Sumner Redstone at a Bangkok Sex Club
Sumner Redstone made quite the entrance at a Bangkok sex club called Supergirls, which Rolling Stone touted as the best in town. There he was, 72 and chairman of Viacom, captivated—maybe even stunned—by a naked couple on a Harley-Davidson that had just descended from the ceiling. Tom Freston, in his memoir “Unplugged: An Adventure from MTV to Timbuktu,” describes Redstone standing there “with his mouth slightly open like a deer in headlights.” It’s a peculiar picture of a media mogul seemingly entranced by the spectacle of a couple enjoying themselves on a bike.
Back in 1995, Freston, who was CEO of MTV Networks, wasn’t technically on duty to keep tabs on Thailand’s illicit goods. But when Redstone hinted at a trip to Asia, he sheepishly asked, “What do you know about sex clubs in Bangkok? I want to see people having sex. Can I watch it?” It was an unusual request, to say the least.
This anecdote is just one of many eye-catching tales in Freston’s riveting memoir, which chronicles his wild life—from smuggling goods along the St. Lawrence River to eluding a communist coup in Afghanistan. He recounts his time as a cocaine-dealing receptionist and even mentions a particularly wild night involving an executive’s desk.
Freston, now 80, presents a vibrant picture of American entrepreneurship at its most audacious. On that night in Bangkok, there were performances by women showcasing unique skills like bottle-opening. When a couple of front-row seats opened up, Redstone hurriedly took his girlfriend, Delsa, right to the ringside—this trip seemed to awaken a new side of him. Freston writes, “Sumner became the greatest high roller of commercial sex the world had ever seen.” It’s said he spent over $150 million on comfort women, leading some to use their earnings for charitable foundations. Redstone, in later years, would jokingly tell the press, “All he wanted was a steak and sex three times a day.”
When Freston was building MTV, chaos seemed to be part of the job description. One receptionist sold cocaine; many found it handy. “People thought Coke was the new No-Doz,” he recalled. A programmer dubbed “Pig Virus” had a stash he’d casually show during meetings. And the office dress code? Flip-flops and swimsuits were not uncommon, though one rule reigned: no frontal nudity.
In 1988, a lit cigarette ignited a fire in the trash can, leading to a blaze that hospitalized 19 firefighters. Local stations even played Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire” in honor of MTV. Characters like Lemmy from Motörhead would saunter by with a tequila in hand, showcasing the wild atmosphere surrounding the network’s early days.
Freston also shares stories of a manager, Les Garland, who ran what he dubbed “The Les Garland Show” fueled by bottles of Dom Perignon from record labels. In an amusing exchange, Garland confessed to having “fucked” one of the assistants right on his desk during a Christmas party, highlighting the blur between business and personal life during that period.
The festivities extended beyond the office, with “tequila girls” appearing at music festivals, and hiring for talent often took years, sometimes necessitating dramatic measures to fire someone who might have indulged in a bender.
Freston’s adventurous spirit took root early—growing up in Connecticut as the son of a World War II veteran, he sought excitement in his 20s, even quitting a stable marketing job to follow a girlfriend across the Sahara Desert. That sense of adventure brought him to Asia, where he started a clothing import business under extraordinary conditions, surviving all manner of challenges—from strikes and malaria to political upheaval, which ultimately led him to join Warner AmEx in 1980.
At Warner, he met “one-eyed hippie genius” Bob Pittman, who was developing an entire music channel—MTV. The launch in August 1981 kicked off modestly, broadcasting to just 2.1 million households, primarily in New Jersey. Despite doubts about viewer interest, music fans embraced it wholeheartedly.
By 1983, Freston was recruiting stars for the “I Want My MTV” campaign. A surreal moment came in Switzerland with David Bowie and Paul McCartney in a sauna. When MTV faced criticism for not showcasing Black artists, the breakthrough finally came with Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” leading to a significant moment with the “Thriller” video.
As ratings wavered in 1985, Freston led a group self-referred to as the “MoFos,” advocating for MTV’s expansion beyond music videos. This exploration contributed to Comedy Central’s creation. Jon Stewart famously remarked on Freston’s approach, likening the team to a stellar New York Yankees squad.
In 2001, Freston’s trip to Havana and a meeting with Fidel Castro presented a unique challenge as he asked who was behind “The Sopranos.” Castro’s reaction showed the interconnectedness of media and global narratives.
The relationship between Freston and Redstone had its ups and downs. An infamous meeting regarding Tom Cruise’s contract saw Redstone explode in frustration. Years later, an unexpected firing during a Labor Day meeting ended Freston’s 20-year contribution to MTV, igniting a revolt among employees who rallied in his support.
Post-Viacom, Freston reunited with an Afghan friend to develop media ventures in Afghanistan, including the successful “Afghan Star,” which even received government support due to its popularity. He later consulted for projects like Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network, though he found the lack of responsibility frustrating.
Now, he chairs Bono’s One campaign aimed at alleviating poverty in Africa, but he’s not ready to slow down just yet. “I know a friend who’s turned 100, and he said to me, ‘The future is bright,'” Freston laughed. “I think about weight loss a lot, but the idea of doing nothing in retirement seems unappealing.”
Reflecting on the younger generation, he offers some well-earned advice, urging, “Take it easy. Don’t stay in a job you hate. Don’t be afraid to get off the treadmill. Life’s too short for that.”
