Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath special set for A&E

In the wake of some recent ratings success, it should not come as too great a surprise that a Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath special is finding its way to A&E. On Monday night at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time, you will have a chance to see a two-hour event entitled Merchants of Fear that will follow up the first season of the documentary series, and feature Leah Remini and Mike Rinder discussing some controversial issues at the heart of the religion, plus its relationship with the people involved in it.

Over the course of the two hours, there will also be some celebrity guests who appear and discuss the organization further. It’s a chance to dive a little bit deeper on some issues; think of this as a little bit of an appetizer for the ten-episode second season of the show airing later this year.

When Scientology and the Aftermath first premiered on A&E, one of the things that it brought to the table was something the network has been sorely lacking for a little while now: Buzz. They need some programs to get people discussing what they see, and this does that in a way that very other shows on the network do. With Bates Motel now over and with A&E looking back scripted content altogether, it feels fair to say that this is going to be even more important than almost any other show that they have.

Of course, with this is inevitably going to come a great deal of controversy, mostly because it is a discussion of a group that certainly feels in opposition to many of Remini’s statements. They’ve already put out many a rebuttal to the series already, and that includes A&E choosing to cancel a planned Ku Klux Klan docuseries while keeping Remini’s own product on the air.

Once there is further news about the second season, there will be a little bit more news here at the site. For now, check out the special on Monday, if you are so inclined. With it being Memorial Day, there will likely be a little less in the way of competition out there other than of course The Bachelorette, a show that is in many ways a destroyer of worlds when it comes to ratings dominance.

Are you planning to watch this Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath special? Be sure to share in the comments below! (Photo: A&E.