You're Fired, Tom!

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You're Fired, Tom!

Paramount Pictures has shown Tom Cruise the door, and it's top executive has explained why in a blunt and unflattering way. "Lo, how the mighty have fallen" is one way of reacting to this, but the real question is why has Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone spoken so curtly and dismissively of a once all-powerful superstar?

The Wall Street Journal has a story up about Paramount severing ties with Cruise/Wagner Prods., and it's a whopper. The money quote is Redstone explanation for why Paramount is ending its 14-year relationship with Cruise's film production company, to wit: because the actor's "offscreen behavior" which "was unacceptable to the company."

It's astonishing that Redstone would say this because it wasn't really necessary to spell things out. The usual Hollywood routine in explaining a parting of the ways (creative or otherwise) is to use polite respectful terms, which Redstone obviously decided against. He's clearly disdainful of Cruise's eccentric Scientology-driven antics and has made a very public show of flipping him the bird.

Why didn't Redstone just say "we wish Cruise and Paula Wagner well" and let it go at that?" What could have brought this on? "It seems as if Redstone is acting on a belief that Cruise has become box-office poison, or is starting to become that," an insider with ties to Paramount said this afternoon.

Cruise's partner Paula Wagner told Variety earlier today that Redstone's comments about Cruise were "outrageous and disrespectful." Wagner also asserted that CAA, which reps Cruise, terminated discussions with Paramount earlier in the week. The studio had had been offering a sharply reduced annual funding commitment for C/W Prods., down from $10 million to something like 20% of that, according to an earlier report.

It was also annouced that Cruise and Wagner have raised $100 million from two hedge funds and are striking out as indies while looking for a housekeeping deal at another studio. "'This is a dream of Tom and mine,' Wagner told the Wall Street Journal.

Still, could anyone have imagined even two or three years ago that Cruise would be in effect be pushed off the Paramount lot? It's one thing for Paramount to cut C/W's annual deal down from $10 million to $2 million, but for its chairman to effectively say "you're fired' is a mind-blower.

Between Mel Gibson's anti-Semitic wipeout of a few weeks ago and Cruise being booted off a big-studio lot due to "unacceptable behavior", we're once again reminded that studio chiefs are being less and less accomodating to big-star salaries.

And also that big-star meltdowns are becoming more and more common these days. The difference this time is that a major corporate figure has given this bizarre syndrome as a reason for ending a deal. This is significant. And it seems fair to re-acknowledge that Andrew Breitbart and Mark Ebner's "Hollywood Interrupted" called this syndrome a long ways back.

Free Katie. Free Suri.

Karr's next movie<< previous | next >>Friedman on C/W vs. Paramount

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 22, 2006 at 5:14 PM

comment #1

tholl-yung says ...

Is it good for Mel though?

Posted by tholl-yung at August 22, 2006 5:37 PM

comment #2

Dixon Steele says ...

First Nina Jacobson, now Tom Cruise!!

Posted by Dixon Steele at August 22, 2006 5:39 PM

comment #3

tholl-yung says ...

What does Reverend Jeff think?

Posted by tholl-yung at August 22, 2006 5:44 PM

comment #4

le corbeau says ...

I have a feeling this may represent the chairman of a company blurting out the company's farthest-out position and private feelings when his underlings were still in the process of negotiating a new deal with Cruise et al.

Oops!

Posted by le corbeau at August 22, 2006 5:54 PM

comment #5

tholl-yung says ...

Jeff's having his mind blown.

Posted by tholl-yung at August 22, 2006 5:57 PM

comment #6

lesterg says ...

Wow, this is unexpected. What do you think Pat Kingsley is doing right now?

Posted by lesterg at August 22, 2006 6:18 PM

comment #7

crabbieshollywood.blogspot.com says ...

So I'm flipping through the channels and I come to MSNBC, and there's a huge "Breaking News" banner across the screen and some video of Tom Cruise, and I think to myself, "Oh my God. Tom Cruise just died." Then underneath the banner appears the graphic, "Tom Cruise Dumped," and I think, "Oh my God. Katie Holmes just came to her senses." Then I finally turn the sound up and hear their Tom Cruise expert talking about his being fired by Paramount, and I think to myself, "Oh my God. MSNBC is calling this 'Breaking News.' They have not a shred of credibility left."

The lesson for Mr. Cruise and his ilk: It's fine if you want to believe crazy things, just don't try shoving all that crazy down the public's throat. Just because you think you know better than everyone else doesn't mean you do. And just because people have swallowed your crap for years doesn't mean they're going to keep doing it forever. We have a gag reflex, and somewhere back around the time you decided it would be a good idea to give Oprah's couch a massage with your feet, you set it off.

Free Suri.

Posted by crabbieshollywood.blogspot.com at August 22, 2006 6:21 PM

comment #8

tholl-yung says ...

Awesome post there, cuz it really throws some shit down. I'm thinking Redstone just made it a little easier for moguls to shun stars for being lunatics. Not saying anyone's next, just making an observation.

Free Suri and Katie.

Posted by tholl-yung at August 22, 2006 6:40 PM

comment #9

Movie fan09 says ...

ah Jeff,
so cool.
but a source of mine says it's all an act..
a VERY reliable source.
damn.

Posted by Movie fan09 at August 22, 2006 7:05 PM

comment #10

tholl-yung says ...

He's not fired, he's snake bit.

Posted by tholl-yung at August 22, 2006 7:24 PM

comment #11

FNG says ...

Tom Hanks and Harrison Ford haven't had a meltdown.

Posted by FNG at August 22, 2006 7:38 PM

comment #12

FNG says ...

Word is that Tom & Paula called the relationship off first - earlier this week.

Variety Link:

http://www.variety.com/VR1117948838.html

Looks like Redstone is trying to save face and fire the first shot.

To think of the billions of dollars Cruise has brought Redstone and ilk over the years. Not only the films he produced, but all those starring vehicles since 1986's Top Gun. They just pushed away their most bankable star.

Posted by FNG at August 22, 2006 7:45 PM

comment #13

Circumvrent says ...

I say, good on Redstone.

Why should he publically wish Cruise and Wagner well when he obviously doesn't mean it? Wouldn't everybody be calling him a phony if his statement consisted of bullshit posturing?

I think Cruise is a good actor, and he's free to have the beliefs that he has, but he's no doubt put anyone who financial backs him over the ringer for the past two years.

Maybe Sumner's wife had post partum depression after having a child who later wound up taking Ritalin.

Posted by Circumvrent at August 22, 2006 8:52 PM

comment #14

Nate West says ...

So Redstone is "firing" Cruise for Tom's religious views? You have to hand it to Red. He's figured out a brilliant way to make the weird Mr. Cruise suddenly sympathetic. I've been reading coverage of this, and even those writers who obviously dislike Tom are incensed at Redstone's hypocrisy.

Posted by Nate West at August 23, 2006 1:11 AM

comment #15

AH says ...

Nate, "Redstone's hypocrisy"?

Posted by AH at August 23, 2006 1:33 AM

comment #16

pauly says ...

Free Suri, Katie gets what she deserves...maybe she can star in Dawson's Creek-The Movie.

Tom Cruise is the last real "star" left (and the last samurai too). Name another male star who is still at the top of his game (Hanks?...remember The Terminal?). Cruise has done this to himself though, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out. Of the top grossers this summer, MI3 was the best by far (IMO), so I don't think his weirdness has affected his work...at least not the final product. This might be good for him if he can get a reality check. Either way, I still seem to like his movies.

Posted by pauly at August 23, 2006 4:38 AM

comment #17

Dixon Steele says ...

Where's Haiku Harry?

Posted by Dixon Steele at August 23, 2006 5:23 AM

comment #18

Mark G. says ...

Don't forget that Paramount was also stuck with Cruise/Wagner box office duds like ASK THE DUST, ELIZABETHTOWN, SUSPECT ZERO and NARC...

Posted by Mark G. at August 23, 2006 6:26 AM

comment #19

JoeGreenia says ...

This is kind of stunning. When I first saw this I thought it was a mocked-up, gag Yahoo page. WhatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s going on here? Is Redstone senile? Is this part of a wave of the studios balking and bailing on their fat deals with talent? Both?

IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m sure there will be a book detailing all this one day, and IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll probably read it.

Free Katie, but not Suri

Posted by JoeGreenia at August 23, 2006 7:21 AM

comment #20

Nicol D says ...

Nikki Finke's column is excellent.

I hope Cruise finds a way to sue Redstone for something.

This has a bad smell to it and that ol' monster of hypocrisy rearing its sanctimonius head.

Posted by Nicol D at August 23, 2006 7:24 AM

comment #21

lesterg says ...

A lot of people are speculating that Redstone / Paramount are severing ties in such a public fashion because there's something damaging about to come out on Cruise.

I remember Dave Poland mentioned hearing something similiar (that never surfaced) about a year ago...but I wonder if there could be some truth to this rumor?

Posted by lesterg at August 23, 2006 7:41 AM

comment #22

Joel says ...

It's interesting that they cut him loose...it seems to me to be a bad decision because his movies are still pretty good (at least, I enjoyed m:i:iii and Collateral...WotW was kinda bad) and he could be marketable again if he goes back to being a little more private. I still like his movies despite his wackiness.

Posted by Joel at August 23, 2006 7:49 AM

comment #23

le corbeau says ...

How can you all stand by and do nothing when Tom Cruise is being SILENCED by the jackboots of Bu$halliburton's Amerikkka! Censorship!

Posted by le corbeau at August 23, 2006 8:10 AM

comment #24

mizerock says ...

OMG! Invading Iraq wasn't about the oil, or the Military / Industrial complex, or the Israel Lobby - it's all about silencing the Scientologist agenda!

um... whatever.

Tom is free to say whatever he likes, it's just said that what he's said (and done - free Katie!) was so repulsive to me that I will never pay to see one of his movies again.

Posted by mizerock at August 23, 2006 8:19 AM

comment #25

christian says ...

I lovethe sanctimony of Redstone. Maybe we find your depressing, unoriginal media products "unacceptable" too. Jeez.

I don't give a rat's ass about Tom Cruise except if the movie I'm wathing him in is good or bad. I prefer he's speaking for himself, no matter how wacky, rather than the publicists. We demand honesty and then freak when we get it. I'm sure the tabloid Tom crowd are very sensible people.

Anyway, it's sad to see a mulinational conglomerate like Viacom taking such a blow from Tom Cruise.

Posted by christian at August 23, 2006 8:24 AM

comment #26

nemo says ...

Maybe Cruise finally crossed the line when he came over to Sumner Redstone's house and wiped his shoes on Redstone's couch.

And by the way: Free Katie. Free Suri.

Posted by nemo at August 23, 2006 9:01 AM

comment #27

Mike Schaefer says ...

"A lot of people are speculating that Redstone / Paramount are severing ties in such a public fashion because there's something damaging about to come out on Cruise."

An interesting theory. I've been wondering, with Cruise's popularity/power eroding, whether one of his many rumored boyfriends/rentboys might be writing a book and/or shopping an "I was Tom Cruise's lover" story to the tabloids (and whether in the current atmosphere they might actually publish it, which would've been unthinkable a couple of years ago).

Posted by Mike Schaefer at August 23, 2006 9:52 AM

comment #28

D.Z. says ...

Nate: Scientology isn't a real religion.

Posted by D.Z. at August 23, 2006 10:26 AM

comment #29

Howlingman says ...

This is Hollywood -- where your indescretions are best done privately. Poor Tom's gone from box office draw to punchline in less than 12 months.

His couch-surfing, Scientology-trumping, medication-bashing antics as evidenced in Scary Movie 4, South Park and Ricky Bobby prove it.

No matter who you are, you are only as good as your last film, and his previous couple have underperformed in the concensus view. When people are no longer able to separate the actor from the role, it's over.

He'll have some work to do to recapture his audience. Maybe PT Anderson can create a role for him where he essentially plays himself -- a superstar whose personal life causes collateral damage on his persona. A 'Road to Damascus' conversion as public as his flame-outs . . .

Posted by Howlingman at August 23, 2006 10:30 AM

comment #30

mitch says ...

I love Risky Business. One of my top 50 movies, certainly. Regardless of what Tom has done in the past, is doing now, or will do in the future, I'll still have a soft spot for his part well done.

So, what's up with this free Katie bullshit? Last I checked, she's an adult. She should free herself.

Posted by mitch at August 23, 2006 10:34 AM

comment #31

L.B. says ...

The U.S. invades Iraq.

Spielberg addresses current war issues with WotW.

Cruise publicizes the film by melting down in public.

Paramount cuts Cruise loose.

Coincidence? I f-ing think not. We're through the looking glass, people.

Mgmax? mizerock? Watch your backs.

Posted by L.B. at August 23, 2006 10:35 AM

comment #32

IClavdivs says ...

For God's sakes. Boo hoo, Paramount showed him the door. Big deal. The man has enough money to fund his productions. I am sure his shenanighans will continue, the man can't help it.

Posted by IClavdivs at August 23, 2006 10:36 AM

comment #33

christian says ...

What sorta put me on Tom's team was the way he handled that prankster in London at the WOTW premiere who sprayed water on him.

For a crazy guy, Cruise handled it beautifully in a way I bet most people couldn't fathom. Instead of freaking out, he grabbed the guy's arm and questioned him into total shame. It was so beautiful Letterman couldn't stop praising Cruise when he was on his show.

Anyway. enough about Tom.

We have an imperial presidency to boot.

Posted by christian at August 23, 2006 11:49 AM

comment #34