Tom Cruise Blackmails Comedy Central Over Scientology South Park

The Post Chronicle ^ | 03/17/2006 | Tashi Singh

[Panerai]

Tom Cruise reportedly got Comedy Central to cancel Wednesday night's cablecast of the controversial "South Park" episode about Scientology by warning that he'd refuse to promote "Mission Impossible 3," reports today's Page Six.

Paramount, the film company who holds Cruise's contract, is counting on "MI3" to bring in blockbuster profits this summer, and Paramount is owned by parent company Viacom, which so happens to also own Comedy Central.

The "South Park" episode entitled, "Trapped in the Closet," takes jabs 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 suppose to rerun on Wednesday night, but was mysteriously yanked at the last minute.

Hollywoodinterrupted.com reports that Cruise went straight to the top - to the execs at Viacom - and warned he'd boycott the promotion for "MI3" unless the "South Park" episode was pulled, reports Page Six.

Richard Johnson has the details: '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.

[lwd]

This years Oscar winner Crash was reportedly financed by Scientology.

[Ladysmith]

LOL! No kidding!!

Please please please, Matt and Trey, run with it!! :oD

[RetiredSWO]

by warning that he'd refuse to promote "Mission Impossible 3,"

Wouldn't that actually be a good thing after his "War of the Worlds" debacle?

[Beth528]

I think you read correctly..Check into how many of the so called movie stars are in this cult...It is very secretive and from what I understand no one is allowed to tell anyone what goes on in that cult not the truth anyway..It doesn't matter to me because the members are zombies that cannot think for themselves..and worship themselves..I guess they would be considered relatives of the Mohammad group they think like them..

[guitar4jesus]

If there's any religion that deserves ridicule it's scientology!

[Beth528]

Maybe the Muslims and the Scientology wacko's are from the same planet...

[EveningStar]

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[gondramB]

"Paramount, the film company who holds Cruise's contract, is counting on "MI3" to bring in blockbuster profits this summer, and Paramount is owned by parent company Viacom, which so happens to also own Comedy Central."

OK, time to boycott MI3.

[Ladysmith]

Not a problem. Tommie "The Glib" Cruise is boycotted, regardless.

[Beth528]

Read about the great
L. Ron Hubbard


http://www.xenu.net/archive/infopack/4.htm

[dfwgator]

Where's George Clooney & Sean Penn to fight for free speech!!!

Clooney is one of the original fans of South Park, and has appeared in several episodes, but I don't know how his relationship with Matt and Trey is today.

[dfwgator]

"Oh My God, They've Killed Chef."

[mnehring]

Mission Impossible II was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I think they made it just as an excuse to do stunts.

But the Metallica theme was awesome!

[Darnright]

Hey, Pookie, over here! You missed a good candidate for your thread!

[Calvin Locke]

Those two people, John Smith and Jane Smith, that did all the credited work on the Scientology epi might be available...

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Yeah, that Metallica song kicked ass.

[AmishDude]

On the other hand, they aired the "gay cowboys eating pudding" ep instead.

[Dog Gone]

I think I've viewed my last Tom Cruise movie. The guy has mental problems, no sense of humor, and an ego the size of Manhattan.

[Wolfie]

'Series creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have been told not to discuss the matter -

Oh yeah, that'll work.

As for Cruise, he needs them more than the studios need him. After the War of the Worlds debacle, and now this, studio heads will quickly figure out he's more trouble than he's worth.

[Borges]

War of the Worlds was a big hit.