Further to the South Park / Scientology story, Richard points out that another celebrity cultist prominent believer, Tom Cruise, might have pushed Paramount to pull the “offending” episode by threatening not to co-operate in the promotion of his latest movie. There’s a chilling ultimatum: “If you broadcast that South Park episode then it’s curtains for Mission Impossible 3“.
21Mar06 — 4
How much can we offer to induce him to do it?
I posted a link to the offending episode at http://nickbrowne.coraider.com/2006/03/trapped-in-closet.html if you want to see it. It is hilarious.
A news report here (via Drink Soaked Trots) seems to suggest that perhaps Hayes didin’t quit because of Scientology mocking, but that maybe someone else did it for him. Curiouser and curiouser, as they say.
I suspect that it is truly a measure of the heighth of the sophistication humanity has reached that the threat of withdrawing advertising can hold such sway.
Where would we be if there were no useful product information?
The very thought makes me shudder and knock my knees.