[MechTau]

'South Park'-Scientology Battle Rages On
By ERIN CARLSON, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 58 minutes ago

"South Park" has declared war on Scientology. Matt Stone and Trey Parker, creators of the animated satire, are digging in against the celebrity-endorsed religion after a controversial episode mocking outspoken Scientologist Tom Cruise was yanked abruptly from the schedule Wednesday — with Internet rumors it was covert warfare by Cruise that led to its departure.

"So, Scientology, you may have won THIS battle, but the million-year war for earth has just begun!" the "South Park" creators said in a statement Friday in Daily Variety. "Temporarily anozinizing our episode will NOT stop us from keeping Thetans forever trapped in your pitiful man-bodies... You have obsructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail!"

Internet bloggers accused Cruise of threatening to not promote "Mission Impossible 3," a surefire summer blockbuster, if the offending episode ran. Comedy Central is owned by Viacom, as is Paramount, which is putting out "MI:3."

But Cruise's representative, Arnold Robinson, told The Associated Press Friday that the mega-star made no such demands.

"Not true," Robinson said. "I can tell you that he never said that."

A call by The Associated Press to a Paramount representative was not returned Friday.

The episode in question, "Trapped in the Closet," which first aired last November, shows Scientology leaders hailing Stan, one of the show's four devilish fourth graders, as a savior. A cartoon Cruise locks himself in a closet and won't come out. An animated John Travolta, another famous Scientologist, enters the closet to try to get him out.

In another dig at the famously secretive religion, the credits at show's end are filled with names like "John Smith" and "Jane Smith."

The battle began in earnest earlier this week when Isaac Hayes, another celebrity Scientologist and longtime show member — voicing the ladies' man Chef — quit the show, saying he could no longer tolerate its religious "intolerance and bigotry."

Stone and Parker didn't buy that either.

On Monday, Stone told The Associated Press, "This is 100 percent having to do with his faith in Scientology...He has no problem — and he's cashed plenty of checks — with our show making fun of Christians."

A Comedy Central spokesman said Friday that the network pulled the controversial episode to make room for two shows featuring Hayes.

"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," the spokesman said.

[hr]

Holy crap! Million year war for earth, and a promise to keep thetans in out pitiful bodies!

[Warbird]

Scientology is a funny religion full of sci-fi garbage written by a idiotic author who is quoted as saying "religion is where the money is at". I try to keep an open mind on religion (I'm a catholic and that's like keeping a fat kid from a candybar) but this on has always seemed more of a joke that a true religion i recognise christian fundamentalists with more regard than scientologists. Don't even get me started on my many encounters with scientologists (most involve me putting one out cold for a few hours or being harassed by them). I would say more but my meds have me so out of it i think i should stop before i babble on.

[crazedmongoose2003]

All religion should be regarded equally. I think if you wage war on one religion like that, there's no fault if the members of that religion were to strike back in reasonable measures such as "quitting the show".

[ForbiddenKnowledge]

This is pure sadness - chef actor obviously is ok at taking the mick at everyone but his own religion. What a loser. And Scientology, I was curious about it a while a go, and read up on it. It's pure crap. I'm sorry, but it is the worst religion I've seen, and the things they do is disgustingly middle ages.

[cl.ryan sg-3]

Originally Posted by crazedmongoose2003

All religion should be regarded equally.

no! Scientology is NOT a real religion.
it is a big load of doodalleflip
they worship an alien that enslaved earth and then blew it up killing his people and forcing their negative spirits to cling to humans.
it is a cover for closet homosexuals and botox babes not a rela religion

[crazedmongoose2003]

Look, I agree subjectively Scientology seems ridiculous. But whatever religion works, to each his own. To me most religions just shouldn't exist.

[Chton]

Bah Zing! bongo.
I neither am able to take scientology serious.
Still, if it had a "real" message, like Buddhism or Christianity for that sake, I would accept it as a religion.
Cruise can hold his entire movie back for all I care. I'm sure it would suck even harder than MI2, which resembles a grade 4 vacuumcleaner used for cleanups in the chemical industry.
The south park crew will surely continue fighting. Oh! And something funny in the end.
Is America not the country of freedom of speech? Then why was the show taken off the air?

[crazedmongoose2003]

Actually, various institutions can restrict what is said within themselves. The parent company has all the rights to hold back the show if it conflicts with their interests. Why aren't we allowed to swear and commit libel/slander on TO forum? Same reason.

[ForbiddenKnowledge]

Yeah, but this is South Park. Normally, no one minds. One stuck up ignorant loser of a celeb protests, and, being america, king of the "celebs are gods" the whole studio is up in arms.

[MikeH]

... I'd rather watch one 1/2 hour episode of South Park than 75% of Cruise's movies. So I'll try to to resist my urge to be biased.

I have one retorical question; why is it ok to participate in a gag in the South Park movie about race ("Have you ever heard of the emancipation proclamation?" "I don't listen to rap son") and then the Holocaust and every other religion and/or group on the planet, but when its your own turn to take a hit you quit? Thats a tad closed minded no?