Jim on History looks back to the early days of 1980’s televangelism.
In theory, it’s a beautiful way to spread a message of faith to the masses.
In reality, it seems to end disproportionately in hand-tailored suits that cost as much as a down payment on a mortgage and, in more than a few cases, prison.
It’s true.
If you’re looking for a celebrity figure that’s going to get hit with a scandal, you’d do alright perusing the ranks of televangelists.
That was certainly the case in the 1980s, when scandal hit time and again.
During the 1980s, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker were televangelism’s brightest, weepiest luminaries.
But multiple scandals led to divorce and sent mascara-streaked Tammy Faye into obscurity and a terrified Jim to prison.
Jimmy Swaggart, Oral Roberts, Jerry Falwell, Benny Hinn (just to name a few) also saw their share of controversies.
WATCH: Jim on History – Televangelism in the 80s