Jesse Watters, host of ‘Jesse Watters Primetime,’ recently took aim at Scott Pelley, expressing skepticism over Pelley’s emotional recount of his dismissal from CBS. Watters’ comments followed Pelley’s comparison of his firing to the murder of a spouse, a statement made during a recent interview. Watters questioned Pelley’s self-awareness regarding media bias.
In a separate development, Nick Bilton, the newly appointed executive producer of ’60 Minutes,’ is working to curb leaks to the press about internal drama within the newsroom, claiming that most are false. Bilton, in a memo obtained by Fox News Digital, shared his frustrations: “Since I started here, there has been roughly a rumor a day. About me, about you, about what’s coming next—95% of them are fabrications.”
Bilton emphasized his preference for the program to be known for its television content rather than scandal. He assured staff that if they have concerns, speaking with him directly is encouraged.
The memo also covered updates for the upcoming 59th season of ’60 Minutes,’ including changes to the storyboard format, shifting from a dry erase board to a real-time digital version. Bilton reiterated the importance of teamwork, noting that while fieldwork is crucial, office collaboration remains significant.
Bilton’s appointment marks a transformative period for ’60 Minutes,’ amidst a restructuring phase led by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. This transition has seen the departure of former executive producer Tanya Simon and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega.
Scott Pelley, a long-time ’60 Minutes’ correspondent, was also dismissed after confronting Bilton and Weiss. Regardless, CBS aims to revitalize the program with new hires, including Ross Douthat of the New York Times and Norah O’Donnell of CBS News.
New contributors such as journalist Sebastian Junger, former Vice News correspondent Gianna Toboni, and Trevor Phillips, a senior global affairs correspondent, aim to bring fresh perspectives to ’60 Minutes.’
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