South Park feeling some Celeb Heat

[Dorian Gray]

Inside Move: 'South Park' feeling some celeb heat?
Cable net abruptly pulls repeat of Scientology episode

By MICHAEL FLEMING


A repeat of the Scientology episode of 'South Park' was pulled by Comedy Central.




The battle between "South Park""South Park" creators Trey ParkerTrey Parker and Matt StoneMatt Stone and Scientology is escalating.
The dust-up gained steam last week when Isaac Hayes, a practicing Scientologist who has long been the voice of the character Chef, quit after objecting to a "South Park" episode called "Trapped in the Closet," which lampooned both the religion and Tom CruiseTom Cruise.

The skirmish continued this week, when Comedy CentralComedy Central abruptly pulled a repeat of that episode that was scheduled to air Wednesday evening. Showing instead was another memorable segseg which featured Hayes's character, called "Chef's Chocolate Salty Balls."

Blog reports pegged the mysterious episode switch to objections raised by Cruise, who, the reports stated, threatened to not promote "Mission: Impossible 3," the summer tentpole for ViacomViacom-owned Paramount.

A spokesman for Cruise denied that Cruise had ever made such a threat. "He never said any such thing about 'Mission: Impossible 3," the spokesman said.

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.



http://www.variety.com/VR1117939918.html

[Dorian Gray]

1. This topic actually really pisses me off.

Coming on the heels of Isaac Hayes quitting, I'm having less and less respect for the institution of Scientology and its famous adherents. They seem to be bullies.

[BootinUp]

6. That seems to have been the consensus

for quite some time actually.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

11. Indeed

What Judges say about Scientology

"Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious...It is corrupt, sinister and dangerous. It is corrupt because it is based on lies and deceit and has its real objective money and power for Mr. Hubbard... It is sinister because it indulges in infamous practices both to its adherents who do not toe the line unquestionly and to those who criticize it or oppose it. It is dangerous because it is out to capture people and to indoctrinate and brainwash them so they become the unquestioning
captives and tools of the cult, withdrawn from ordinary thought, living, and relationships with others."
?Justice Latey, ruling in the High Court of London


"(The court record is) replete with evidence (that Scientology) is nothing in reality but a vast enterprise to extract the maximum amount of money from its adepts by pseudo scientific theories... and to exercise a kind of blackmail against persons who do not wish to continue with their sect.... The organization clearly is schizophrenic and paranoid, and this bizarre combination seems to be a reflection of its founder, L.Ron Hubbard."
--Judge Breckenridge, Los Angeles Superior Court


"In addition to violating and abusing its own members' civil rights, the organization over the years with its 'fair game' doctrine has harassed and abused those persons not in the church whom it perceives as enemies."
--Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Paul Breckenridge, June 1984, in the Gerry Armstrong case


"Substantial evidence supports the conclusion Scientology leaders made the deliberate decision to ruin Wollersheim economically and possible psychologically....We do not mean to suggest Scientology's retributive program... represented a full scale modern day 'inquisition.' Nevertheless there are some parallels in purpose and effect. 'Fair game,' like the 'inquisition,' targeted heretics Church practices conducted in a coercive environment are not qualified to be voluntary religious practices entitled to first amendment religious freedom guarantees... " Such conduct is too outrageous to be protected under the constitution and too unworthy to be privileged under the law of torts."
--California appellate court, 2nd district, 7th division, Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology of California, Civ. No. B023193 Cal. Super. (1986)

http://www.scientology-lies.com/fliers/judges.pdf

[MrSlayer]

16. Scientology should be banned outright.

As it is in several other countries. I think most religion is dumb but this is flat out ludicrous. Scientology was made up on a bar bet, there is nothing remotely real about it. I'm sorry but you have to be a complete and utter fool to believe in this bullshit.

[Greyhound]

22. How can we ban scientology without also banning the "moonies"?

and we all know that ain't gonna happen.

[Occulus]

8. Actually, SCREW that "religion"

IT IS NOTHING OF THE KIND.

Wasn't Scientology founded on a bet?

[Greyhound]

10. I'm surprised you ever had any respect for this "institution"

Charlatans, just like any other extreme, intolerant, "religion".

[wicket]

13. They most certainly are

n/t

[Scout1071]

26. Did you see the episode?

I happened on it when it first aired and I thought it was amusing, but if I were Tom Cruise or Isaac Hayes, I'd probably be very offended. Tom Cruise in particular. They were brutal to him and virtually the entire episode was focused on Tom Cruise "coming out of the closet."

I'm torn on this one. While I think it's OK to write and produce offensive material (Scientology is certainly not the only religion they pick on), I can't exactly blame Isaac Hayes and Tom Cruise for taking a stand.

[tridim]

2. Hey Tom.. You might as well just quit your job now

He doesn't even realize that he's batshit crazy and nobody likes him any more. Scientology will be his downfall.

[wicket]

3. Oh my god, their statement is 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."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[mdmc]

5. lol

lol

[wicket]

14. TOO funny

:rofl:

[mdmc]

18. just finished watching

:kick:

[derby378]

19. Classic!!

:rofl:

[mdmc]

20. lol

[wicket]

30. It certainly is!

:rofl:

[mattclearing]

4. LOL...fucking Tom Cruise still won't come out of the closet.

What an asshole. Can't even take a joke.

[Renew Deal]

12. lol

:spray:

[tlsmith1963]

7. Scientology is a Fake Religion

Hubbard created it on a dare from another Science Fiction writer! I doubt that he ever meant it to be taken seriously. It's pathetic that so many people think it's legit. My sister's ex-husband was a Scientologist, & when he told me what it was about it seemed like a cult to me, very creepy.

Tammy

[Scout1071]

27. And Christianity is a "real" religion?

Seems to me that it and the bible have been created by various white men throughout time. Did Moses really part a sea? Did Jesus really walk on water? Did Noah really build a boat and take two of every single animal on the planet? Were Jesus and the Apostles really a bunch of white men who had been born in the desert? Those are no more believable to me than Scientology.

[Dorian Gray]

31. Actually, much of the Bible

was written and compiled by Middle Eastern men. Don't know where you got the white men.

But, having said that, I can see why people might feel one who is a Christian is as foolish as a Scientologist. I don't agree, of course. When a "religion" requires you to spend money for materials to be "audited" to clear your thetans, that's very differnt than going to church on Sunday and reading a Bible. Not to mention that Hubbard upheld Scientology as a Science that was far superior to the psedo-science of Psychology. (And Scientologists still do so today!) That type of stance detracts from the religiosity.

South Park made fun of Catholics. I thought it was in poor taste, but I didn't boycot. It's what they do. They make fun of all. So what? Hayes is a hypocrite and Cruise looks like a fool for battling this. If he just kept quiet and allowed them to run their little old reruns, nobody would even know about this crap. Instead, he looks like an idiot, and South Park is getting loads of word of mouth!

[ronnykmarshall]

9. Get over yourself, Missy!!

Did Barbra Streisand get ticked off they spoofed her? No!

Blow it out your ass Tommy.

[robbedvoter]

15. See the episode here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t8LkfRkIDk&search=south%20park%20closet

[graywarrior]

17. All I can do is shake my head on this one.

To me, all religions are based on a fairy tale or science fiction story someone told to someone else a billion years ago, a few thousand years ago, or a few decades ago. Wish there was another planet to move to.

[Ladyhawk]

33. Gotta agree. Now that I'm religion-free I can't understand why I

ever believed that load of horseshit. I can't understand why anyone else does, either. It makes me very uncomfortable to realize people will believe such outlandish nonsense with absolutely no proof. It's one of the reasons why I think Homo sapiens must either evolve or go the way of the dodo. The way of the dodo looks more likely to me at this point. People just don't want to grow up and accept the way things really are. :(

“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” – Voltaire

[FogMachine]

21. Should make for some good episodes in the future!!

[mdmc]

34. welcome to DU

I think that your right.

I'm just getting into South Park..

[kitkat65]

23. Godammit! Stop saying pig fucker in front of L. Ron Hubbard!!!!

[Rex]

24. "Tom...come outta the closet"

"Ohmygawd!"

:rofl:

[MnFats]

25. But...if they...serve the dark lord Xenu....Tom Cruise MUST BE RIGHT!

Run for your lives! My puny man-body is quaking with fear.....

[Cleita]

28. Hail the Lord, Xenu. That's funny.

Seriously though, when people start trying to censure comedy, no matter how low and rank that comedy is, we are in serious trouble folks. Soviet Russia did the same. They didn't want comedians pointing out their failings.

[Iniquitous Bunny]

29. My, they take themselves so seriously.

:eyes:

Tom, if you felt that secure with who you are and your beliefs, why work so hard to compensate for criticism?

[mdmc]

32. hey now, welcome to DU