Howard Stringer Honored For Work In Media
Some of the biggest names in television were out last night at the Waldorf Astoria to honor current Sony chairman and former CBS head Sir Howard Stringer.
Mike Wallace, Morley Safer, Barbara Walters, Alan Alda and Tom Brokaw were just a few to grace the red carpet at the Museum Of Television & Radio's annual gala in New York.
Award-winning actress Angela Lansbury, who worked under Stringer while he was president of CBS from 1988-95, told The ShowBuzz.com, "We've known each other for a number of years ... I support everything he does."
The landmark event offered a moment for Stringer, a former clerk and researcher at CBS, to look back on his distinguished career.
When asked about Jeff Zucker's unprecedented, two-decade rise to the top of NBC, Stringer said, "I was a researcher, too, you know," referring to Zucker's start with NBC Olympics. "That's how you got there. In the days that we started in the network you started at the bottom," he said.
"I think he's toiled very hard to get there. It's an endurance test to climb to the top of a network," he added.
Stringer told The ShowBuzz.com he ranks bringing David Letterman from NBC to CBS among his greatest career accomplishments. Tom Brokaw, emcee for the night, called it a "coup."
"I think you'd have to say that bringing David Letterman was one of the most heralded events of my career and the most fun," Stringer said.
When asked about the future of the Letterman time slot on CBS, Stringer said, "Oh, I don't think he's going to retire. I think he's incredibly durable ... He's stronger than ever and he's smarter than ever."
The two have kept in touch over the years. Stringer presented Letterman with a Sony Blue-Ray disc player for his 25th anniversary not too long ago.
"It's a bond I'm very happy to share with him," said Stringer.
Stringer gave special thanks to Roy Bostock towards the end of the night. An old friend, Bostock got Stringer his first job in the states some 30 years ago this Sunday.
By Muni S. Jaitly