In Jacqueline Susann's peekaboo novel The Love Machine, which focuses on wide-screen sex and power conflict in the television world, the anti-hero is Robin Stone, who advances to a top network job over the prostrate bodies of rivals and girls. Inevitably, show business insiders recognized in Stone at least a passing resemblance to James T. Aubrey Jr., 51. As president of CBS-TV for more than five years, Aubrey ruled with a high hand and a low common denominator of programming (The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction) that for most of that time won CBS leadership in the ratings. After hours,...
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