Tom Cruise's Greatest Hit

It was unanimously voted the most shocking, bizarre and awkward moment on television in 2005. Tom Cruise sat down for a routine interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show to promote his new film War of the Worlds. The only problem was he refused to stay seated.
 
The infamous “couch incident” happened on May 23, 2005. Oprah introduced her guest to the thrilled audience, who reacted like schoolgirls catching a glimpse of their celebrity crush. The response wasn’t uncommon for the superstar at the time, but the squeals of delight gradually died down as the interview progressed and were replaced by awkward laughter.
 
Tom, who had started dating actress Katie Holmes a month before, was giddy about his new flame, to say the least. He was sporting an ear-to-ear grin and would burst into giggling fits out of nowhere. Oprah asked incredulously, “What has happened to you?” but he was too overwhelmed to respond. Instead, he stood up, fist-pumped, and dropped to one knee in front of Oprah. He composed himself long enough to declare, “I’m in love!”
 
But he wasn’t done. He continued squirming in his seat and interrupting her questions by jumping to his feet. “I’m not going to pretend,” he said. “Clearly not,” Oprah responded. She tried to move the interview along, but he interrupted her again to jump on top of her couch. “The boy is gone!” Oprah yelled, forcing herself to laugh good-naturedly. But her discomfort was obvious when he stood up, grabbed both of her hands and started to shake her.
 
The interview ended when Oprah and Cruise coaxed Holmes, who was watching from backstage, to come out. Tom finally had to run to the back and force her onto the stage. She blushed and looked embarrassed, but it was clear that she was just as delirious as Tom, not hesitating to jump into his arms and share a passionate kiss for the audience.

The backlash that followed was tremendous. He became an instant laughingstock, not safe from the ridicule of every comedian, journalist and blogger in America. The incident gave way to the term “jumping the couch” in reference to a celebrity having a public meltdown. Years later, he’s still forced to respond to questions about it.
 
Cruise was welcomed back to The Oprah Winfrey Show three years later. In a composed, two-part interview from his home in Telluride, Colorado, she told him, “When we finished that show with you jumping up on the sofa, I was like, ‘Wow. What was that?’” She also revealed, “I was a little nervous coming up this morning, I have to admit, because you and I have not sat down for a real conversation since the sofa incident.”
 
Tom tried to rationalize his bizarre behavior explaining, “I just felt that way, and I feel that way about her. I can’t even articulate it, to be honest—that feeling, that connection. Just who she is and what she means to me.” So when Tom jumps on Oprah’s couch, it means “I love you this much.” Should Suri be upset?
   
Filed under:  tom cruise
Tags:   Tom Cruise , Katie Holmes , Oprah Winfrey , Oprah
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