Posted on 11/01/2004 12:49:13 PM PST by Cableguy
Deep inside CBS, there have been discussions about canceling the Wednesday edition of 60 Minutes, the newsmagazine where Dan Rather got into big trouble for using dubious documents in a report on President George W. Bush’s National Guard service.
That certainly damaged it at the network, but it’s not the main reason some CBS folks are turning against the show once dubbed “60 Minutes Junior.” Anemic ratings have been even more damaging to its long-term prospects.
While the show’s audience is relatively flat since last year, its ratings are down by a third in the key 18-49 demo since 2001. Indeed, as far back as last fall, some brass were lobbying to dump it in favor of younger-skewing reality fare, though a CBS rep says, “We don’t comment on rumor and speculation.”
The buzz inside the network is that Wednesday’s edition got a reprieve last spring with its exclusive report on the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. soldiers at the Abu Ghraib prison. That piece was produced by Mary Mapes—the prime mover behind the notorious Bush/National Guard story. Now it could turn out that the same producer who saved “60 Junior” from the executioner’s axe helped put the show back on the chopping block.
lmao!
If only....
CBS won't fold as long as there is one rich liberal to pay for the Fabrication Dept. - Dan will lie for free.
This shows purpose was to put out lies. It's done the job. It's dead Jim.
Should have been cancelled long ago, just based on ratings.
My local radio plays the Donald Trump minute, where The Donald gives his 30-60 second opinion on various topics. He says Dan should have been fired long ago, because he's been last in the ratings for years. Wondered (as we all have) what Dan has over management that they've kept him on for so long for such bad ratings.
Sure they will, and fill the space with CSI:Spokane, or Survior Greenland.
We prefer to make it up ourselves.
Damn ,Im going to miss that show so much...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!
Ah, well... Garbage out, garbage in!
If I was a viacom shareholder..which I would never be..I would demand they close down the ENTIRE news organization. Its a massive money loser and corrupt to the core.
If they guess right then Danny Boy gets zapped with an electric shock through his chair! Yeah, that's one CBS show I'd watch for sure!
If Bush wins it will be canceled soon, but if Kerry wins Dan will lobby for another chance.
All of the 60 minutes crew are as old as Methusaleh, and are ready for the glue factory. Safer, Wallace, Rooney, Rather and even menopausal Leslie Stahl. Time to go.
I love it. Add in a big wheel (like Wheel of Fortune) and pick "fabrications," "adulterations," "outright lies," or "this weeks handouts from the DNC."
Good riddance. Get rid of Dan and the old farts on 60 Minutes too.
Who knew CBS was still on the air?
They try to play down the effect that the phony memos played. All of CBS news is hurting because of that, and they are lucky NYT went with the explosives thing before CBS had a chance to air it. One more big lie to their credit would have just about finished them off. Here's to a short life for all of CBS news.
or maybe they could build a reality show around Mapes or Rather
god knows it would be fascinating to see what really goes on in the editorial rooms of the mainstream media
An Apprentice type show for journos
Why cancel it? If the remove the liberal spin and outright fabrication they could shorten it...by 59.5 minutes.
CBS = Crap 'n Bull Showcase
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