Ted Haggard Scores Reality Special on TLC

By PopEater Staff Posted Jan 7th 2011 07:11AM

Sarah Palin and Kate Gosselin, meet your new neighbor. Disgraced evangelist Ted Haggard, who lost his mega-church empire following a male prostitute and crystal meth-fueled scandal, has scored a one-hour reality special on TLC.

Aptly titled 'Ted Haggard: Scandalous,' the show will presumably show how the pastor and his family rebuilt their lives since his epic fall in late 2006. It will also serve as a bit of a public relations device and document his announcement of a new ministry in Colorado Springs, Colo. The special airs Jan. 16.

"My family and I endured the darkest hours imaginable in the public spotlight, and have spent the last four years fighting and struggling to rebuild our lives, our faith and our family," says Haggard in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.

The preacher, known as Pastor Ted to his followers, was the leader of the 30-million strong National Association of Evangelicals and head of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs when a male prostitute-masseur named Mike Jones alleged that Haggard had paid him for sex as well as crystal meth.

The pastor quit his post at the NAE and eventually left New Life. Since then, he's been getting therapy and has called himself a "heterosexual with issues." He remains married, and he and his wife Gayle have five children.

Haggard tells EW that he hopes "showing the world the new chapter of our lives will hopefully inspire others to find their own path to overcome their struggles and embrace the power of acceptance."

He says that if he can be redeemed, then anyone can. "The church is open to all, even those who have committed the darkest sins."

'Ted Haggard: Scandalous' is being produced by RelativityReal, makers of 'Broke & Famous' and 'Find My Family.' If successful, it could lead to more episodes down the road. (Dare we suggest a camping trip with TLC-mate Palin?)

Tags: Ted Haggard

Comments

(84)

Sunday 09 January

By woody

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I think I'll just stick to Biblical doctrine, thank you. I like knowing how it all turns out. But don't worry, your science books are slowly catching up to what told us thousands of years ago. But then, will you still be around by that time? Hmmmm... on second thought, maybe you should worry!

By Steve Warner

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The perfect Tea Party presidential ticket:
Sarah Palin and Ted Haggard

By suec55

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TLC used to be a fun, famiy oriented station. I guess they'll do anything now to make a buck. I haven't watched that station for a long time. I'm very disappointed. GL with the disgraced Preacher TLC. I didn't watch Kate on her own, I didn't watch "it's all about me Palin", although the idea of an Alaskan show did appeal to me & I won't watch this jerk. TLC: if you're doing this because you want ratings, it's definitely not the way to go. Buh-bye!

By Steve

Oh Goody-goody-gum-drops!

I can watch Pastor Ted right after I watch The Jersey Shore!

More hours of good, clean fun for the whole family!

By jamin75

Live and let live. people do change. Let he/she without sin cast the first stone.

By chilliB

Really!!!? TLC should stand for "Too Little Conscious"

By billy

wow kate is starting to look the best show on tlc with nuts like this guy and palin , kate may end up being the most sane show on tlc

By ccwstauffer

Even though I agree with you, that is a scary thought

By joan

TLC The Learning Channel? What do they want us to learn, flaunting, lying, cheating? This channel should be dropped from the airways as their choices for progamming are disgusting. Gosselin, Palin and now Haggard, what a trio...of losers. Shame on TLC. Their programming director should be fired.

By Linda

Does not surprise me. TLC slime channel. Put something worth watching on.

By samwise246

Wonderful another show I WON"T be watching. I can hardly wait.

By nancy

I guess we need to see what advertisers sponser this show and let them know how we feel.'

By Scott

Years ago I enjoyed the programming on TLC, however with the garbage they've been broadcasting recently I guess I'll just have to delete it from my watch list. I used to think it was The Learning Channel, not The LOSER Channel. Guess if I want something informative I'll have to settle for PBS and Nova re-runs....

By Will

All you haters are the only joke here.I guess none of you ever made a mistake?Yeah,you just didn't have the atheistic Marxist media blowing it up with all their spin.And obviously, if you feel that much of a need to shove your hateful opinions down everybody's throats,you are only showing yourselves to be even lower than the people you're hating on.

By fentex5

Hmmmmm...Atheistic and Marxist media. I suppose that Rupert Murdoch's Fox empire and all of the fake religious crap all over cable stations are part of that....eh? You are obviously a delusional right wing bible thumper with no clue about real life.

By Jrtmom

TLC you have reached a new low. What's next a reality show on Jared Loughner?

By SkyBlue

First it was Sarah Palin's Alaska, a public platform for Palin's political BS. Now we get a gay, homophobic, religious nutbag. Can TLC drop their standards any lower? What's next, a witch denying she's a witch in order to get elected to public office so she can put an end to masturbation? Ooops! We already had that!

By DSRTSHARK

Who the hell does this man think he's fooling?. (his wife is just stupid) He is a GAY man. Its really sad he thinks he has to go back to living a lie because the church doesnt accept homosexuality. Religion is a crock of crap and this proves it. Everyone should be able to be what they want to be and not afraid of who they sleep with.

By Norm Stevens

Sorry Ted, your life is not scandalous; it is pathetic! You are gay and denile is not only a river in Egypt!

By Matt

Bring back trading spaces with Paige.
This new guy is proof that turds talk

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