Oprah's couch is safe: Cruise more subdued during taping

[May 02, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Tom Cruise didn't jump on Oprah Winfrey's couch this time. The actor was in Chicago on Thursday to tape an episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," a tribute to his showbiz career that took off 25 years ago when he danced in his underwear in "Risky Business." Audience members told The Associated Press that Cruise's demeanor was nothing like his infamous coach-jumping incident three years ago, when he made a spectacle of himself while proclaiming his love for now wife Katie Holmes.

"He was really calm and collected," said Diane Andonovski of Toronto, Canada.

Cruise was accompanied by immediate and extended family members, including Holmes and the couple's 2-year-old daughter Suri, audience member Jenny Hume of England said.

It was half of a two-part interview Winfrey did with Cruise that will air Friday and Monday. For Friday's show, Winfrey interviewed the 45-year-old actor at his home in Telluride, Colo. Monday's show was taped at her Chicago studio in front of an audience.

In a preview of Friday's show posted on her Web site, Winfrey asked Cruise if he feels he has been misunderstood, thinks he has come under attack unnecessarily and how he has been accepted by his wife Katie Holmes' family. Winfrey mentions his criticism of actress Brooke Shields for taking antidepressants and his tiff with "Today" show host Matt Lauer over whether psychiatric treatment helps people.

Sally Maddy of Duluth, Minn., said Cruise talked to audience members during show breaks and seemed "so sweet and so sincere," not to mention good-looking.

"He's even cuter in person," she said.

Audience members got a box of Cruise's movies on DVDs as a gift.

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[Associated Press; By DEANNA BELLANDI]

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