Tom Cruise sings, dances, swears at Taylor Lautner for MTV

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Say, that Tom Cruise is a good sport, you know? He’s a self-deprecating guy who doesn’t take himself too seriously, and he’s not afraid to act like a goofball for our amusement.

At least that’s the message he seems to be trying to convey leading up to the release of his new movie, the spy-lite action comedy “Knight and Day.” He’s starring in a series of on-air promotions leading up to the “MTV Movie Awards” on Sunday in which he’s resurrected foul-mouthed producer Les Grossman, a scene stealing character from “Tropic Thunder.” He’s allegedly producing the live awards show, giving it his own profane star-making spin. (See the latest with Taylor Lautner here .)

In one spot, he berates “Twilight” hunk Robert Pattinson for even considering shedding his tousled bed-head and scruffy unshaven look for something more refined. He swears at the young actor until Pattinson promises to wash his hair with dirt. In another commercial, he apparently travels back in time to rip the pants off a certain star of “Risky Business” to the tune of “Old Time Rock and Roll,” thus creating one of the most memorable movie scenes of the last few decades. Midas touch!

And this is after a video snippet came out of his “Knight and Day” co-star Cameron Diaz schooling him during a stunt rehearsal gone awry. (She kicks him over a craft services table.) The video’s gone viral to the tune of millions of views, and Oprah aired it on her show recently during a Cruise/Diaz promo stop.

-- T.L. Stanley

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