Being Tom Cruise

"Being Tom Cruise"
Star Stories episode
Title card
Episode no.Series 2
Episode 2
Directed byElliot Hegarty
Written byLee Hupfield, Bert Tyler-Moore, George Jeffrie
Featured musicMark Thomas
Cinematography byPete Rowe
Editing byMark Davies
Original air date2 August 2007 (2007-08-02)
Episode chronology
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"Simon Cowell - My Honesty, My Genius"

"The Church of Scientology Presents: Being Tom Cruise, Why Scientology Isn't In Any Way Mental" is a satirical spoof documentary from the series Star Stories, parodying the life of Tom Cruise and his relationship with the Church of Scientology. It is episode 2 of the second series of Star Stories, and first aired on Channel 4 on 2 August 2007. The show recounts Cruise's time with a group of some of his early acting friends. After filming Top Gun, Cruise (Kevin Bishop) is introduced to Scientology by John Travolta (Steve Edge), who convinces him to join the organization by smashing Cruise over the head with a shovel. He meets Nicole Kidman (Dolly Wells) and they start a relationship. After dating Penélope Cruz, Cruise is introduced to Katie Holmes (Laura Patch) by Travolta. Holmes agrees to marry Cruise, and the program ends with a voiceover asking the viewer to visit a Scientology website and purchase expensive products.

The program received positive reception, and The Guardian and the Evening Times highlighted it as the "pick of the day".[1][2] The Daily Mirror described it as a "brilliant spoof",[3] and The Sunday Times characterized the show as "Comedy so broad it barely fits on the screen, it is hard not to be amused".[4] The Herald Sun called it a "ruthless but spot-on parody".[5]

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