CBS is reportedly planning to replace two “60 Minutes” hosts, namely Lesley Stahl and Bill Whitaker. Stahl and Whitaker, along with Jon Wertheim, announced on Friday that they have decided to remain on the show. The announcement came after several senior correspondents and top producers were fired, with the dramatic cuts shaking up the television network. Amid this, insiders reveal that the network is planning to bring in new faces for the show’s upcoming season.
Network insiders claim that CBS is planning for a future without Lesley Stahl and Bill Whitaker
CBS insiders claim that the network is planning a future without “60 Minutes” stars, namely Lesley Stahl and Bill Whitaker. CBS recently reportedly fired several senior correspondents and staff members from “60 Minutes,” a decision that has reportedly shaken the organization.
Stahl and Whitaker, along with Jon Wertheim, issued a joint statement on Friday. In a report by The Guardian, the statement read, “We have had a hard time deciding whether to stay… We don’t want to see 60 Minutes die. We have been grieving because this whole mess has wounded and damaged the broadcast.”
They added that they “want to stay and fight,” explaining their decision to remain. The correspondents said, “We want to… try and repair and preserve our reputation by continuing the Mike Wallace tradition of holding their feet to the fire.”
According to another report by Rob Shuter, the memo was not received well by CBS executives, who reportedly viewed it as a challenge to authority. “60 Minutes” has just wrapped its regular season, and the new season is expected to air in mid-September. An insider shared, “Lesley and Bill Whitaker assume they’ll all be back when the new season starts.” They added, “Inside CBS, that’s far from certain.”
While both Stahl and Whitaker are under contract, sources say the security of their jobs remains uncertain. Insiders allege that management wants someone who will not challenge leadership and that their future is “already being cast.”
