Viacom Jumps Off the Crazy Tom Train

No thanks, Mr. Born on the Fourth of Lunacy:

Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures unit is ending its 14-year relationship with Tom Cruise's film production company because of the actor's offscreen behavior, the company's chairman said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

Sumner Redstone, Viacom chairman, said the behavior of the star of the "Mission: Impossible" series and "Top Gun" was unacceptable to the company, according to the Wall Street Journal story e-mailed to reporters.

Cruise, one of Hollywood's biggest stars, has been known more recently for his antics on U.S. television talk shows, including jumping up and down on Oprah Winfrey's couch to declare his love for Katie Holmes and criticizing the use of antidepressant drugs.

"As much as we like him personally, we thought it was wrong to renew his deal," Redstone was quoted as saying in the Wall Street Journal. "His recent conduct has not been acceptable to Paramount."

“Please don’t sue us, you fucking nutcase,” he added.

Via Michael K at Dlisted, who comments, “I think that Paramount seriously knows of something fucked up coming up and decided to distance themselves from him before it hits the fan. Stay tuned for Tom to completely flip out!” I don’t think he’s far off the mark. Redstone’s continued success is contingent on having inside info, and he’s all about the cash (so much so that he’s personally progressive and donates to Dems but votes Republican because “I vote for Viacom. Viacom is my life, and I do believe that a Republican Administration is better for media companies than a Democratic one”), and with Tom Cruise still able to pull big box office even with the usual crazy routine, I find it hard to believe Redstone would ditch him just for “his conduct.”

My prediction: Baby Suri turns out to be a Japanese-built animatronic doll stuffed with thetans.