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Tick... Tick... Tick...: The Long Life and Turbulent Times of Sixty Minutes
An insider's view of the most successful show in the history of TV, 60 Minutes.
The most popular TV show in America isn't American Idol, and it's not Survivor. Month in, month out, the most–watched program in America is 60 Minutes, drawing a staggering 25 million viewers in an average week.
For its entire 34–year history, 60 Minutes was the brainchild (and personal fiefdom) of Don Hewitt, the take–no–prisoners visionary who hustled the show into being and kept it afloat with a mixture of chutzpah, tough talk, scheming, and journalistic savvy. But now that Hewitt is 80 and grudgingly considering retirement, the show's direction is increasingly up for grabs, and the transition will surely be marked by some serious fireworks.
As author David Blum provides a fly–on–the–wall perspective on the show's upheavals, he'll also trace its past; although the show has aired some 5,000 pieces and has made household names of Mike Wallace, Ed Bradley, Leslie Stahl, and Morley Safer, much of the backstage story––the passionate pursuit of stories, the behind–the–scenes wrangling, and the stars' prima donnish behavior––has gone untold. With full access to the producers, stars, and executives, Blum will give readers an unprecedented view of the personalities and events that have shaped 60 Minutes – and a new perspective on how current events become news.
The most popular TV show in America isn't American Idol, and it's not Survivor. Month in, month out, the most–watched program in America is 60 Minutes, drawing a staggering 25 million viewers in an average week.
For its entire 34–year history, 60 Minutes was the brainchild (and personal fiefdom) of Don Hewitt, the take–no–prisoners visionary who hustled the show into being and kept it afloat with a mixture of chutzpah, tough talk, scheming, and journalistic savvy. But now that Hewitt is 80 and grudgingly considering retirement, the show's direction is increasingly up for grabs, and the transition will surely be marked by some serious fireworks.
As author David Blum provides a fly–on–the–wall perspective on the show's upheavals, he'll also trace its past; although the show has aired some 5,000 pieces and has made household names of Mike Wallace, Ed Bradley, Leslie Stahl, and Morley Safer, much of the backstage story––the passionate pursuit of stories, the behind–the–scenes wrangling, and the stars' prima donnish behavior––has gone untold. With full access to the producers, stars, and executives, Blum will give readers an unprecedented view of the personalities and events that have shaped 60 Minutes – and a new perspective on how current events become news.
390 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 13, 2010
60 Minutes has been on the air nearly 40 years, and as readers near the end of this behind-the-scenes history of the stalwart newsmagazine, they might feel as if they’ve been reading about it just as long. Blum writes for Vanity Fair, the Wall Street Journal and other national publications, and (perhaps unintentionally) captures the famished, breathless tone of a celebrity-driven feature story.
Using interviews and the numerous books, articles and memoirs about the show and its correspondents, Blum tells the epic tale. Don Hewitt began as a merchant marine reporter, came to CBS News and launched his dream show as part of the new Tuesday night lineup in September 1968. Although initial critical response was positive, ratings remained poor while the show struggled to establish its identity. By the mid-’70s, however, the producers’ investigative journalism had grabbed viewers’ attention, and as the audience grew, so did the cast. Blum weaves backstories about Harry Reasoner and Mike Wallace (the original front-of-camera team) with relentless administrative squabbles between Hewitt and network honchos, and the cycles of professional ambition and personal egotism are regular and monotonous. Blum attempts to give shape to the ongoing drama of outsized personalities (many come off as predictably power hungry or disingenuously careerist), but the energy dissipates long before book’s end. Photos.
Blum begins with the retirement party for Don Hewitt, the egotistical 60 Minutes executive producer who dreamed up the idea behind the most popular television news show and who managed to stay at the helm until recently. Despite on-air camaraderie, the show has been a rancorous place to work, plagued by Hewitt's wild ideas and insults, balanced by his desire for hard-hitting journalism. The show pioneered news-gathering techniques, including hidden cameras and "gotcha" interviews. Aggressive reporting by Mike Wallace and others provoked lawsuits by the tobacco industry and General Westmoreland.
This is a compelling, behind-the-scenes look at the rise of Hewitt and 60 Minutes, including the illustrious careers of the show's correspondents: Wallace, Morley Safer, Dan Rather, Ed Bradley, Diane Sawyer, and others. Blum details the clash of egos and personalities, the individual quirks of the on-air luminaries and their producers, and the ongoing battles with management at CBS, all against the backdrop of 36 years of domestic and international news coverage. Readers interested in the workings of television news shows will thoroughly enjoy this book.
Using interviews and the numerous books, articles and memoirs about the show and its correspondents, Blum tells the epic tale. Don Hewitt began as a merchant marine reporter, came to CBS News and launched his dream show as part of the new Tuesday night lineup in September 1968. Although initial critical response was positive, ratings remained poor while the show struggled to establish its identity. By the mid-’70s, however, the producers’ investigative journalism had grabbed viewers’ attention, and as the audience grew, so did the cast. Blum weaves backstories about Harry Reasoner and Mike Wallace (the original front-of-camera team) with relentless administrative squabbles between Hewitt and network honchos, and the cycles of professional ambition and personal egotism are regular and monotonous. Blum attempts to give shape to the ongoing drama of outsized personalities (many come off as predictably power hungry or disingenuously careerist), but the energy dissipates long before book’s end. Photos.
Blum begins with the retirement party for Don Hewitt, the egotistical 60 Minutes executive producer who dreamed up the idea behind the most popular television news show and who managed to stay at the helm until recently. Despite on-air camaraderie, the show has been a rancorous place to work, plagued by Hewitt's wild ideas and insults, balanced by his desire for hard-hitting journalism. The show pioneered news-gathering techniques, including hidden cameras and "gotcha" interviews. Aggressive reporting by Mike Wallace and others provoked lawsuits by the tobacco industry and General Westmoreland.
This is a compelling, behind-the-scenes look at the rise of Hewitt and 60 Minutes, including the illustrious careers of the show's correspondents: Wallace, Morley Safer, Dan Rather, Ed Bradley, Diane Sawyer, and others. Blum details the clash of egos and personalities, the individual quirks of the on-air luminaries and their producers, and the ongoing battles with management at CBS, all against the backdrop of 36 years of domestic and international news coverage. Readers interested in the workings of television news shows will thoroughly enjoy this book.
February 2, 2020
the stories about the peoples that work at 60 minutes.
August 25, 2011
Okay, great book. But it's the story of a great show and its history. Don Hewitt, executive producer of '60 Minutes,' literally created television news as the first ever television producer at CBS News. You have Mike Wallace and the rest of the '60 Minutes' crew literally inventing how you do good television since 1968. 1968! I stopped watching after Mike Wallace left b/c, what was the point? But this book talks about the show's creation, history, turbulent times (which was ALL the time!) of the correspondents. You have this unique environment of antagonism, conflict, but complete freedom to create that made the show one of the highest-rated television shows ever. I wish I could grow up to be interview by Mike Wallace, but that's another lost childhood dream (also wanted to be interview by Tim Russert on "Meet the Press," oh well).
I just will always remember growing up, on Sunday nights, watching Mike Wallace, Morley Safer, Ed Bradley, Steve Kroft, Leslie Stahl...all them, and Andy Rooney, on tonight's "60 Minutes." Tick...tick...tick...
I just will always remember growing up, on Sunday nights, watching Mike Wallace, Morley Safer, Ed Bradley, Steve Kroft, Leslie Stahl...all them, and Andy Rooney, on tonight's "60 Minutes." Tick...tick...tick...
July 23, 2012
Turbulent times at the 60 Minutes screening room, indeed! :D
Gripping stories behind the most notable segments they have aired, and anecdotes on the correspondents in front and behind the camera.
Gripping stories behind the most notable segments they have aired, and anecdotes on the correspondents in front and behind the camera.
June 29, 2013
I've always enjoyed 60 Minutes and this book (published in 2005) offers a rare glimpse into the "behind the scenes" of the show from its inception. If you are a 60 Minutes fan, I recommend you pick it up. I don't think you'll be sorry.
February 13, 2009
Wow!
I never knew 60 minutes had such a history.
I never knew 60 minutes had such a history.
May 7, 2015
Interesting overview of a programme Ive never seen a full episode of but would very much like to now.
February 4, 2016
This was a good book in that it provided amazing insight into what is an unbelievably cutthroat industry behind the scenes of what has been an incredibly successful newsmagazine.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews