According to Ananova Tom Cruise finally came out of the closet to threaten South Park:
TV bosses have axed an episode of South Park which 'outs' a fictional Tom Cruise character as gay.
They are scared the real Tom Cruise might sue them, according to the Sun.
…
An insider was quoted as saying: “Tom is famously very litigious and will go to great lengths to protect his reputation.
“Tom was said not to like the episode and Paramount just didn’t dare risk showing it again. It’s a shame that UK audiences will never see it because it’s very funny.”
Yes it would be a shame, assuming this story is true. As I wrote here, the episode makes fun of Scientology, as well as of Cruise who gets locked in a closet. The line, “Tom Cruise won’t come out of the closet” is repeated continuously. It is a good episode, ending with the Stan character looking at the camera and repeatedly saying “go on, sue me”. Clearly the TV company wasn’t as brave as South Park creators Matt and Trey. (Or, as the final credits have it, John and Jane Smith.)
If the story is true I declare Tom Cruise to be officially a humorless pussy. Although that’s not really news.
So, we can't make fun of celebrities anymore? What's next? Is it going to be illegal for me to make fun of the government? Because I just heard about this one really idio-ert+y76B+=====]
[The rest of this post was garbled, citizen. Please go about your business.]
Posted by: BronzeDog | January 18, 2006 at 08:31 AM
So if everyone makes fun of Scientology and Tom Cruise, can he sue us all? I mean, he's rich, but not THAT rich. Plus, if he's that close to being absolutely insane, perhaps we can push him over the edge. I'd like to see him snap one day on E! and just go ape-shit. Well worth a couple days blogging effort.
Keep up the great work!
Posted by: Mike | January 18, 2006 at 11:28 AM
Great work? These guys?
Posted by: Come to Daddy | January 18, 2006 at 02:21 PM
Yup. South Park really is great work. I love the no-frills animation style. I love the political subtext that makes it into a lot of episodes, especially when they can show you the reverse side of a political issue.
It's also funny when they say naughty words.
Posted by: BronzeDog | January 18, 2006 at 02:29 PM
>> "I'd like to see him snap one day...."
Uh, where have you been the past 18 months?
Posted by: DJ | January 18, 2006 at 08:46 PM
I'd be surprised if they pulled the episode. At the end Parker and Stone -through Kyle (or Stan, I forget which) basically dare Scientology to sue them. I don't see why they'd be any more afraid of Tom.
Posted by: Hume's Ghost | January 21, 2006 at 05:02 PM
Geez, can you tell I'm tired and speed read the post. Another few seconds of reading could have saved me the embarrasment of the above.
Posted by: Hume's Ghost | January 21, 2006 at 05:04 PM
Funny that u declare Tom Cruise to be a "humorless pussy" for being sensitive about a tv programme that pokes fun at him and his faith.
What if South Park had a politically incorrect episode on Islam? Wonder if they would be sued then?
If Tom Cruise is a pussy then what does that make you for being glad that Ayah Pin's kampung was destroyed by the government? http://skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/2005/08/muslims_safe_ag.html
Perhaps you're an even bigger pussy?
Posted by: The Seeker | January 23, 2006 at 12:56 AM
Funny that u declare Tom Cruise to be a "humorless pussy" for being sensitive about a tv programme that pokes fun at him and his faith.
That is what it means, yes.
If Tom Cruise is a pussy then what does that make you for being glad that Ayah Pin's kampung was destroyed by the government?
That post was sarcastic.
-The Rev. Schmitt.
Posted by: The Rev. Schmitt. | January 23, 2006 at 02:58 AM
Seeker:
What makes you think I was glad that Ayah Pin's kampung was destroyed?
Posted by: Skeptico | January 23, 2006 at 07:28 AM
I hate Tom Cruise. What a self-important egomaniac! And I hate when pussies like Comedy Central bow down to a couple humorless morons, just because they can't take a joke. That was a great episode, dammit! South Park is a voice of outrage and subversion that is sorely needed in this increasingly 'PC' environment. It should be illegal for mentally insane people like Cruise to sue anyone for anything, nor should he be allowed to procreate, but that is just my opinion. Once again, the rich get to do what they want and walk all over our freedom of speech. Grow a brain, Tom Cruise! You de-evolved spreader of misinformation!
Posted by: Terragen | January 23, 2006 at 10:02 AM
Cases like this is why Jesus and Xenu combined their efforts and created bittorrent. Seed on!
Posted by: Bartholomew Cubbins | January 24, 2006 at 05:25 AM
It's interesting that South Park would make fun of Scientology, considering Isaac Hayes, the voice of Chef, is a strong scientologist himself.
Posted by: | February 03, 2006 at 01:14 AM
Just watched the episode, and it's hilarious.
Tom Cruise is such a joke, south park could never defame someone who has obviously already done the job to themselves.
Pretentious little prick that he is.
Posted by: | February 06, 2006 at 10:31 PM
Tom...Methinks you protest too much.
Posted by: Voltaire | February 07, 2006 at 12:56 PM