• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, 6 hours ago

TLC is venturing into investigative territory with a new three-part documentary about a Bravo reality star who married her own step-grandfather.

The doc, titled “The Cult of the Real Housewife,” focuses on Mary Cosby, 53, a member of the ensemble of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” who runs and co-owns a self-styled church, Faith Temple Pentecostal Church.

“With claims of spiritual and financial misconduct circling Cosby and the church, [the show] unpacks the allegations behind the headlines and reveals the darker and more unsettling truth,” says a TLC press release.

The controversial church was founded by Cosby’s late grandmother, Rosemary “Mama” Cosby. When she died in 1997, a family battle ensued over assets and control of the Church.

Mary Cosby and Bishop Robert Cosby, Rosemary’s husband and Mary’s step-grandfather, gained control and then got married in 1998, enraging Mary’s mother. Mother and daughter are now estranged.

The documentary also explores allegations that the Church bears characteristics similar to a cult. 

“The docuseries also features investigative journalists and bloggers who have been tracking this story from the beginning,” says TLC, “as well as a leading cult expert who can offer insight around a playbook designed to enforce loyalty in mind-control cults.”

Interview subjects in the documentary include congregation members who TLC describes as “long-standing pillars of Faith Temple” and estranged family members.

Cosby (no relation to comedian Bill Cosby) has been a regular on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” for most of its run, including the current sixth season that started in September.

The sixth season will likely still be airing, and heading toward its conclusion when the TLC documentary airs on January 1.

“The Cult of the Real Housewife” appears to be the second documentary about a controversial church to come out of the Discovery Networks group. 

A 2022 docuseries called “Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed,” about alleged financial irregularities and sexual abuses at Australia’s Hillsong Church, went directly to Discovery+ back then and was later seen on TLC.

This time, TLC -- which is best-known for its reality shows about dwarf families, morbidly obese people and the “90-Day Fiance” franchise -- is the primary platform for this new Church exposé, which starts streaming January 2 on HBO Max.

In what can also be seen as a departure from the norm at Discovery, Discovery Channel is producing a timely documentary on the Louvre jewel heist to air November 26.

Although the sensational crime was committed on October 19, Discovery is nevertheless promoting the show as a “breaking news special.”

Titled “Louvre Heist: Minute By Minute,” the show intends the story of the robbery to be portrayed in real time, “minute by minute,” says a Discovery press release.

“This cinematic-level heist stunned the world, and we’re breaking it down minute by minute,” said Howard Lee, Chief Creative Officer of US Networks and President of Discovery Networks. 

“With exclusive footage and real-time storytelling, this special delivers the kind of jaw-dropping, edge-of-your-seat experience Discovery does best,” Lee said.