As Redstone battle looms, Moonves is MIA at CBS event

Not all the drama surrounding CBS on Wednesday was happening in a Delaware courtroom.

While CBS lawyers prepped for a legal battle aimed at wresting control away from the Redstone family, the Tiffany network’s entertainment executives said they would count on a new Dick Wolf drama, “FBI,” in the fall to help extend to 11 years the company’s title as the most-watched TV network.

CBS’ fall drama lineup will also include the reboot of “Magnum P.I.” and the debut of “God Friended Me,” starring Brandon Michael Hall and Violett Beane, according to CBS Entertainment chief Kelly Kahl.

Comedies will include a reboot of “Murphy Brown.”

“Overall I would characterize this as stability where we are strong and change where we need it,” Kahl offered. “We think this is just right.”

New comedies also include “The Neighborhood,” starring Cedric the Entertainer, and “Happy Together,” starring Damon Wayans Jr. and Amber Stevens West.

While the emphasis at the media briefing in New York was on the new fall lineup, the elephant in the room — or, rather, not in the room —was Chief Executive Les Moonves.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Moonves, with a key legal battle hours away, was MIA. CBS had sued National Amusements Inc., Shari Redstone and her ailing dad, Sumner, on Monday seeking to dilute NAI’s 79.6 percent controlling stake in the media company to 17 percent.

Media heiress Shari Redstone, in court papers, said she was “ambushed” by the lawsuit.

“Les always enjoys this event, but when the number of questions he couldn’t answer outweighed the number he could answer, he thought it was a good idea to sit this one out,” Kahl said.

CBS will preview the shows at a more formal Upfront event later on Wednesday. With no Q&A expected as part of that event, Moonves is expected to attend.