Los Angeles, May 4 2006 – Another day, another city, another Mission: Impossible III premiere. This time it was in Holllywood, the mode of transport was a sports car that Tom Cruise drove onto the red carpet, and gallantly helped Suri’s mom, Katie Holmes, step out to meet the cameras for the first time since giving birth.

Not taking in this dramatic moment was the New York Post’s photographer, who was banned from the red carpet thanks to an article in that day’s paper titled “Cruise Is Out of Control”. Post columnist Andrea Peyser’s article referred to Cruise as a “hyperactive midlife crisis”, and recommended a “straitjacket” after “years of fame and insanity”. At any rate, the photographer assigned by the New York Post to cover M:i3’s L.A. premiere was refused admittance, and told by a Paramount flack that Tom Cruise ordered that the Post not be allowed in.

Who would have thought that Tom Cruise reads the New York Post?

That banned photographer may have been the lucky one, since Cruise then proceeded to sign autographs for two hours, while everyone cooled their heels.