Sumner on the prowl

Isn't it about time for another unexpected firing? Or don't you remember Tom Freston in 2006, Mel Karmazin in 2004 and Frank Biondi in 1996? TheDeal.com's Richard Morgan certainly remembers, and he noticed Sumner Redstone taking a shot at CBS CEO Les Moonves during the recent Milken Global Conference in Bev Hills. Redstone, who is Moonves' boss, was griping at the network's upcoming "CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights," which is a martial arts something-or-other. "Les, I'm not criticizing you," he said. "Don't call me tonight."

That Moonves fell on the wrong side of right this time is obvious from the distance Redstone quickly put between himself and the values embodied by CBS' newest show. "I'm a lover not a fighter," he said. "I don't like the sport."

While you never know with Redstone, there's probably nothing to the put-down. Keep in mind that CBS had a good quarter, beating analysts estimates. During a conference call, Redstone had this to say about Moonves:

Les is as dedicated to winning as he has ever been and I want to make one thing clear -- there is no one, no one that I would rather have at the CBS helm then Les Moonves.

You might want to keep that last quote handy, just in case.