MTV hipsters

Staff -- Broadcasting & Cable, 9/11/2000

Mel Karmazin (c, above) and Les Moonves (l) are enjoying the best part of Viacom's takeover of CBS: They get great access to the MTV Video Music Awards. Viacom President (previously CBS Chairman) Karmazin and CBS Television CEO Moonves hung out with at least one influential music hipster-MTV Networks Chairman Tom Freston (r)-at the show last Thursday, eschewing the opportunity to scalp tickets for up to $500 to the throngs outside. The scalpers weren't as privileged as British Prime Minister Tony Blair or Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, who were in New York for the big UN Summit and could simply have their staffs phone ahead for tickets. Howard Stern wasn't calmed by the presence of long-time boss Karmazin. Taping a radio show backstage, Stern reportedly got so drunk that he couldn't complete interviews of award winners like rapper Eminem.