The Drudge Report linked to a Variety article on the sudden yanking of "Trapped in the Closet."

Favorite quote? Matt and Trey's press 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!!!"

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

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117939918?categoryid=14&cs=1&s=h&p=0

<p><hr><p> From: "Simkatu" <Simkatu@gmail.com>
Subject: Tom Cruise Blackmails Comedy Central Over Scientology South Park
Date: 17 Mar 2006 07:15:10 -0800
Message-ID: <1142608510.416377.131940@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com>

HAHAHA!

A remarkable foot-bullet! Now hundreds of sites are reporting about how Tom Cruise is keeping CARTOONS off the air! LOL!

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/entertainment/tittletattle/article_21210723.shtml

Tom Cruise Blackmails Comedy Central Over Scientology South Park
by Tashi Singh
Mar 17, 2006

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. Continue reading this article below

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.

A rep for Comedy Central, asked if Cruise was responsible for the "Closet" episode being yanked, attributed it instead to Hayes' resignation, saying, "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." But TV insiders weren't buying that explanation.'

The natural question now is whether Comedy Central will ever let "Trapped in the Closet" ever air again and whether it will be included on the DVD for the show's ninth season.'

Cruise has a long and litigous history of handling things this way. He has been accused of allegedly being responsible for the missing sex scene his fiancee Katie Homes filmed in "Thank You for Smoking," which opens today.

Also, Cruise and Scientology have leaned on a website called ScienTOMogy.info. The website has reportedly received hundreds of complaints from members of the scientology religion after broadcasts of spoof videos of the film star from their site.

You might still be able to see "Tapped In The Closet" on this site.

Cruise Comments From The Gossipsphere:

"Meanwhile yesterday Tom and Katie made sure to make out in their luxury box at the World Classic Baseball game (USA vs Mexico) in Anaheim, CA." - Hollywood Rag

"..isn't Tom Cruise a tool?" - Egotastic

"Tom once again used his superpowers to avoid the Scientology South Park from being aired." - Pop Sugar

"Tom is set to share his wisdom at Yahoo! Campus on March 21st as part of their "influential speakers" series." - Socialitelife

"..screaming "I'm not gay!" louder than the people who are calling you gay makes you look gay." - IDLYITW

"Comedy Central is the latest victim to be claimed by Cruise control." - Jossip

"If Cruise did indeed make the threat, Viacom really should've called his bluff." - Defamer

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