The Ticking Clock at ‘60 Minutes’

When 60 Minutes kicks off its 59th season this Sunday, viewers will see a noticeably different broadcast following a turbulent summer purge orchestrated by CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss.

New Executive Producer Nick Bilton—the former tech journalist and author brought in by Weiss in May with zero prior television news management experience—spoke to The New York Times ahead of the premiere to defend the overhaul.

Bilton has rolled out revamped graphics, plans to tweak the final minute of the broadcast, and has brought in new on-air talent including former New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, Norah O'Donnell, Sebastian Junger, and Gianna Toboni. Those arrivals follow the high-profile exits of longtime veterans, including fired correspondent Scott Pelley, former EP Tanya Simon, and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega.

Despite internal backlash and criticism that print executives are dismantling the crown jewel of broadcast news, Bilton insists the chaos has subsided.

“The stress is like a snow globe that has settled, and I can see exactly what we have to do,” Bilton told the Times, adding that political coverage across the aisle—including Donald Trump—remains “one thousand percent” fair game.

Viewers will get their first look this Sunday to see if Weiss and Bilton’s changes modernize the franchise or alienate the loyal audience that built it.

Also, a report out says that ex-Fox News host Maria Bartiromo has held conversations with Weiss, about a possible role at 60 Minutes.

Oh, boy….