Pavlov Scope

But, CNN recently reported  that Tom Cruise has jumped into the fight with his ponderous Hollywood gravitas. Comedy Central was going to rerun the Scientology/TC episode, but two days prior they promptly pulled the rerun and aired another. Now, this is where the corporate conglomerate stuff kicks in and we see where money really does equal speech (as so many lobbyists would like us to believe ). TC’s upcoming blockbuster-ready, Paramount Pictures Mission Impossible 3 (MI3)  is ready for promotional round-robin. But, allegedly TC threatened to refuse press junkets for the project if Comedy Central aired the Scientology South Park episode again. CC then pulled the show… Why? – Because both Paramount and Comedy Central are owned by the same corporate entity – Viacom. Even though South Park is a wildly successful show on CC, I’m sure its revenue stream pales in comparison with a major motion picture like MI3, so mark 1 for Scientology.

To add an additional twist to the whole ordeal, and perhaps more intriguingly, Isaac might not have actually written his resignation (the spark for this whole battle). The Defamer blog has written that Isaac has fallen ill  early this year (stroke), and the message might have been composed “on his behalf” by his handlers. Mark 1 for the implication on the Trey and Matt side.

Regardless of truth or dare, what has been demonstrated is the Church of Scientology’s will and influence over large companies like Viacom. Mark 1 for Scientology’s power.

Now, in usual South Park react-quickly-to-recent-developments fashion, the SP team have re-tooled their season 10 debut episode and titled it “The Return of Chef! .” They are clearly going to address this now very public issue directly in their own way… mark another one for Matt and Trey, with a bonus mark for the obvious free publicity that this is generating for SP (so far, seen as free-albeit-crude speechers while Scientology and Viacom are seen as reacting to hypocritical developments).

I personally don’t fault Viacom for their actions so far (they are, after all, a business and they have final say over programming). The viewers will decide whether to make MI3 a huge hit or flop and whether to make SP a continued success or flop – Such is the existing marketplace of entertainment. But, in the court of public opinion, I think Scientology is increasingly becoming a political force with artificially broad reach due to the revenue-generating membership it has cultivated.

Scientology has been described by its founder as “a study of knowledge.” Hate to break it to the late LRH, but that is the very definition of epistemology  – whoops, taken already. More on Scientology here  for those interested in the origins, history, and controversy surrounding this applied philosophical pursuit. In the early 1990s, a former girlfriend of mine that knew (and probably still knows…) more about this stuff than I did, explained to me that a well-circulated rumor claims that the founder of Scientology formed its basis after having made a wager with another author that he could “invent a religion” based on his knowledge of historical philosophy, theology, and science fiction. Additionally, Hubbard was also once quoted a long time ago as having said “If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion,” which certainly doesn’t lend Scientology much credibility upon scrutiny.

Whatever your beliefs or doubts, I think Isaac Hayes (or his handlers), TC, et al have chosen the wrong target to engage in the creators of South Park. These two really don’t care what other people think or feel and will always strike back (in comedic, satirical fashion), and IMO, the writers of this show make formidable foes.