South Park (TV Series) Trapped in the Closet (2005) User Reviews

Should be mandatory viewing for all...

[gizmomogwai · 9/10 · 19 September 2007]

Normally I'm not interested in South Park. But Trapped in the Closet is a funny story with a very important message. This episode is a warning to everyone about Scientology- the episode explores how people are fooled into joining, robbed blind, and fed fantastically implausible stories. And the episode goes so far as to have the Scientology leader admit it's all a scam.

A highlight of the episode is a retelling of the Scientology myth of Xenu. The sad part is that people will think it's a joke, but it's a real myth, and South Park tells it accurately... in fact leaving out a couple of the even crazier details like the hydrogen bombs. See the Wikipedia page Xenu for the story. In short, this episode should be mandatory viewing for all.

Funny, Nasty, Fearless

[dtidball · 10/10 · 11 August 2006]

It is astonishing how good SouthPark can be when its creators abandon some of their more vulgar tendencies. I have long been a fan of the TV show. At its best, several viewings have been required, because I have missed parts while being busy laughing. With the Trapped In The Closet episode, Trey Parker, Matt Stone and company have dropped the poop jokes and set their focus on satire. The result is a show as vicious and funny as any satire going back to Jonathan Swift.

In debates, an effective means of attack is to use an opponent's words against them. The boys do this to great effect with Scientology. Much has been made of this programme's mockery of Tom Cruise and the ongoing tabloid rumours of Mr. Cruise's sexuality. However, Mr. Cruise's own public behaviour in recent years has done far more damage to his image than anything in this show. The true target of this episode is the Church of Scientology, an institution for which SouthPark's creators obviously have little use. In this, Trapped In The Closet hits its mark repeatedly. If you disagree with Messrs. Parker and Stone, be advised that this programme ends with as blunt a challenge as you are going to find on TV.

Funny, nasty and fearless....this episode should be considered a classic.

A brilliant satire

[Rectangular_businessman · 9/10 · 3 February 2021]

This episode was the first time in my life when I heard about scientology.

Very funny to watch, but it is weird to think the things people are willing to believe.

The end is also a brilliant satire of cult leaders, exposing them as the greedy, manipulative frauds they actually are.

Watch the credits(among other things)!

[KUAlum26 · 28 July 2009]

Stone and Parker's rip into the Church of Scientology goes a little deeper in this riotous episode. Stan gets duped into taking a Test for Depression that measures his Thetan level. When his readings indicate that his count is phenomenal to the point that he only matches one other person--the late L.Ron Hubbard,founder of Scientology--the church sets out not only to make Stan a member but practically anoint him their new leader and heir to the kingdom.

This,of course,leads to a migration of Scientologists from all over to Colorado,including two of the most famous ones out there--John Travolta and Tom Cruise--and there's where the fun picks up.

Having un-officially introduced the expression "Dad,Tom Cruise won't come out of the closet!",this show is basically a good old fashioned roundhouse kick to the very rich and influential "church",which a bit of a poke or two at the then blissfully hilarious as well as popular R.Kelly and his "In the Closet"video serial. Around this time is when longtime contributor,legendary musician Isaac Hayes(himself a Scientologist)acrimoniously parted ways with the South Park show and creators,which would thusly lead to an episode killing off Hayes' charact3er,Chef.

The end credits round this off,an allusion to the litigious nature of the victims of this show's parody. A clever topper to a blissfully funny episode.

Mr. Cruise, come out of the closet

[RainDogJr · 9/10 · 25 July 2008]

Hearing the commentary of Trey Parker and Matt Stone from the Greatest Hits Volume 1 DVD is really good since they were recording it just after all the controversy that this episode generated back in 2006 and it was really great to have it on DVD. But also and of course they mention the problem with Isaac Hayes telling us the obvious thing that if they doesn't make fun on Scientology because of Isaac they would have been hypocrites and also they would not make fun on one of the funniest things like Scientology (from Wikipedia: "Xenu, according to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, was the dictator of the "Galactic Confederacy" who, 75 million years ago, brought billions of his people to Earth in DC-8-like spacecraft, stacked them around volcanoes and killed them using hydrogen bombs. Scientology holds that their essences remained, and that they form around people in modern times, causing them spiritual harm". That's what-the-f*ck stuff!). So after all, this episode is really terrific and absolutely hilarious and that's more important. Anyway, here our protagonist is Stan (still Cartman has a great dialog about money and fun) and obviously at the beginning he represents the fact that things like Scientology are for anybody, of course once you are all messed up and you have already your $240.00 (I have seen church near my house of those Brazilian bastards of the kingdom of god or something and there if you don't have money is not a problem since they accept cell phones, jewelry, etc. That's so damn funny!). So this time Scientology will play with Stan who after his first meeting with those people is suddenly a depressed kid and later just pure gold for those people's business so eventually our Stan will change from being the leader of the church to the next possible defendant of the same church but not before he has already meet with Tom Cruise, who won't come out of the closet. Is just hilarious every time someone says "Mr. Cruise come out of the closet " just as the other constant in this episode with R. Kelly.

Then I still can't say that this is one of my favourites episodes of South Park but it is an absolute must see so now with the possibility of watching the episodes for free on the official site of the show (that's more than great!) there are no excuses to check Trapped in the Closet!!! 9.5 out of 10

Tom Cruise, get a life!

[Bon_Jovi_chick · 10/10 · 10 February 2007]

Okay, he's not going to read that comment but I thought I'd mention it because he made such a big deal over this episode. Obviously, he needs to get that rod out of his backside and just sit down and have a laugh. After all, when has South Park ever been taken seriously? Anyway, onto the episode, basically, Stan takes a Scientology test and the members of the cult believe he is Ron L Hubbard reincarnated! Tom Cruise comes to meet him and Stan says he is a not very good actor (I think) Tom gets upset and goes into a closet. The rest of the scenario is a pun of him "coming out of the closet" in reference to rumours of his sexuality.

Meanwhile, Stan is asked to be the new leader of Scientology. This part of the episode is minor compared to the Tom Cruise scenario.

All I can say about this episode: Sit down and give it a try. If you don't like it, you don't have to see it again, right?

The stand out episode of season nine

[AlsExGal · 9/10 · 30 July 2023]

This is the episode that saw Isaac Hayes, the voice of Chef, draw the line at making sport of other people. The "other people" in this case were Scientologists, and Hayes, of course, was a Scientologist himself. It's funny how Hayes went nine years making fun of everything from Mormons to the mentally handicapped without a peep of disapproval, but the episode on Scientology was somehow the final straw. The beloved Chef is given a proper exit in season ten by splicing together past pieces of dialogue from the character, and once again Matt and Trey manage to make sport of Scientology. This episode was nominated for an Emmy in July 2006.

Controversial episode

[gangstahippie · 9/10 · 25 September 2008]

This episode sparked controversy when it was released for insulting Tom Cruise and the church of Scientology.It was thought that Cruise pulled the episode.It was later found out however, Cruise did not have any part in pulling the episode.This is also the episode that is responsible for Issac Hayes(Chef) quitting South Park.The episode has Stan joining the church of Scientology, after he scores high on some test, they believe he is the reincarnation of L Ron Hubbard(the founder of the church of Scientology).Stan is now highly respected in the church.Tom Cruise acts Stan what he thinks of his acting.Stan says he's just alright, so Tom gets sad and locks himself in Stan's closet.So now Tom Cruise will not come out of the closet(a double meaning, it also refers to his sexuality).Trapped In The Closet is a pretty funny and interesting episode.

Controversial; and BRILLIANT!

[Johnny-the-Film-Sentinel-2187 · 10/10 · 20 June 2019]

South Park never pulls its punches when it comes to hot-button topics such as religion, politics or economics: and this episode did exactly that back in 2005, when Tom Cruise was in the middle of promoting Mission Impossible III. Trapped in the Closet is the world's greatest expose on the world of Scientology, from Lord Xenu himself to John Travolta's questionable sexuality (also taking jabs at Cruise himself) and how religion's become a hot-spot for financial exploitation and administrative corruption and deception.

This destroys Scientology in beautiful ways only South Park can. It's an honest deconstruction of the planet's stupidest belief system and shows that faith in what's right (i.e. REAL science and knowledge) ultimately wins the day. Though not everyone gets their happily ever-after in this episode, Stan's all the wiser having in on the church's asinine policies and beliefs it uses to exploit their followers, but at least HE has closure if no one else does in this episode, and we the viewers are in his shoes.

This episode is brilliant, self-deprecating in its criticism of an American-born institution and 110% accurate in capturing the essence of its subject matter.

This episode's a television masterpiece.

Lixdix Suxcox Hubbard

[Ambassador-XENU · 10/10 · 27 May 2020]

As soon as I learnt the truth about Earths history , I developed superhuman powers just like l ron Hubbard said . What ever happened to old L Ron ? (Died alone in a Trailer angry about his money robbed by his friends and fearing the world outside)

It's a laugh riot.

[havoke-74121 · 9/10 · 12 May 2021]

The episode that ends all, and begins all. It's so clever, and above all unapologetically funny.

Timeless fun - culturally significant

[errepinna · 10/10 · 10 March 2024]

This episode should be seen from two different sides. As a South Park episode, it's one of the best. It's funny as well from start to finish, with some clever jokes that just refuse to get old.

And then you have the topic of Scientology. The show blew a hole in what used to be an unbreakable armor, de-facto exposing one of the biggest cult and scam to ever exist, and destroying their business model. The production team just went straight into battle and won, demonstrating how stupid and weak the cult actually was.

And it did all of that through meticulous research, connecting very well with Scientology members as well as the general public.

An instant classic.

A Must See

[noway234-1 · 5 April 2010]

This is easily the smartest and funniest episode of South Park that they've ever done. Taking on a subject like Scientology is nearly impossible for most because of the litigious nature of the group but thanks to the fast production of the show there wasn't time for Scientology to stop them doing it and we're lucky they didn't.

There are 2 big plots to this episode, the one that a lot of people love is the "Tom Cruise won't come out of the closet" section which is hilariously silly. Throwing in John Travolta and R. Kelly into this story just makes it funnier, R. Kelly's singing to Tom and John to the tune of his rap soap opera Trapped In The Closet is a stroke of genius.

The second plot however is the one that I love most, the part that caused a lot of controversy and led to Issac Hayes leaving the show... going after Scientology. South Park seems to be funniest when it tackles either religion or a current political event and this is the best example. One of the funniest moments is something that I'm stunned no one did before them, the part where they explain what Scientology is. What makes it even funnier is while all this talk about aliens and volcano's is going on at the bottom of the screen the words "This is what Scientologists actually believe". It's something that's so simple and yet so hilarious.

This is where South Park shone, it took a risk and even though they lost Chef (Who left claiming they were bigots, when in reality he was just upset that they attacked his religion) they won everyone over with their biting satire of a religion that needed to be taken on.

Cruising

[tedg · 13 August 2006]

Many, many times, I dip into TeeVee offerings and find them depressingly vacuous. That's especially true of "quality" productions made in the BBC tradition. Only "Singing Detective" impressed me, indeed really grabbed me.

But I am almost always blown away by South Park episodes, at least the ones that are recommended to me.

This is the first of a recent batch, and the most highly recommended by a reader. Its because of the Isacc Hayes bit. For years and years, South Park has bitten hard on the stupidities of society, especially the obvious candidates: sex, politics, religion.

Hayes has happily participated. Until now, when his "religion" is the target.

What's in this is almost incidental. Its how it is presented that's cool, and what impresses me about the creators of this. Its so light and offhand. Death, for instance, is as casual as turning on a light. It isn't that strange things happen and are underscored as strange, its that strange and terrible things happen and are underscored as not strange.

So when you have something from real life that's strange and it is inserted in an episode, the power of anticriticism is so much more powerful. I saw this with a similar episode on Mormons and the difference is striking.

Scientology is based on a fabricated myth and it rips off its devotees. Mormons have a similar fabricated truth but manage to have to have built something healthy as religions go.

So smooth. It used to be Doonesbury and Bloom County and Gary Larson where we'd go for this. Now its here. These guys matter.

Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.