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Tag: 60 Minutes

  • Groupon CEO Andrew Mason on 60 Minutes

    Groupon CEO Andrew Mason on 60 Minutes

    Groupon CEO Andrew Mason appeared on 60 Minutes last night, giving the audience of “America’s most watched network” their first chance to see an extensive interview with the man, since last year’s IPO.

    Despite the big IPO, 2011 was something of a problematic year for the company, plagued with a number of controversies. In fact, Groupon even had to apologize for its Super Bowl commercial early in the year, as some were offended by it. Mason answers questions about a number of the criticisms the company has endured.

    By the way, Mason says he doesn’t know how much of a threat Google is. He thinks there is plenty of room for competition. Google is probably glad to hear them say that, as other competitors are pushing for antitrust regulation against the company.

    CBS News has provided an embed of the full interview:

    Interviewer Lesley Stahl talks about how Mason is different from other tech founders she’s interviewed (Such as Sergey Brin, Mark Zuckerberg and Paul Allen) in this “overtime” segment. He’s a “prankster” she says.

  • Legendary ’60 Minutes’ commentator Andy Rooney Dies, Twitter Reacts

    Today we learned of the loss of a beloved newsman, Andy Rooney.

    Rooney was probably best known for his weekly broadcast “A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney”, a part of the CBS News program 60 Minutes from 1978 to 2011. His final regular appearance on 60 Minutes aired October 2, 2011. He died almost exactly one month later, on November 4, 2011, at age 92. To read more about the death of Rooney and to leave a kind word in his memorial guestbook, you can visit FamousDead.com

    The news of Rooney’s death spread around the web fairly quickly, as I’m sure you can imagine. Below is some of the reaction from Twitter users:

    @andersoncooper
    Anderson Cooper    What an extraordinary life and career Andy Rooney had. He was always very kind to me. He will be greatly missed 31 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® · powered by @socialditto

    @BrentSpiner
    Brent Spiner    RIP Andy Rooney. Don’t you just hate when people die? 7 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    @michaelstrahan
    Michael Strahan    RIP Andy Rooney!! Loved watching him on 60 minutes. Always closed the show!! 2 hours ago via UberSocial for BlackBerry · powered by @socialditto

    @60Minutes
    60 Minutes    This Sunday #60Minutes will end its broadcast with a tribute segment to beloved #60Minutes commentator Andy Rooney. http://t.co/htNFGygx 3 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto

    @ESPN_Colin
    Colin Cowherd    Andy Rooney died month after retiring. Is that the way to do it or is it spending the last 15 years trying to lower your handicap? Not sure 6 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    @realjeffreyross
    Jeffrey Ross    Sad news: Andy Rooney passed away loudly in his sleep last night. #roastinpeace 7 hours ago via Twittelator · powered by @socialditto

    @hollyrpeete
    Holly Robinson Peete    RIP Andy Rooney The most lovable grump ever!! #neverbeanother 8 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    @katiecouric
    Katie Couric    Andy Rooney was everyone’s favorite curmudgeon. His crankiness made us smile. 8 hours ago via WhoSay · powered by @socialditto

    @RyanSeacrest
    Ryan Seacrest    I’m gonna miss andy rooney..he was one of the few folks on tv who still spoke his mind and had no qualms about what people thought 8 hours ago via UberSocial for BlackBerry · powered by @socialditto

    @KChenoweth
    Kristin Chenoweth    RIP andy rooney. 8 hours ago via txt · powered by @socialditto

    @hipstermermaid
    braden graeber    I’ll fill the void left by Andy Rooney by complaining about big issues. What’s with girls named after months, seasons or days of the week? 9 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

    @khenney
    Kevin Henney    If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it. ~Andy Rooney #quote #RIPAndyRooney 9 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto

  • Walter Isaacson on Steve Jobs: He’s Not Warm and Fuzzy

    Walter Isaacson on Steve Jobs: He’s Not Warm and Fuzzy

    The much-anticipated biography of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs hits the shelves today, and 60 Minutes sat down with the author of the book for an exclusive interview, airing on Sunday evening.

    Walter Isaacson, a former TIME magazine editor, sat down with Steve Kroft to talk about his new book, “Steve Jobs.” The book, the first authorized biography of the tech legend, was constructed through dozens of interviews with Jobs himself as well as the people around him that knew him the best.

    Much of the biography was leaked before its actual publication, and the excerpts have confirmed that the new book attempts to show Jobs as human, if nothing else. At the beginning of Isaacson’s interview, 60 Minutes’ Steve Kroft says that he thinks “it’s a tough book.”

    Isaacson responds that “it’s a book that’s fair, I mean, this is a real human being.”

    During the interview, Isaacson portrays Jobs as an individualist, a genius that refused to “succumb to authority,” as well as man that could be “brittle” and “petulant.” It truly is a fascinating look into a notoriously private man.

    Check out the interview below:

  • Andy Rooney Retiring: Here Are Some Greatest Hits

    On Tuesday, CBS announced that the legendary Andy Rooney would be making his last regular appearance on 60 Minutes this upcoming Sunday. Rooney, who is now 92, has spent 33 years with the venerable newsmagazine.

    Rooney has held the time slot at the end of 60 Minutes since 1979. There, he has made a name for himself with his musings on life and the changing times. He is known by many for his sometimes strange delivery and odd choice of topics.

    And while some of his rants have seemed ridiculous over the years, Rooney is a powerful figure in American journalism. He has been producing TV essays since 1964 and has written 16 books in his career. He has also won four Emmy awards and various Writers Guild awards.

    But to most, he will always be remembered as the Andy Rooney of the last two minutes of 60 Minutes. And while occupying that time slot, Rooney has given us some real masterpiece rants.

    I’ve decided to compile a Greatest Hits playlist with the help of YouTube – in no particular order.

    Andy Rooney doesn’t know who Lady Gaga is –

    Andy Rooney hates Bill Gates and Windows –

    Andy Rooney can sleep everywhere –

    Andy Rooney is a “know-nothing boob” who hates modern art –

    Andy Rooney on Christmas catalogs (one of my favorites) –

    Andy Rooney Hates Numbers –

    Andy Rooney Talks Tools (staple removers are better than staples) –

    Andy Rooney talks fashion magazines –

    Andy Rooney on the months of the year –

  • 60 Minutes Reaches Out To YouTube Audience

    A news program that debuted way back in September of 1968 is now taking steps to embrace a video-sharing site and the latest social media trends.  60 Minutes has launched a YouTube channel and asked viewers weigh in.

    The channel-related development is straightforward (though important).  Certain 60 Minutes segments will simply be uploaded to youtube.com/60minutes after they air so that people who miss the show on Sunday night can catch up later.

    It’s the request for feedback that’s a little more interesting.  A post on the YouTube Blog explained, "[W]e’re partnering in a new program called, ‘Ask 60 Minutes,’ where you can engage directly with their correspondents.  This week, we’re featuring correspondent Lara Logan’s story from the Afghanistan/Pakistan border, where she spent weeks with the 101st Airborne undergoing relentless attacks."

    Later, the post continued, "Go to the 60 Minutes YouTube channel to upload a 60-second video with your thoughts, as well as vote on others responses.  If you don’t want to use video, you can submit your feedback in text.  60 Minutes producers may broadcast some of the top-voted responses on TV (that’s a weekly audience of 13 million!) or respond to them directly on their website, 60minutes.com."

    This seems likely to drum up interest in 60 Minutes, given that lots of people love to give their opinions on current events and many others are eager to get their face on TV.

    The move also acts as a compliment to YouTube, since the show’s ratings are quite good and it doesn’t need to make a desperate grab for new viewers.