BSFC #17: Mary Anne’s Bad-Luck Mystery
October 1988 saw the debut of Roseanne, the first top 10 hit for New Kids on the Block, and more supernatural terror for the members of the Baby-sitters Club. Brooke and Kaykay dig into the culture of fear and paranoia that set the backdrop for Mary Anne's Bad-Luck Mystery -- that's right, we're talking about the Satanic Panic, and no one's leaving unscathed (especially not Geraldo). Plus: Takedowns of rape culture, toxic masculinity, "infotainment," and Logan Bruno.
The More You Know…about the Satanic Panic
The masterclass in manipulation that is Geraldo Rivera’s 10/22/88 NBC primetime special, “Devil Worship: Exposing Satan’s Underground”
Contemporaneous/primary sources
Associated Press (6/10/88): Sixteen-Year-Old Sentenced To Life In Prison For Ritual Murder
Los Angeles Times (10/27/88): Cauldron Boils Over Geraldo’s ‘Devil Worship’ : ‘Satan’ Wins Ratings, Loses Advertisers
Education Week (9/1/89): Satanism
Los Angeles Times (4/21/91): Satanism Still Strong, Controversial Priest Tells Diocese Crowd
Daily Freeman (8/16/19): St. Joseph's Church in Kingston named in sex abuse lawsuit
Cultural analysis
Gizmodo (8/9/11): When Geraldo Rivera took on Satanism (and a very confused Ozzy Osbourne)
You’re Wrong About (podcast) (5/2/18): The Satanic Panic
Nick Peron (blog) (5/5/18): Fact Check: Exposing Geraldo Rivera’s “Exposing Satan’s Underground,” Part 1 (first of a 10 part series)
Vox (3/31/21): Why Satanic Panic never really ended
