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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Lauer’s Cruise was all in fun

Matt Lauer (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Tom Cruise and Matt Lauer have exchanged words publicly before.

But the shots they took at each other on Friday were all in fun. They were part of a Friar’s Club roast of “Today” host Lauer.

Cruise made a surprise visit, joining the likes of Martha Stewart, Brian Williams, Katie Couric and Meredith Vieira to sling insults, some of which were distinctly blue.

Cruise said Lauer was the man “we wake up to every morning – only because we had the channel on NBC before we fell asleep.”

Three years ago, Cruise had berated Lauer on a “Today” show interview for suggesting that psychiatric treatment might help some patients. It was the same year he jumped up and down on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show couch, excited about falling in love with Katie Holmes.

Cruise joked that Lauer had given him some advice before his interview with Winfrey: “Go crazy. Trust me. Trust me. People will love you for it.”

How about l’eau de golf?

Jennifer Lopez may know men, but she claims not to know about their scents. Which is why, she says, it wasn’t easy coming up with the recipe for her man-scent, Deseo. Her recipe resorted to such manly things as red hot sauce and whiskey before settling for lemon, tobacco, suede and amber.

“I wanted to think outside the box,” J-Lo said. “I know women’s stuff. … I don’t know men’s.”

Her home room really was

Vanessa Hudgens, co-stars in “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” with Zac Efron and Ashley Tisdale, was home schooled. So, she says, starring in the “High School Musical” movies allowed her to live the rites of passage she missed.

“I got to experience my prom, I got to wear a cap and gown for the very first time, graduate with people who I really love, the cast,” Hudgens said. “So it’s been a lot of fun.”

Not so ‘Desperate’ anymore

“Desperate Housewives” actor Gale Harold is out of intensive care at a Los Angeles hospital and improving daily after suffering swelling on the brain and a fractured shoulder in a motorcycle accident last week.

A statement from the actor’s representatives, Nancy Seltzer and Associates, says “a full recovery is expected.”

His magic is all black

How popular is French president Nicolas Sarkozy? Well, “Nicolas Sarkozy: The Voodoo Manual” – a kit that includes a blue Sarkozyish doll, 12 pins (to stick into the doll), and a handbook that ostensibly teaches one just how to do the sticking – is reportedly “selling like hotcakes” in Paris.

Sarkozy’s attorneys argue that the product should be pulled from the shelves.

The birthday bunch

Actress Joan Plowright is 79. Country musician Charlie Daniels is 72. Actress Jane Alexander is 69. Actor Dennis Franz is 64. Singer Wayne Fontana of Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders is 63. Actress Annie Potts is 56. Actress Daphne Zuniga is 46. Actress Lauren Holly is 45. Actress Jami Gertz is 43. Actor-comic Andy Richter is 42. Actress Julia Roberts is 41. Singer Ben Harper is 39. Country singer Brad Paisley is 36. Actor Joaquin Phoenix is 34. Singer Justin Guarini is 30.