Who Will Sign Sumner's Guest Book?

Each year, the Paley Center (formerly the Museum of Television and Radio) pays homage to someone deemed to have made "long-lasting contributions to the entertainment industry."

Former honorees include Julie Andrews, Carol Burnett, Peter Chernin, Merv Griffin, David E. Kelley, Leslie Moonves, Mary Tyler Moore, Dan Rather, and Barbara Walters.

Tomorrow night, Sumner Redstone, executive chairman of Viacom and CBS Corp., will be the man of the hour at the black-tie gala. One wonders whether the Paley Center is finding it more difficult than usual to drum up friends and colleagues to speak well of the guest of honor.

Redstone has long been an influential presence in the industry to be sure, but he isn't exactly the most popular media tycoon on the block.

Of the eight special attendees listed by the Paley Center, four are more or less on Redstone's payroll: Andy Rooney and Bob Schieffer from CBS News, and Marlo Thomas and Frank McCourt, who are authors published by CBS Corp.'s Simon & Schuster imprint.

Viacom's current chief executive, Philippe Dauman, is probably on the hook to attend. But former C.E.O.'s Tom Freston and Frank Biondi, both of whom were pushed out by Redstone, may not feel they owe him tribute.

Nor is Mel Karmazin likely to do so. He got so fed up with Redstone's backseat driving that he walked out of the C-suite in 2004 and didn't look back. Interestingly, Karmazin is on the honorary event committee for the Paley Center's event. Maybe the "honorary" part will excuse him from having to attend.

Tom Cruise is unlikely to be spotted on the red carpet outside New York's Waldorf-Astoria on Thursday night. He saw an acrimonious end to his 14-year relationship with Paramount in 2006, complete with a bitter volley of public statements between himself and Redstone.

How about Redstone's family? No luck there, either. He is locked in bitter feuds with his son Brent and daughter Shari, both having to do with control of the Viacom/CBS Corp empire. They might be less than inclined to honor their dad's professional achievements at the moment.

But wait, there's more!

Apart from the matter of who won't attend, there's the question of who might make an uninvited appearance. But for the impending resolution of the writers' strike, the event would be a picket magnet for Writers Guild of America members. They see Redstone as a primary foe in contract talks. There's no word from WGA East on whether plans to picket the event.

Even if angry writers don't intrude on Redstone's tribute, the strike will have still affect the fete.

Jon Stewart (who is employed by CBS Corp.'s Comedy Central), was originally slated to host the evening — an odd choice considering his public support of the striking writers. Unfortunately, Stewart backed out last week due to a "busy schedule" as he writes his own show and prepares to host the Academy Awards.

Another CBS employee, Charlie Rose, will pinch hit.

by Liz Gunnison