One recent press-tour tradition that could use burying is the one where CBS chief Les Moonves and NBC chief Jeff Zucker take laboriously rehearsed shots at each other during their meetings with reporters here.

With Zucker's network currently trailing both CBS and ABC in the 18-49 demographic that's the only one NBC execs care about, Zucker's clearly on the defensive.

He might want to bring in some new writers, however, because when asked about CBS' apparent interest in luring "Today's" Katie Couric to "The CBS Evening News" when her contract with NBC expires in 18 months or so, Zucker's obviously prepared quip fell a little flat.

"All we've decided is that if CBS goes after Katie Couric, we're going after Julie Chen," said Zucker, referring to Moonves' new bride, who's one of the many, many anchors of CBS' "Early Show" (as well as the all-too-proud host of the network's despicable "Big Brother").

In a rare lapse in our usual tastelessness, no one even asked Zucker if he considered that a fair trade.

He did, however, eventually express confidence that Couric would remain at NBC "for many years to come," noting that "we are in discussions with her."

Maybe she could get them to add a clause prohibiting the mention of the two women in the same breath.