Don Hewitt, the brilliantly contentious founding father of 60 Minutes, noticed to it that essentially the most impactful characters in key segments turned out to be the “heavies.” Hewitt wished his viewers to know the risk posed by “dangerous guys” — therefore an ambush interview or another dramatic confrontation.
Throughout his 37-year reign, Hewitt by no means would have imagined the checklist of alleged “dangerous guys” presently casting a shadow over his present. They embody the principal stockholder of CBS, the chairman of the Federal Communications Fee and a significant sector of the authorized institution. Welcome to the Trump media universe, Don.
Final weekend 60 Minutes despatched a defiant sign to the possible “heavies,” who embody Shari Redstone and FCC chairman Brendan Cox in addition to The President. The nation’s highest rated TV information present introduced it could not again off its protection nor assist monetary appeasement of its adversaries. The present’s boss, Invoice Owens, promptly resigned.
His predecessor, Hewitt, who died in 2009, relished fight and made headlines together with his 1996 battle in opposition to the tobacco business. At stake was suppression of stories protection in regards to the injury brought on by smoking, the intrigues forming the premise for The Insider, Michael Mann’s 1999 whistle blower film.
Hewitt had formidable ammunition in waging his wars. His rankings had been sturdy, the community’s management divided. Moreover, Hewitt had beforehand produced the revered Walter Cronkite information present in addition to the riveting Kennedy-Nixon debate. His deadly interview squad included Mike Wallace, Harry Reasoner and, later, the famously resilient Lesley Stahl, who continues to be on the present.
They might all have laughed at Trump’s cost that the comparatively mild-mannered Kamala Harris interview on 60 Minutes had been “deceptively edited” to assist her marketing campaign. Calls for in new authorized filings have now reached $20 billion in reparations.
Complicating the dispute, in fact, is that different elephant within the room — Shari Redstone’s need to facilitate the sale of Paramount to Skydance, David Ellison’s firm. That $8 billion deal has been moldering for ten months with a mediator now concerned.
In the meantime, CBS is making an attempt to attract consideration to its beneficial properties within the stolid community enterprise, saying eight new collection together with a brand new Taylor Sheridan western drama.
And additional hovering over the battle is the Trump technique of focusing on these regulation companies that signify litigants opposing White Home applications. Trump’s actions are akin to “a mob boss extracting safety cash,” noticed Mark Elias, a prime legal professional who appeared on final week’s defiant 60 Minutes.
Very long time viewers of 60 Minutes are understandably startled by these excessive degree fireworks. In the course of the present’s earlier years, the “dangerous guys” typically consisted of neighborhood hustlers who overcharged for legendary auto elements, solely to be shocked by a fast-moving TV crew. I bear in mind one small time offender complaining on digital camera: “Why do you guys at all times put the ‘dangerous guys’ in ominous darkish lighting whereas your ‘good guys’ appear to shine brightly?”
Aware of this, I as soon as requested for improved lighting after I was an invited visitor on an in-house section. The 60 Minutes producer winced and replied, “OK, we’ll re-ignite you as an excellent man.” Manufacturing word: I used to be invited to speak brightly about theater critics, not auto elements. I doubt if at this time’s friends would fare as effectively.
