Tom Cruise pressures Viacom, gets South Park Scientology rerun yanked

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

March 17, 2006 -- HOLLYWOOD bully Tom Cruise got Comedy Central to cancel Wednesday night's cablecast of a controversial "South Park" episode about Scientology by warning that he'd refuse to promote "Mission Impossible 3," insiders say.
Since Paramount is banking on "MI3" to rake in blockbuster profits this summer, and Paramount is owned by Viacom, which also owns Comedy Central, the tactic worked.

The "South Park" episode, "Trapped in the Closet," pokes fun at Scientology and shows Cruise, John Travolta and R. Kelly (who is not a Scientologist, but has a song called "Trapped in the Closet") literally in a closet.

The episode, which first aired last November, was set to rerun Wednesday night, but was mysteriously pulled at the last minute. Now, hollywoodinterrupted.com reports Cruise went straight to the top - to execs at Viacom - and warned he'd boycott the promotion for "MI3" unless the "South Park" episode was pulled.

Series creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have been told not to discuss the matter - to avoid embarrassing Cruise as they did Isaac Hayes last week when Hayes, also a Scientologist, quit his role as the voice of the Chef character. Hayes claimed he couldn't stand by while "South Park" made fun of religion, but Stone pointed out that Hayes had cashed plenty of checks while the show made fun of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Stone hinted that Hayes was pressed to quit by his minders in the Church of Scientology.

http://www.nypost.com/gossip/pagesix/pagesix.htm

[tigereye]

1. there is something really wrong with those people

:scared:

has a pretty fascist kind of feel to it, no?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

2. The question that comes to mind is...

..."What the hell ever happened to free speech?"

Also, Isaac Hayes most certainly DID "cash plenty of checks while the show made fun of Christianity, Judaism and Islam," so I guess that means all of those religions are fair game while Scientology is somehow "sacred?"

Tom's got the money, Tom's got the attorneys, and Hollywood wants to continue whoring his "talents" and box office draw, so when he stamps his little baby feet, he gets his way.

:shrug:

[jane_pippin]

3. Did you see that article about Scientology in Rolling Stone?

I think it's the March issue. It's a long article but it's interesting and it mentions the South Park yanking.

Here's a link to it: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/9363363/inside_scientology

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

9. Yes, I have that issue...

...it seems like they wanted to walk the line between hard-hitting journalism and not inviting a lawsuit. The article states that they did attempt to "play nice" with Scientology head honchos like Mike Rinder. For unfiltered analysis, the best bet is still Operation Clambake.

[jane_pippin]

14. Well I don't expect a full-on expose from Rolling Stone

though they certainly do have people who do good work. I just thought it was an interesting article for people who want to find out a little more but don't know where to start.

You're right, it did seem like they were attempting "fair and balanced" but trying to be a little snarky about it too. Thanks for the link--I'll check it out.

[derby378]

4. Just as long as we still get the episode on DVD...

...along with the AA/Virgin Mary episode, which has been banned altogether in the UK.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

15. The entire episode can still be viewed online at "Operation Clambake"

http://www.xenu.net/

It takes a L-O-N-G time to load (and I have a pretty fast DSL connection)...you can also right-click on the AVI or RealVideo link and download it.

Go to the link above and look for:

See the South Park episode on Scientology here! NEW!
See the amazing episode that now (Jan 2006) has been stopped on TV in UK! Select video format: AVI or Real Video (right click and Save As if you want to save the file locally first).

[mikeytherat]

5. Trey Parker and Matt Stone respond - f**king hilarious!

While the "South Park" creators didn't directly comment on Comedy Central's decision to pull the episode, they issued an unusual statement to Daily Variety indicating the battle is not over.

"So, Scientology, you may have won THIS battle, but the million-year war for earth has just begun! Temporarily anozinizing our episode will NOT stop us from keeping Thetans forever trapped in your pitiful man-bodies. Curses and drat! You have obstructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail! Hail Xenu!!!"

The duo signed the statement "Trey Parker and Matt Stone, servants of the dark lord Xenu."

mikey_the_rat

[Blue-Jay]

6. heh heh heh.

I hope they kill Tom Cruise in an upcoming episode or stuff him up a hippos ass or something. I'm starting to really hate that fuckin' guy.

[Strong Atheist]

8. Lol! Great for them! nt.

[Beware the Beast Man]

7. And Pat Robertson seems downrright sane compared to this asshole.

[no name no slogan]

10. That's the weird/sad part

Damn, at least Robertson can be reasonable, once in a while.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

12. That "Matt, Matt...you're GLIB" episode was downright scary...

Religious freedom is religious freedom, and I respect it. There's another layer on Tom Cruise, however. This boy is disturbed. Makes me think of former Derek and the Dominos drummer Jim Gordon.

[Crazy Dave]

11. Sheesh! Next they'll want the government to allow prayer or...

...whatever the hell those people do in our public schools and there will be a "War on U.F.O.'s" or something like that Tom Cruise will get on a crusade about.

[Benfea]

13. That's funny Isaac Hayes didn't quit when they were making fun...

…of other religions. Hypocrite. Not that I expect better from religionists.

[Orsino]

16. This is what happens when we allow corporate mergers...

...and acquisitions willy-nilly. One diva's tantrum isn't supposed to be felt across orporate boundaries.

[johnnie]

17. Tom scored a few brownie points with Xenu

And I just noticed... DU's spell check does NOT have XENU in the database. What the fuck is up with that??? x(
The admins will be hearing from Tom shortly

[Radical Activist]

18. If Cruise can do that, imagine what Bush can pressure them to censor.

Another example of how Clinton screwed us all when he allowed for media consolidation.

[SteppingRazor]

19. Love the lede on that story: not "Hollywood leading man Tom Cruise"...

or "Hollywood movie star Tom Cruise" or "Hollywood box-office draw Tom Cruise."

No, it's "Hollywood bully Tom Cruise." Nice.

[genie_weenie]

20. I have a great idea for a South Park episode (must read)

which Parker and Stone should do. It starts with Katie Holmes giving birth to a 3 headed monster child (head1 is Penelope Cruz, Head2 is N. Kidman and head3 is Mimi Rogers) while being caught in a cirlce of shame from a mass of Scientologists whil Tom Cruise runs around in a fairy costume laser zapping anti-depressant pills and getting wads of cash rammed down his throat...
The kids could save her ala a Mission Impossible 1 scene were they break into the shame circle (like Crusie did down the rappelling rope into the computer vault) and ferret Holmes away on the Chunnel bullet train.

I so Fucking Rule! This would be an awesome episode! I am soooooo kewl!