Shakedown Cruise?

It looks as though Tom Cruise's behavior is even weirding out Hollywood itself:

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Paramount Pictures and actor Tom Cruise called an end to their 14-year production deal on Wednesday as the chairman of the studio's parent company took a parting shot at the movie star's off-screen behavior.

"As much as we like him personally, we thought it was wrong to renew his deal," Viacom Inc. Chairman Sumner Redstone told the Wall Street Journal in an interview posted online. "His recent conduct has not been acceptable to Paramount."

Paula Wagner, the actor's longtime partner in his movie company, Cruise/Wagner Productions, struck back at Redstone, calling his comments about the three-time Oscar nominee "offensive" and "undignified."

"Whatever remarks Mr. Redstone would make about Tom Cruise personally or as an actor have no bearing on what this business issue is," she told Reuters. "There must be another agenda that the studio has in mind to take one of their greatest assets and malign him this way."

The only thing that maligns Cruise is his his own erratic behavior.

Even so, this episode still begs a question. Hollywood, as of the past couple of decades, is famous for its fruitcakes, and for its never-ending quest to define deviancy as normal. Why Redstone's sudden "come to Jesus" epiphany regarding the behavior of one of his marquee actors?

While I agree with Redstone's assertions, at this point I'm not ready to buy the notion that Hollywood has suddenly gained a conscience.

Technorati: Tom Cruise, Hollywood

(Filed under limousine liberals, moonbat adventures)