s been going around the clock for six years now with almost zero impact on other media, the press, or the culture in any way.
But Miscavige is not the type to admit that he ever made a bad move, and so his Ideal Org program and his DirecTV channel will go on, even as Scientology’s membership dwindles and his buildings sit emptier and emptier.
Tonight, Scientology TV is debuting a new “season,” which means the episodes that have been on repeat forever will get swapped out for a new set of the same type, with lots of drone shots and GoPro footage of young people doing extreme sports intercut with scenes of young Scientology staffers looking like Olive Garden waiters laughing and pretending that they’re having a good time and not crying inside that they’re making less than minimum wage and haven’t talked to mom in years.
The one exception to this endless river of effluent are some documentaries that are shown because their filmmakers are desperate to get someone, anyone, to see their work. The filmmakers even sit for interviews at the Scientology Media Productions compound in Hollywood, and we’ve highlighted some of them in the past. And yes, some of them have regretted selling their souls to the Xenu crew.
Anyway, Dave put out a trailer for tonight’s new season, and we thought you might want to get a look at it.One thing that strikes us is how, over the last few years, NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk is becoming more and more a part of Dave’s stable of shills.
For years we’ve noted his involvement in Scientology’s front group, Drug Free World, which wants to give the impression that it is fighting the abuse of illicit drugs, but is actually promoting Scientology’s wacky and dangerous lobbying against any pharmaceuticals, prescription or non-prescription, licit or illicit.
For a while, we tended only to hear about Faulk around time for the Super Bowl, when he would get himself interviewed on sports shows and bring up Drug Free World.
But now, Miscavige has been highlighting the former running back more and more. Miscavige, for example, made Faulk a focus of his speech at the IAS gala in East Grinstead, England in November. A sample…
Turns out Marshall, an avid golfer, had seen [Drug Free World] at event after event, and curiosity finally got the better of him. And so came his first introduction to the program. It immediately struck a chord for the fact he had seen so many youth lost to drugs while growing up in the projects of New Orleans. So he fully engages himself, reading and viewing all campaign materials, at which point he is next contacting Drug Free World with a proposition as direct as it gets: I think you guys need to make me the national spokesperson. And he announces it with his own personalized card, complete with a quick response code and linking right to the campaign homepage with his own gift of the booklet and online course. With that Marshall sets the game plan: whenever I do an event, Drug Free World is there.
And now, Faulk is a major part of the promotion for the new season at Scientology TV, perhaps the first recognizable “celebrity” to make such an appearance. But will it make a difference? Will anyone start watching this propaganda stream, and will it ever start to get some press attention or notice at large?
Let us know what you think.
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Technology Cocktail
“Realism requires that auditing be a group action. As such a group can also teach a course, it is not difficult to recruit able people to help. I recall in particular two pathetic cases of singlism. One was a psychoanalyst who learned how to be an auditor and had to stop using Dianetics as it cleaned up all his practice and he had so much trouble finding ‘patients.’ The other was an auditor who found himself with the whole of a war vessel’s crew as pcs and no help in sight. In either case forming a Dianetic Counseling Group, getting them checked out on their ‘hats’ and doing their duties even part-time would have solved all.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1969
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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“Don’t, by the way, think I’m utterly mad when I talk about this, because I am afraid that the very, very best and most conservative churches of the land would rather be found dead than to disagree with me on the fact that man does have a soul. And the quest of an auditor, in working with a preclear, is to discover and rehabilitate that soul and actually help the individual to find out where heaven is. If we use those terms, of course, it becomes very comprehensible, in a past frame of reference. But heaven isn’t what you think it is, and hell is right here….But isn’t it strange that whenever I talk to somebody about this, they are much more willing to accept this concept than they were willing to accept such things as prenatal engrams and so forth. The most violent reactions I get from people, ordinarily, ‘You mean I HAVE lived before and I WILL live again?’ And you say…’Yeah, and the race has lived for an awful long time, and you could probably do so-and-so and so-and-so, and step out of your body and soar off to Venus if you wanted to.’ Used to be I’d say to somebody…’There’s such things as prenatal engrams and a child records when it’s in its mother and so forth.’ And they’d say, ‘Yak yak yak yak yak yak yak yak.’ No agreement on the line. But people are agreeing with me on THIS in the most unexpected quarters, unexpected quarters. Most people are atheists because they know that the way it was drawn up and presented to them wasn’t the way it is. That’s why they’re atheists. So don’t have any great fear about this theta track and theta beingness, or even in relaying it to people, because you’re in for some surprises. They’ll sit there and they’ll say, ‘Is that so! Tell me more.’” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 15, 1952
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“CORFU: It may be of interest that ‘Major’ Forte the British Consul in Corfu who messed the area up with lies is about to be sued by us in Corfu for libel and slander proven by his own testimony.” — The Commodore, April 15, 1971
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“There appears to be one other state of being above OT that can be theoretically stated to be a True Static. So stay the course as things are about to change for the better. All of the hopes and dreams that we have worked so hard for are not only about to be realized — but surpassed.”
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1996: Julie Mayo posted a series of articles this week, recalling her days spent in the cult. Some excerpts: “Miscavige, who was the boss of ASI (for profit company) and also ‘Special Project Ops’ and Trustee of RTC at the time, told me that I was being assigned to the RPF. I asked him why. He said ‘You know why, Miss Natter Box’. Miscavige told me I was being assigned to ‘hard labor’. This was the desert and it was August and it was hot. My job was to dig ditches. I was burning up and exhausted from the mental shock and lack of sleep. Rick Klingler, of the G.O., was at Gilman Hot Springs on the RPF. He was assigned to me as a buddy to make sure that I didn’t escape and that I dug ditches. I was put on the running program for 12 hours a day 7 days a week for weeks. We weren’t even given time to do our laundry. I remember bringing my laundry to the tree and then going to the bathroom. The bathroom had a back door, through which I could escape to the laundry room. I had to keep my eye out for Bucky Beaver, though, because he patrolled the area for people who weren’t doing what they should be doing. I never knew what Bucky’s real name was because we weren’t allowed to talk to crew. David Miscavige and a couple other people used to ride down on their scooters to watch us running around that tree. It must have been October or November by now because I remember Miscavige wearing a great, long coat and just stand up the hill with a couple others, watching us.”
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“The only thing standing between Scientology being viewed in the same light as FLDS, Peoples Temple or Branch Davidians by the general public is Tom Cruise and the rest of the celebs.”
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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.
— ‘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 May 17, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Leah seeking to amend her complaint.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: motion to file new complaint, hearing on May 29.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, hearing on April 16.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.
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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] VIDEO: Scientology’s post-pandemic comeback starts right here, space cadets!
[TWO years ago] Calif. supremes want reply from DA to Danny Masterson’s bid for review in rape case
[THREE years ago] Kirstie Alley’s daughter: ‘Everyone’ is ditching Los Angeles for Clearwater
[FOUR years ago] ‘Rona blues: Court delays, Shelly on the menu, and more Scientology nonsense
[FIVE years ago] L. Ron Hubbard: Scientology will thrive when medical doctors are reined in
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s space opera ideas aren’t just for the upper levels, as one key early book shows
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology is No. 1 with No. 2! Or, how the Church of David Miscavige stinks up Clearwater
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology rips apart families with its ‘disconnection’ policy — but why?
[NINE years ago] Another leak of outtakes from 1997’s ‘Secret Lives’ — Scientology’s finance ‘dictator’
[TEN years ago] Jefferson Hawkins helps us understand Scientology’s L Rundowns!
[ELEVEN years ago] We Need Your Help, Scientology Watchers
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 2,871 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,366 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,881 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,431 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,421 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,302 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,606 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,477 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,029 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,370 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,937 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,856 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,024 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,605 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,866 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,902 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,618 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,182 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,497 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,672 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,223 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,354 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,692 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,545 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,666 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,022 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,325 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,431 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,829 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,705 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,270 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,783 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,037 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,145 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 15, 2024 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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…
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
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast