Salute to Redstone May Draw WGA Pickets, but Stewart Still on Board

By Michele Greppi

With Sumner Redstone, the executive chairman of Viacom and CBS Corp., as honoree and Jon Stewart as host, could the annual gala of the Paley Center for Media (formerly the Museum of TV & Radio) on Feb. 7 be anything but a hot ticket—and magnet for Writers Guild of America picket lines around the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City?

A spokeswoman for the Paley Center said Tuesday that Mr. Stewart is still confirmed as the evening’s host, despite any number of potential tensions and complications.

Mr. Stewart “The Daily Show” and spinoff “The Colbert Report” on Viacom-owned Comedy Central returned Monday after two months of writers strike-induced repeats. However, they had to do so without writers because Viacom is among the many entertainment corporations and studios that have not settled with the WGA about digital residuals, among other issues.

A WGA representative said no decision has been made about a show of members on Feb. 7 because it is so “far in advance.”