InkBlog

A few years ago Tom Cruise infamously called Matt Lauer “glib” to his face. A few times. He then refused to apologize for the comments. This was during the whole couch jumping, extra-crazy Tom phase. One would assume that they’re mortal enemies, or whatever the Scientology approved term would be. Thetan-lover? Something like that.

It turns out Tom Cruise may finally either be relaxing a bit, growing a sense of humor, or getting some better press advisors. You see tonight is Matt Lauer’s Friar’s Club roast, and according to MSNBC’s The Scoop, Tom Cruise is going to be there.

The Friar’s Club of New York is about to roast TODAY co-host Matt Lauer in New York City this afternooon and The Scoop can confirm there will be a very special guest in attendance: Tom Cruise.

“Yes, I can confirm Tom will be there,” said a source close to the event. What will be the topic of Cruise’s ribbing? “Likely that whole ‘glib’ interview,” said the source. Stay tuned for updates.

[From MSNBC’s The Scoop]

Assuming he does it right, this could be a chance for Tom to start getting some better press and stop having so many haters all up on him. Hopefully he realizes that for this to work out well, he’s got to make fun of himself for the whole interaction. I really don’t see how he could possibly make fun of Matt Lauer since he was just being normal. But if Cruise can actually mock himself and show that he doesn’t take himself so damn seriously, it could win him some major points. Though somehow I don’t see him ever standing for his own roast.

Update: It turns out Tom did indeed roast Matt, and it seems like it went off pretty well. He managed to make fun of Lauer (pretty much the point of a roast) while still making it about himself.

Tom Cruise made light of his infamous 2005 Today show spat with Matt Lauer at a Friday roast for the talk show host.

“Matt and I talk two, three, four times a day,” Cruise, 46, joked during the Friar Club Roast at the New York Hilton Hotel. The actor then started with the zingers.

“You’re the one who told me to talk about Katie Holmes on Oprah!” he said. (Cruise underwent scrutiny after he jumped on Winfrey’s sofa as he gushed about Holmes.) Cruise also jokingly blamed Lauer for Katie Couric decision to leave the Today show to go to CBS. The actor also made fun of Lauer’s day job.

“I get to go from international locations to movie sets to more international locations to international location,” Cruise said. “You have found happiness doing the same thing everyday. You sit on a couch all day and interview the car from Knight Rider and cook radishes with Rachael Ray!” Cruise added. Before he stepped off stage, he snipped, “I can’t believe I flew all the way out here…lose my number, you glib putz.”

“Why don’t you sit down?” Lauer shot back. “We’ll get you a booster seat!”

[From Us Weekly]

I never thought I’d say this but Tom Cruise can be pretty damn funny when he wants to. I love that thing about Matt interviewing the car from Knight Rider. Matt Lauer should feel deep shame for that. Tom managed to get in a healthy dose of his own requisite ego stroking, but he made it work and I’m impressed that he was able to finally relax and be in on the joke instead of just being the butt of it.

Here’s Matt Lauer filming a skit at FlashDancers Gentlemens Club for ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien’ in July. Header of Tom in August. Images thanks to WENN.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmam9oZ4VwwM6mlpyqpZ7ApqvIrJaarKSau6W1zaCWoKSZl6yurdOtlqWZpZq%2FtKvFq6CaqqOUsK3BwZipqJmjqaxw