Cruise not sure he’d take back couch-jumping

Cruise regrets antidepressant remarks
About a month after his last appearance on Winfrey’s show, Cruise criticized Brooke Shields for taking anti-depression drugs after the birth of her child. He also berated Lauer for suggesting that psychiatric treatment might help some patients.

Cruise said he regretted his views “came out wrong.”

“I personally don’t (believe in antidepressants). ... But I think that people have the, it’s their decision. When you look at something, it’s an individual’s right to make a decision on what they’re going to do with their life,” he said.

Regarding Scientology, he said when he refuses to answer questions on the topic, he’s accused of being evasive. When he does answer questions, he’s accused of preaching.

One of Scientology’s central codes is to “respect the religious beliefs of others,” Cruise said. “That’s part of being a Scientologist, and that’s who I am as a person.”

Boring but effective
Much of the rest of the interview involved Cruise shooting down various rumors and reports.

He said ex-wife Nicole Kidman still has a relationship with the two children they adopted during their marriage and stressed that the two share custody. He said he loves Holmes’ family, calling them “amazing people.”

Asked about skeptics who believe his marriage to Holmes is a public relations stunt, Cruise said, “That’s laughable to me. I don’t know what to say.”

Winfrey asked about a book that she said “implied” Suri was not Cruise’s child.

“I’ve had a lot of books written about me. When someone compares your daughter to Rosemary’s baby — it’s one thing to come after me. Say stuff about me,” he said. “But when it comes to my family, my children, that’s when I went, ‘This is off the chart.”’

Before the interview, Bragman had expected Cruise to try to make fun of himself. On Friday, Bragman said Cruise tried another valid tact — “he defended himself without being defensive.”

He said Cruise is still a mogul with a lot of power in Hollywood and an actor who will continue to take chances.

“But I think he recognizes that on a personal front, he’s going to tone down his personal life, play a little more straight and narrow, and put a little more separation between his personal and his public life,” Bragman said.

Public relations executive David Brokaw said Cruise’s approach on Winfrey’s show “might be a bit boring” but was a successful PR move.

He said it’s hard to overestimate what a huge star Cruise has been, and for so long; even his toddler daughter Suri has become a media darling.

Still, the best step Cruise could take next would be to do what he originally became famous for — making great films, said Brokaw, of the Los Angeles-based Brokaw Co.

“If he makes a great movie that we all feel compelled to go to, then it just makes us more interested in what Suri is going to be doing when she’s 4,” he said with a laugh.

MORE FROM MORE NEWS AND OTHER FEATURES

Letterman feeling bad about McCain age jokes

Letterman feeling bad about McCain age jokes Letterman puzzled by NBC’s move on Leno Comics tread lightly with Palin pregnancy Bochco brings ‘Raising the Bar’ to TNT DVRs save relationships, study says Aniston filming guest appearance on ‘30 Rock’ 40 million viewers tune in for Obama’s speech Oprah to open season with Phelps Phelps adds MTV, HBO to post-Olympic tour J.J. Abrams works overtime on ‘Fringe’   Add More news and other features headlines to your news reader: