CBS programming chief defends network's culture amid charges against CEO Leslie Moonves

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – "Obviously this has been a tough week at CBS," programming chief Kelly Kahl told the Television Critics Association Sunday.

That was putting it mildly. Kahl's comments were the first from the network since The New Yorker published an explosive story July 27 featuring claims from six women that CBS chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves sexually harassed them, in incidents dating back to the 1980s when he worked at other companies.

"Leslie’s been an excellent boss and a mentor for a long time," he said.  "He put me in this job. At the same time, we must respect the voices that come forward. All allegations need to be taken seriously."

But Kahl added that the charges, now being investigated by two law firms as Moonves remains in his job, have not yet affected the network's programming operations.

"I can tell you there's been absolutely no slowdown of people coming in the door and wanting to pitch us shows."

The programming chief, who has worked with Moonves his entire career but was named to his current post in 2017, won credit from TV writers for addressing head-on the allegations and their effect on the network, as rivals ABC and NBC plan to hide his counterparts at similar sessions this week.

"We wanted to be here. There are literally thousands of talented producers, writers, actors, crews, all the people at CBS who have been preparing for months to launch the fall season. They’ve worked incredibly hard. We think they deserve our best efforts to share all the new shows with all of you."

But a half-hour session with reporters was consumed mostly by questions about personnel practices, the CBS culture and allegations against others, including "NCIS: New Orleans" producer Brad Kern, who was demoted and then suspended this year.  (“CBS Studios investigated Brad Kern in 2016, action was taken after that investigation and there've been no complaints since,” Kahl said.)

Nor would he address separate allegations against "60 Minutes" executive producer Jeff Fager, also detailed in The New Yorker and an earlier story in The Washington Post.

"I can only speak to CBS Entertainment," where “we are committed to a collaborative, inclusive and safe workplace," he said. "I’ve had many female colleagues come to me this week who’ve been saddened by what they’ve read about our company. They said it does not represent their experience at CBS. I’m not saying we’re perfect. No large company is. There is always room for improvement. But a lot of us have been here a long time, precisely because CBS Entertainment is such a fulfilling place to work."

Kahl said the network has also increased diversity within its ranks, claiming 61 percent of  executives at the VP level or above are women, including the heads of drama, comedy, current programming, reality, daytime and scheduling. And its new shows have markedly improved casting diversity  from two years ago, when the network took heat for its largely white casts.

"We sat up here last year and told you we were going to do a better job; I believe we have," Kahl said. "We have record levels of diverse actors on our shows, directors, writers, and I'm very proud of that fact. We're not done. But we've made great strides.  We are a big-tent network, and we want to appeal to as broad an audience as possible."

WFTV