We’re continuing to look back at recent issues of Scientology’s Celebrity magazine, which appears to be a victim of the pandemic. Today, we thought we’d go through issue 439, which came out in October 2017 and featured actor and impressionist Jim Meskimen on the cover.
Yes, he’s the son of Happy Days actress Marion Ross, and he’s been a minor player in a lot of things you’ve probably seen. But these days we think about him as one of the last really reliable stalwarts among Scientology’s celebrities who will still show up and gladhand on behalf of David Miscavige, loyal to the end as Scientology dwindles.
His interview is mostly very uninteresting, so we’ll just focus on the final paragraphs, which at least reference his Scientology involvement.
In 1993, Jim and his wife, actress Tamra Meskimen, moved back to Los Angeles, where he landed a recurring role on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and first connected with Celebrity Centre, which he describes as a refuge. “It’s a place to step aside from the complexities of life, dust yourself off, get the information you need to succeed.” As his career branched out with movie roles, scores of television guest spots and expanding work as an impressionist, he continued his ascent up the Bridge (he attained New OT VIII in 2005) and still finds time to entertain at charity events at CC and orgs throughout the world. In many ways, he says, he owes his success to the technology of Scientology.
So many artists, he says, have difficulty, not with their creativity, but with relationship problems, money difficulties, personal insecurities, all the countless things that can get in the way of them succeeding at expressing themselves. That’s where the technology of Scientology comes in, says Jim. “It will help not only as a creative person, but will help you get organized, get rid of distractions that have nothing to do with your art and deal with all the things that get in the way of your art.” Most people go through life not so much solving problems as developing coping mechanisms to deal with them, says Jim. “But Scientology comes along and says, ‘That can be totally solved,’ and at first you say, ‘Well, we’ll see…’ then it happens and it’s really solved. And then you discover that if that’s possible, then lots of things are possible.”
For Jim, the possibilities he’s realized through Scientology include not only a successful career as an artist that allows him to continuously explore new creative ventures, but also a very happy 30-plus-year marriage and a great relationship with his daughter. “The great strength of Scientology is that it takes the infinite complexity of life and distills it to fundamentals that are so basic, that no matter what changes in front of you, you have a basis of understanding from which to proceed.” And for that, he says, “I really am thankful. I marvel at the life I have.”
The rest of the issue has a lot of forgettable figures, most of whom we’d never heard of. (Erika Christensen was back, for some reason, after the two issue just a few months before had focused on her.)
But we did note this brief aside about one of the Scientology celebrities that we’ve always been very curious about, Anne Archer’s husband and legit former TV executive, Terry Jastrow.
Saying Terry Jastrow is a man of many talents is a consummate understatement. How do you categorize someone who was the youngest television sports producer ever at age 23, the producer/director of six Olympic Games and the recipient of seven Emmy Awards as well as 17 nominations? Oh, and he’s also an actor, a screenwriter and a playwright. In fact his productions have been staged in such theaters as the Edgemar Center for the Arts, the Skylight Theatre and the Beverly Hills Playhouse. His latest achievement is his debut as an author of a legal thriller, in the vein of John Grisham. His book is entitled The Trial of Prisoner 043, and it’s already garnering rave reviews with many describing it as a “must-read.” One editor wrote, “Not since ‘A Few Good Men’ has the tension, consequences and gotcha moments of a take-no-prisoners trial been captured so expertly.”
After years of Jastrow putting on Olympics coverage, aren’t there any former colleagues of his who have anecdotes about how he might have talked about Scientology while on the job? We’re curious.
Another thing that caught our eye was this brief mention of Jason Dohring, the hunky actor whose father is the genius behind Neopets and ABC Mouse, Doug Dohring.
A Star Shares His Journey To Clear
Our weekly “Clear Body, Clear Mind” lecture got an extra jolt of star power recently when Jason Dohring of Veronica Mars fame stopped by to recount his personal story. Featured on the cover of Celebrity just a couple of issues ago, Jason has a long list of credits to his name and is a true Hollywood success story. He was happy to share his wins from services such as the Purification Rundown. He even included a prop — a towel he had used during the Purif that was brightly colored with toxins he had run out. The lectures cover LRH data such as spirit-mind-body, the reactive and analytical minds and how toxins affect us. A tour of the facilities, a personalized interview and a free Toxic Test are also part of each event.
Looking at the completions in the back, we were interested in a couple of things that turned up.
What’s this? In 2017 Danny Masterson’s stepfather Rusty Tweed, who was busted by the SEC for running a Ponzi scheme and is barred from life from trading securities, was training to be a Scientology auditor?
Interesting career choice. Also, we kept an eye out for Rusty during Masterson’s trial in the Fall, and we never did see him in the family’s large contingent. Maybe next time.
The other thing that caught our attention, isn’t it heartwarming to see that after all these years of doing battle with Scientology’s online critics, attack-dog attorney Helena Kobrin in 2017 was still trying to get some happiness in her life?
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“I am not saying that the various governments might not do something dangerous with testing. I am not saying that H-bombs are good weapons. I am only saying we can survive it. I am only saying that we have one case — me — who has had 502 times the ‘allowed’ amount and is surviving nicely, thank you, and other cases that are in like condition because of good processing. I am saying that with good, modern auditing a Scientologist can survive it — so why worry about it. As an organization and as individuals we’re going up-tone faster than others are going down. And Man faces many enemies more dangerous than Radiation.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1957
——————–
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.
——————–
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
——————–
“Let’s be some distance from the body, if possible. Some distance from the body and find some places where you are not. Some more places where you are not. Now some things from which you are not exteriorizing. Some things you’re not at this moment getting out of. And now some things that aren’t pulling you into them. And some things you are not getting out of. And now some things you’re not stuck in. Some more things you’re not stuck in. Now some energy masses that aren’t wrapping themselves around you at this moment. All right. Now some energy masses you aren’t wrapping yourself around at this moment. And now some effort you are not at this moment trying to get out of. Some effort you’re not trying to keep from expending at this moment. All right.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 12, 1954
——————–
“SOURCE TO CAUSE: I’ve heard it said that as ‘source’ I should handle something way outside my general activity. This is a confusion between SOURCE and CAUSE. Whereas I am source of data, overall coordination and planning, You are CAUSE over your area. Results are the effect of your own efforts. When these support general programmes we all win. You should not minimize yourself as CAUSE. It is your greatest ability. Being Blamed sometimes blunts Being Cause. But if one’s total ambition is to be blameless the best situation is to get one’s name on a tombstone. And it’s no fun being dead. Being CAUSE over Matter, Energy, Space, Time, Force, Form, Location and Life is just another way of saying ‘OT’.” — The Commodore, March 12, 1970
——————–
“Clear really is something spectacular and very worthwhile, and highly stable. Despite all the knocks and bullying I’ve had over the past 40 years, the state is beyond price. Clear has not been available in the Church of Scientology for many years now, you won’t find it there. But if one were to follow the procedures exactly as laid out in DMSMH, Clear is still available for free. If Ron had done nothing else after the publication of DMSMH it would still remain a workable system to achieve Clear. I warmly recommend it.”
——————–
2001: Internet news site slashdot.org was forced to remove a copy of the OT3 materials from its web site following legal threats from Scientology. From The Register: “Geek paradise Slashdot has taken the unprecedented step of removing a post which contained text allegedly copyrighted by the ‘Church’ of Scientology, after receiving threats from Hubbard Space Command shysters citing the dreaded Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The post in question contained the full text of some reincarnated-aliens-scifi drivel called ‘OT III’, which in turn belongs to a Scientological sacred document called the ‘Fishman Affidavit’. What little sense we were able to make of OT III suggests a science fiction role-playing game involving impossibly ancient alien spirits called ‘Thetans’ which were hypnotized and subsequently implanted in the minds of ‘intelligent’ beings belonging to a Galactic Confederation of 76 planets, including our own, roughly 75 million years ago. Interestingly, the Slashdot announcement contains a lengthy talkback section towards the bottom, the cloying supportiveness of which suggests that Malda’s got himself a gaggle of cultish, right-thinking followers and apologists on a par with Hubbard’s. Slashdot typically devotes a great deal of ink to issues of free speech. The courage to exercise it when it hurts, however, is something else again.”
——————–
“I’m not ‘hating’ on anybody — especially folks I don’t even know — but on the other hand I don’t believe in turning a blind eye in order to maintain a positive front. My sister undoubtedly put her kids in the Sea Org, and for that I could never forgive her.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Mistrial declared November 30. Retrial scheduled, jury selection begins March 29. Next pretrial hearing: Feb 16.
— ‘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 Feb 13.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next status conference Feb 13.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filed amended complaint on August 2. Hearing November 17 to argue the arbitration motions, awaiting ruling.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: March 15, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through February 7.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
——————–
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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology wants you to dress up like a pirate before it takes your booty
[TWO years ago] UCLA’s voice of the Rose Bowl & Pauley Pavilion scores Scientology Super Power!
[THREE years ago] The new Scientology OT 8s are here! Masters of matter, energy, space, and time!
[FOUR years ago] Scientology TV debuted one year ago, and it’s still unwatchable propaganda
[FIVE years ago] Tonight, ‘Vanity Fair Confidential’ brings the Shelly Miscavige story to the ID network
[SIX years ago] David Miscavige wants to turn Clearwater into Scientology’s Vatican — but can he?
[SEVEN years ago] Meet the guy Scientology is relying on to get the ‘disconnection’ billboard stopped
[EIGHT years ago] DOX: Two early Dianetics supporters, including the E-meter inventor, turn against Hubbard
[NINE years ago] Vivian Kubrick posts remarkable photos from the sets of her father’s movies
[TEN years ago] Scientology Starts Out as Staring Contests
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s Writers of the Future Contest: Troubling Ties to Abuse in the Church
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,966 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,471 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,021 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,011 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,902 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,206 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,077 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,182 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,659 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,971 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,537 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,456 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,624 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,205 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,466 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,502 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,218 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,782 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,097 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,272 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,823 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,954 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,292 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,147 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,266 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,622 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,925 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,031 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,429 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,305 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,888 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,383 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,637 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,746 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on March 12, 2023 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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
