el presidente Highsteppa
TRIBE Member
Source
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=1738153&page=1
So then why was the episode pulled? And why won't it air in the UK?
This might provide a bit better an explanation.
March 16th from the Hollywood Defamer (not the greatest source, but sometimes a bit more willing to take a shot that other news sources won't)
Followed by what smells like damage control on March 17th
Honestly, does anyone really think that given his antics last year and the endless retarded coverage by the media, that him not being there to promote Mission:Impossible 3 to be a bad thing?
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=1738153&page=1
Scientology vs. 'South Park' -- The Tom Cruise Episode Controversy
Comedy Central Series Creators Quip 'Battle' Has Just Begun
March 17, 2006 — Did the fate of "Mission Impossible 3" rest in the hands of some sarcastic cartoon school kids?
Rumors have been circulating that Tom Cruise used his mega-star power and his role in promoting the upcoming blockbuster film to halt the rerun of a "South Park" episode that pokes fun at both his sexual orientation and religion.
Cable's Comedy Central had planned to air the episode "Trapped in a Closet" Wednesday night, but then pulled it from its lineup after cast member and fellow Scientologist Isaac Hayes quit the show.
The episode, which first aired last year, featured a caricature of Cruise being coaxed to come out of a closet by Nicole Kidman.
The trade newspaper Daily Variety then reported rumblings that Cruise made an ultimatum — drop the episode or he would be a no-show on all interviews and promotions for his upcoming action flick "Mission Impossible 3." The third installment of the blockbuster series is due out in August from Paramount, which is owned by the same company that oversees Comedy Central.
Cruise's reps flatly refute the claim.
"Tom Cruise had nothing to do whatsoever [with the episode being pulled]," said spokesman Paul Bloch. "Tom Cruise for the last six or eight months has been promoting Mission Impossible 3 — there's been no change — so that's a totally erroneous story."
Expect a 'South Park' Retort
It's still unclear exactly why the episode was yanked. Comedy Central declined to comment, but "South Park"'s creators believe the Scientologists were involved.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone sent a letter to Variety saying: "So, Scientology, you may have won THIS battle, but the million-year war for earth has just begun! … You have obstructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail!"
Perhaps the kids of "South Park" will have the final word.
A high-ranking executive at Comedy Central wouldn't comment on the pulling of the episode but hinted that a response is on the way, saying a new episode of the show is due out next week. "Let's see what happens," the exec said.
ABC Radio's David Blaustein and ABCNEWS.com's Nancy Chandross contributed to this report.
So then why was the episode pulled? And why won't it air in the UK?
This might provide a bit better an explanation.
March 16th from the Hollywood Defamer (not the greatest source, but sometimes a bit more willing to take a shot that other news sources won't)
Report: Blame Cruise For Yanked 'South Park' Repeat
Fans of South Park were disappointed last night when a scheduled rerun of the show's infamous, Scientology-mocking "Trapped in the Closet" episode, in which Tom Cruise locks himself in new Hubbardite savior Stan's closet, was quietly yanked. The Hollywood Interrupted blog reports that a threat from Cruise himself may have been behind the episode's sudden disappearance:
Sources from inside Paramount and South Park Studios report that parent company Viacom pulled last night's scheduled repeat of the high-rated "Trapped in the Closet" episode after the humorless Scientologist movie star Tom Cruise threatened to cancel all publicity for Mission Impossible:3 if Comedy Central aired the episode that satirizes Scientology and mocks his sexuality again.
Not only is this the first time that the South Park creators have been officially censored in their ten hit seasons with Comedy Central, Viacom officials also reportedly ordered Matt Stone and Trey Parker not to discuss the reason why their episode was cancelled.
The South Park boys are said to be angry, but will probably get revenge with the manner in which they deal with Scientologist Isaac Hayes' departure from the show.
If Cruise did indeed make the threat, Viacom really should've called his bluff. Sure, Cruise might've been upset that a crudely animated version of himself was being abused on television, but those feelings would probably pass once he started to get excited about the opportunity to turn another huge publicity tour into a glorified infomercial for his wedding plans and anti-psychiatry crusade.
Followed by what smells like damage control on March 17th
South Park Creators Respond To Episode-Disappearing Scientologists
The attorney for South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone issued this official statement to us via e-mail late yesterday addressing the Scientology-clowning, Tom-Cruise-baiting "Trapped in the Closet" episode that Comedy Central quietly disappeared on Wednesday night, reportedly because of threats Cruise made to parent company Viacom. And yes, it's really from their lawyer:
**********************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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!!!
-Trey Parker and Matt Stone, servants of the dark lord Xenu
**********************
While one might admire the crazy bravery of enjoining Hubbard's army in a million-year war, we'll be even more impressed if Parker and Stone put their thumbs in the eye of the executives who may have caved to Cruise's pressure. How about something in a "very special episode" in which the animated Cruise returns to South Park, offering the chained pair of Paramount head Brad Grey and Viacom CEO Tom Freston to savior Stan as human sacrifice? Or, you know, at least another amusing press release calling Viacom Cruise's "corporate bitch."
And in the interest of fairness, Page Six passes along Comedy Central's official explanation: "In light of the events of earlier this week, we wanted to give Chef an appropriate tribute by airing two episodes he is most known for."
Honestly, does anyone really think that given his antics last year and the endless retarded coverage by the media, that him not being there to promote Mission:Impossible 3 to be a bad thing?