Beware: Les Moonves hears all.
The CBS chief hosted a breakfast press conference Monday morning, and while everyone guzzled coffee, he was asked about those digs Fox co-CEOs Gary Newman and Dana Walden fired earlier this week at their own upfront event.
The head honcho at the so-called Tiffany Network promised reporters that he’ll throw jabs right back at Fox this afternoon, when CBS takes its turn. It shouldn’t be too hard for Moonves to pull off, as CBS finished first this season in both the key 18-49 demographic and among total viewers; Fox was third and fourth, respectively.
Kind of makes you wonder why Newman and Walden didn’t go for the kill with ABC instead.
Here’s what happened on Monday: Following a lively “Empire” cast musical performance, Fox’s Newman had quipped: “Let’s see the cast of ‘NCIS’ do that.” Then he got more personal from the Beacon Theatre stage.
While glowing about his “Gotham,” Newman teased the biggest DC Comics villain of them all, revealing a photo of a bald Moonves, who very much has a full head of hair. The CBS president and chairman looked an awful lot like Superman baddie Lex Luthor.
Later during Fox’s event, Homer Simpson even got in on the fun, calling CBS viewers “walking zombies” in a pre-taped skit.
Fast-forward two days, and Moonves told a handful of journalists that he saw Newman and Walden at an event last night, and gave them good-natured kudos on the performance and jokes. We’ll see how friendly the fire really is today at 4 p.m. ET.