GLIB TWO: Tom Cruise Going Back To "Today" And Matt Lauer

Tom Cruise is heading back to the "Today" show and an interview with Matt Lauer on Monday, 2 1/2 years after his last appearance when he called Lauer "glib" and criticized Brooke Shields for taking anti-depressants. (SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH IT AGAIN)

The interview will be live on Monday to promote Cruise's movie "Valkyrie."

The full press release is below.

Meanwhile, Cruise talks to the new issue of People magazine and admits of the infamous interview of '06, "I think I could have handled things better."

That same year he couch-jumped on Oprah, about which he laughs now. Cruise called the incident on Winfrey's show, "My year of jumping dangerously."

PRESS RELEASE:
America's favorite Top Gun returns to America's favorite morning program. More than three years after Tom Cruise's unforgettable interview with Matt Lauer, the three-time Oscar-nominated actor returns to "Today." On Monday, December 15, Cruise will sit down once again with Lauer for a live interview in Studio 1A.

Cruise will talk to Lauer about his latest historical thriller, "Valkyrie," and his role in the much buzzed-about film. The legendary actor will also chat about his distinguished career, his family, including wife Katie Holmes, and children Connor, Isabella and Suri and their life at home.

The entire interview will also run on TODAYshow.com. Photos from the interview will be available on http://www.nbcumv.com or by contacting Megan Kopf, [e-mail].

Jim Bell is the executive producer of "Today" (Monday - Friday, 7-11 a.m.).

WATCH THE 2006 PSYCHIATRY-BASHING INTERVIEW:

Comments

[dben]

08:21 PM on 01/07/2009

If this were an experiment and I had to pick out the straight guy in the photo the choice would be easy.

Note to publicist: fire stylist. Note to manager: fire publicist. A remarkably tight t-shirt, flexed (right) bicep and forced manic smile telegraph extreme insecurity, discomfort and self-consciousness. All marks of the Urban Gay.

I mean, have you never heard of Gay Face?

[miamia]

02:43 PM on 01/05/2009

He may have mental illness but at least he is sane enough to tell Matt L. to do his homework.

Reporters are a-holes.

[Meatball1]

01:21 AM on 12/12/2008

Tom Cruise is just misguided. He is a good man. He lacks direction. He has been told where to go by idiots in Hollywood, LA, and Europe for that matter. Where would you go with your life if you had so many idiots telling you where to go if "One" of these idiots had actually made you millions at one time!

I would look inside and go to a place that real Americans support. This is a place that allows political incorrectness. This is a place that doesnt look at your religion, race, party affilliation, or anything else. It looks at your level of common sense! If you have common sense, visit http://www.djgoski.com

[sophieozz]

06:43 PM on 12/11/2008

When TC is interviewed on a Canadian program, he comes across as sane. Why is that? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8B8IZe-7Mc

[IDIOTA]

06:07 PM on 12/11/2008

He looks sleep-deprived. Lack of sleep may be the root of many so-called mood disorders.

[bluguy8]

02:00 PM on 12/11/2008

why ? once was enough

[jillsond]

12:52 PM on 12/11/2008

I agree with Tom completely, but does he have to be such an overbearing, angry a$$?

My goodness, Tom. Your "passion" is rage-driven. Increase your kava kava and get a massage.

And for the love of all that is decent, close your legs during a televised interview. That macho pose doesn't make you more of an authority.

[newpotusplease]

12:49 PM on 12/11/2008

maybe Annette and Katie can have dinner together too ! UGH...

[rob2007]

12:15 PM on 12/11/2008

Smug Narcissist.

[jpgilroy]

12:57 PM on 12/11/2008

gay smug narcissist arrogant scientologist

[mellene]

11:46 AM on 12/11/2008

No one gives a blankety blank about Tom Cruise. Enough already.

[dlbdpb]

10:43 AM on 12/11/2008

I'll always watch the Tom Cruise movies. I think he's great still. Nobody can please everyone.

[hopefull2008]

10:09 AM on 12/11/2008

I haven't watched a Tom Cruise movie since this interview. He give me the creeps now. Unbridled arrogance ....

[AngieMom57]

10:57 AM on 12/11/2008

OK, so you think that we as American's are not over medicated; I thought he was right on in suggesting that people start taking responsibility for their own health, be it mental or physical health by doing the basics, clean food, exercise; thinking that a doctor and medication is going to take the place of common sense self care is what has gotten our society fat and unhealthy.

[rob2007]

11:54 AM on 12/11/2008

...and vitamins and exercise, lots and lots and lots of exercise to get them triceps bulging.

[longnow]

01:24 PM on 12/11/2008

Unbridled arrogance? Fits the psychiatric/ drug industry perfectly.
I like how Eli Lilly lost a billion dollar lawsuit not to some
ambulance chasing lawyers but none other than the Bush
administration justice dept. How bad do you have to be
before Big Father, I mean, Big Pharma gets sued for a
record amount by Bush AG's. Then again Lilly might
have been grateful to shell out 1 billion & be able to keep
the evidence about Zyprexa under wraps and sealed by
court order.

[HappyMarsden]

09:44 AM on 12/11/2008

Having just seen this now famously controversial interview, I can see what the fuss was about with him and Brooke and the psychiatric industry. I am no Scientologist, but nor do I sweepingly dismiss all of it, as so many do (who nevertheless would never dismiss Christianity, even though they are both religions). I don't dismiss Cruise either, because I can see that he's both passionate in his beliefs, sincere in his concern for Brooke, and more importantly, has brought some compelling arguments against psychiatry and drugs that I think require further study by the public at large. The drugs and psychiatry may make Brooke feel better, but its reasonable to believe it all has side effects, and maybe there are healthier alternatives to her needs. Nevertheless, he shouldn't be condemned for having those opinions. But Tom's problem it appears, is that he was really intense, and came across as dogmatic and preachy, in the interview. Very confrontational, as he now realizes. (Understandably, this is due to his strong views, and no doubt, some influence from his scientology indoctrination). No doubt, this does not go over well with the masses. Perhaps he should have saved the rhetoric for a book instead. He would likely have gotten away with it, in that case.

[SonofSolomon]

09:37 AM on 12/11/2008

Tom Cruise's comments were on point. I notice people never like to hear anything that differs from what they have been programed to believe. As a result, those with differing opinions are dismissed as crazy or conspiracy theorists. Anyone who grew up during a time when hardly any of their peers took drugs like Ritalin, should wonder why in a single generation a large number of children are being diagnosed with alphabet soup illnesses and prescribed these medications.
It seems that everyone wants to dismiss the messenger without even reviewing the merits of the message. I guess most people do enjoy staying plugged into the matrix.

[Titus Pullo]

02:04 PM on 12/11/2008

You want a freaking matrix? Plug into Scientology for a week or so. Take the time to research it. Better yet, go to Hollywood and check out their centers. Walk in, sit a spell; hook up to their "meter"

Then, when you come back, give us all a break.

[moveover]

08:45 AM on 12/11/2008

Trying to figure out which one is the bigger putz ..... I think it's a toss up.

[truthglow]

10:15 AM on 12/11/2008

They're both idiots, and no one really cares about either of them. Today is passe, and Cruise makes me snooze. Both are "has-beens," attempting to shore up the other.