I’d be all over this show, especially the alien episode.
Here are my ideas for shows which have travelled all over the internet to the point where I see them in some American teen’s viral tweet and feel stoked that something from my brain is making people happy.
1). Dancing on The Stars. Regular people people spend the episode learning a style of dance and it concludes with them dancing on the graves of deceased historical figures.
2). It's old episodes of The Joy of Painting With Bob Ross, except reversed. Instead of watching him paint you see him REMOVE paint. That tree? He's erasing that shit. It's nihilistic Bob Ross deconstructing the world.
3). People who believe the earth is flat are given a ship and resources to travel to the edge so they can finally prove it to the world. The cameras observing their mission shows the ever growing desperation as time passes, and as a result, the growing distrust in the captain. At some point they either reach a climatic awakening and accept the earth is round, or they accuse the captain of being a round-earther and mutiny ensues. The show can be called "Across the World in 80 Days"
4). Canines in Cars Drinking Coffee. It's like a dating show, except instead of going on a date I pick up the girl's dog and drive to a nice beach or something. We go for a nice walk, stop at a cafe, bond etc. I drop the dog off at an approved upon time.
5). The Amazing Race 2.0” it’s the same shoe but the end is always in Finland and it’s called The Finnish line.
That honestly sounds like it would have been a brilliant series, and I’m gutted that it never came to fruition. Incidentally, why did Scientology block you from doing anything about them?
Another great TV doco series idea, David. Give it another go at getting funding, I say. As well as the Unarians and the Raelians there are the Aetherians. They were started in England but have a US headquarters in LA - see https://www.aetherius.org/locations/los-angeles/ - they complete the big three of UFO religions. Many years ago when visiting San Diego for Comic-con I ran out of time to go from San Diego to the Unarius Academy of Science in El Cajon. The Unarians have the best costumes, dioramas and docos! But the Raelians have everyone else beat for their use of the swastika!!!
I would be so curious to see your episode on mega-churches, David. Not sure if you remember one of my latest comments on your most recent entry about QAnon but if you do, you can probably tell I have some beef with these mega-churches and their “brand”
of Christianity. I too also grew up in a small, boring Baptist church so back when I was still indoctrinated I looked up to these megachurches like they were the hippest places on the planet. Now I’m so woke to how they are just giant cogs in a capitalist machine - it’s abhorrent.
Something that would be an interesting investigation in this regard may be the so-called discipleship schools that some of these mega-church’s either founded or support. The idea of paying thousands of dollars for tuition to an unaccredited school for “supernatural ministries” (ie. Bethel) totally throws me off. Is this not exploitation?
I would watch the heck out of this, I hope it finds a home! Hopefully the landscape has changed a bit as covid has developed, I feel like personally ideas like this are so much more appealing at the mo in comparison to the darker stuff I was watching pre-covid.
I would love to see this series, such a fascinating topic, and I think you'd really do it justice. Did you ever catch the Australian series John Safran vs God? I think you'd like it.
Oh wow, this series must ALL be made...... I love creationist cults - have studied them ever since my Jehovah's Witnesses -v- Catholics sides of my family fought over my soul and lost. Am still trying to find one that makes enough sense so that I can say "nah nah nah nah nah" to both lots. Strangely enough, none so far, lol. The Ra Material, and the Hidden Hand stuff is fascinating - if you haven't heard of that particular little off shoot it is truly bizarre stuff with a little ring of truth enough to hook people in big time. Gotta love humanity, never boring! Thank you for digging and reporting on it all DF!
Thanks for sharing all this, David. At the very least, you've given us all DAYS of Google fodder.
But if I'm being honest, I'm not sure I could've watched a lot of this, particularly the religious-themed stuff. I was raised Catholic and I have a couple born-again cousins, and it's just highly disturbing stuff. So perhaps there's a reason this project didn't pan out.
Also, one comment you made in the beginning really stood out to me: Do you really think of death as the ultimate failure? It's inevitable; it's natural. It is, perhaps, sometimes a blessing. I'm just really curious what you think about that.
I was simultaneously surprised and not surprised to see the Yellow Deli, a cult from my hometown, make it on to your list. I haven't had much experience with them outside of their restaurant (they do make good sandwiches), but I have heard how dangerous they can be. If you find yourself in Chattanooga, I'd love to buy your a drink!
I’d be all over this show, especially the alien episode.
Here are my ideas for shows which have travelled all over the internet to the point where I see them in some American teen’s viral tweet and feel stoked that something from my brain is making people happy.
1). Dancing on The Stars. Regular people people spend the episode learning a style of dance and it concludes with them dancing on the graves of deceased historical figures.
2). It's old episodes of The Joy of Painting With Bob Ross, except reversed. Instead of watching him paint you see him REMOVE paint. That tree? He's erasing that shit. It's nihilistic Bob Ross deconstructing the world.
3). People who believe the earth is flat are given a ship and resources to travel to the edge so they can finally prove it to the world. The cameras observing their mission shows the ever growing desperation as time passes, and as a result, the growing distrust in the captain. At some point they either reach a climatic awakening and accept the earth is round, or they accuse the captain of being a round-earther and mutiny ensues. The show can be called "Across the World in 80 Days"
4). Canines in Cars Drinking Coffee. It's like a dating show, except instead of going on a date I pick up the girl's dog and drive to a nice beach or something. We go for a nice walk, stop at a cafe, bond etc. I drop the dog off at an approved upon time.
5). The Amazing Race 2.0” it’s the same shoe but the end is always in Finland and it’s called The Finnish line.
Welcome to the cult - we meet in the comments section. First item of business, we need a name.
That honestly sounds like it would have been a brilliant series, and I’m gutted that it never came to fruition. Incidentally, why did Scientology block you from doing anything about them?
Another great TV doco series idea, David. Give it another go at getting funding, I say. As well as the Unarians and the Raelians there are the Aetherians. They were started in England but have a US headquarters in LA - see https://www.aetherius.org/locations/los-angeles/ - they complete the big three of UFO religions. Many years ago when visiting San Diego for Comic-con I ran out of time to go from San Diego to the Unarius Academy of Science in El Cajon. The Unarians have the best costumes, dioramas and docos! But the Raelians have everyone else beat for their use of the swastika!!!
I hope you didn’t skip the MLMs in your outline. They are absolutely culty and creepy!
i am going to be forever sad this didn’t get picked up, it sounds amazing.
I would be so curious to see your episode on mega-churches, David. Not sure if you remember one of my latest comments on your most recent entry about QAnon but if you do, you can probably tell I have some beef with these mega-churches and their “brand”
of Christianity. I too also grew up in a small, boring Baptist church so back when I was still indoctrinated I looked up to these megachurches like they were the hippest places on the planet. Now I’m so woke to how they are just giant cogs in a capitalist machine - it’s abhorrent.
Something that would be an interesting investigation in this regard may be the so-called discipleship schools that some of these mega-church’s either founded or support. The idea of paying thousands of dollars for tuition to an unaccredited school for “supernatural ministries” (ie. Bethel) totally throws me off. Is this not exploitation?
I would watch the heck out of this, I hope it finds a home! Hopefully the landscape has changed a bit as covid has developed, I feel like personally ideas like this are so much more appealing at the mo in comparison to the darker stuff I was watching pre-covid.
If I won the lotto I'd fund you David! love your work!
I would love to see this series, such a fascinating topic, and I think you'd really do it justice. Did you ever catch the Australian series John Safran vs God? I think you'd like it.
Oh wow, this series must ALL be made...... I love creationist cults - have studied them ever since my Jehovah's Witnesses -v- Catholics sides of my family fought over my soul and lost. Am still trying to find one that makes enough sense so that I can say "nah nah nah nah nah" to both lots. Strangely enough, none so far, lol. The Ra Material, and the Hidden Hand stuff is fascinating - if you haven't heard of that particular little off shoot it is truly bizarre stuff with a little ring of truth enough to hook people in big time. Gotta love humanity, never boring! Thank you for digging and reporting on it all DF!
This is so good!!! I didn’t realise biebers church was like a destiny church 2.0
Woo is now my favourite word. I would watch that whole thing in a heartbeat. I wish it could be.
THAT OWL IS MADE OF KNIVES AND SPOONS! Sorry for yelling.
Thanks for sharing all this, David. At the very least, you've given us all DAYS of Google fodder.
But if I'm being honest, I'm not sure I could've watched a lot of this, particularly the religious-themed stuff. I was raised Catholic and I have a couple born-again cousins, and it's just highly disturbing stuff. So perhaps there's a reason this project didn't pan out.
Also, one comment you made in the beginning really stood out to me: Do you really think of death as the ultimate failure? It's inevitable; it's natural. It is, perhaps, sometimes a blessing. I'm just really curious what you think about that.
Wow, I would love to watch this series! I hope it gets picked up at some stage
I was simultaneously surprised and not surprised to see the Yellow Deli, a cult from my hometown, make it on to your list. I haven't had much experience with them outside of their restaurant (they do make good sandwiches), but I have heard how dangerous they can be. If you find yourself in Chattanooga, I'd love to buy your a drink!