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)

Monday 10 January

By joe

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As a gay man, I have known many, many other so called "heterosexual men with issues" who were trying to turn their life around and going to therapy to be straight. Being gay was not acceptable to most people. I have never in my 60 plus years known one who didn't go back to sleeping with men. Maybe not quickly but eventually they all did. I am not trying to discourage anyone who cannot accept who they are but believe me, he is a homosexual man with issues...mainly unable to admit who he is. Those who think that religion and therapy can change him and make or keep him straight are unfortuantely not being realistic. Of and by the way, for all of you out there who are still being told by anyone that it is a choice...they ARE wrong. Step into the 21st century and accept people for who they are.

Sunday 09 January

By forneydevan23

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it is a choice. God didn't accidentally put a woman in a man's body. u chose to be gay. it's so wrong & disgusting that not even animals partake in such an act.

By peg2584

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Hey forney, you are soooo off the mark. Homesexuality is not a choice, it is how they are made. Not many people would willing make themselves the target of the hateful ways homophobes treat them. It is much better to understand that not everyone is the same and accept the differences in everyone.

By Karen

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@forneydevan........you need to take a giant step into the twenty first century, I just cannot believe that anyone can make such an ill informed and ignorant remark

By LilAngl44777

If one truly believes in God, and His word, then they would know that God ONLY created man, and woman. It clearly states in His word that homosexuality is sin! Plain and simple. If one really wants to change this lifestyle, they can, and it is a CHOICE! Just as murder, rape, adultery, stealing, fornication, etc. They are all choices. And it really doesn't matter whether one choose's to believe this or not because God's word isn't going to change based on whether or not we believe it!
And you said, " those who think that religion and therapy can change him and make or keep him straight are unfortunately not being realistic". Well, I don't know about therapy but I do know about religion, true religion. The one TRUE God of this universe is able to do exceeding, abundantly, above all that we ask or think, including changing a man or woman into the person He created them to be. There's nothing too hard for God. And I would hate for you to discover this fact on judgement day.

another attempt by white society to push homosexuality upon america.

By ccwstauffer

How absolutely stupid can you be and still function in the world? Just a bit homophobic aren't you? A remark such as yours leads me to believe that you doth protest too much....time to get yourself out of the closet

By Jeff

Going to church to learn morals these days is like going to prison to learn how to be a productive member of society!!!! What does your bible say about child molestation by priest? I guess if they all say they have changed then it's O.K!! They can do pretty much what ever they want and it's O.K cause they go to church... what a joke!!!

By msgtfreedom

I'm in Colorado Springs and this non-hetero guy is just trying to get back to fleecing millions of dollars from people too ignorant to see that anything he says or does is a scam. He is lying about his sexual orientation and his followers are dumb enough to fall for it. I will never watch TLC, ever. If it's not bad enough that they have the Christofacist Palin on there then they go and waste an hour of our lives on Ted the liar.

Forneydevan23 you may want to try watching animal planet or some of the other wildlife channels before making an open ended statement about what kind of behavior animals engage in.

By Lavender

WHY are they rewarded?!?!?!?!??!

By usmcqtco

(Dare we suggest a camping trip with TLC-mate Palin?)
No, you may not dare suggest that.

By Randy

Well, there is an hour that will be spent reading a book, the guy does not deserve another platform, if he is that confused, just stay in therapy and leave the rest of us alone from his nonsense.

By Ljwynn

ANOTHER REASON NOT TO WATCH TLC.......ANOTHER CHRISTIAN LOSER.....

By Retiredcop

Who are y'all kidding? This guy was screwing people out of their money in the name of religion. How many times did he look in that camera and tell people how to live a righteous life when, in fact, he was hardly living what he preached? He's the worst kind of liar there is....and now he's going to a have a syndicated show.....gimme a break !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Jane

Why shouldn't Ted Haggard get his own tv series. The rest of the reality group are nothing but trash, so what's one more.

By kp

WHY??????

By latrina

this man lost his mind. he try to tell people that he cure of the sin and he not gay that he was going thu a bad time please. he had sex with a man for months. I don't care what he says he gay he can't change that. The wife need to wake up he going to do it agian this time he proably going to make sure no one find out this time around.

By JD

Wow, what the hell is wrong with people... can't think for themselves!!! The bible was written by man and edited by the church... they left out quite a bit, like Jesus & Mary Magdeline were married for example! Selective reading people!

By owenguts

I don't necessarily have a problem with Ted Haggard. I'm a forgiving person and I believe that everyone is entitled to numerous chances. My issue is that he's put all the blame on his sexuality that he's never really owned up to what really hurt other people and damaged his credibility, namely the lying and the abuse of church funds. Why does a Christian pastor need a 700K house? I don't care how many guys he's slept with or what drugs he's done because those aren't the issues; he lied about it repeatedly but he seems more focused on his sexuality then the real problem.

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