Panic at 60 Minutes as rumors fly that JOE ROGAN will become new host of prestigious CBS News show after Scott Pelley firing
Staffers at 60 Minutes are scared-stiff over reports suggesting podcaster Joe Rogan could be next in line to replace recently lost correspondent Anderson Cooper.A March report from RadarOnline appears to be the source of the rumor. The story was picked up by The Austin American-Statesman on Wednesday.Scott Pelley, another former 60 Minutes correspondent, was fired from the newsmagazine the day before, making it all the more believable.Fellow presenters Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega were also cut by CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss last week - leaving 60 Minutes a sort of shell.Weiss, 42, is also in the midst of a network-wide overhaul, with 60 Minutes being a focus. 'It’s f**ked up because we’re here now, where it’s actually possible for that to happen. Think about how insane that is,' one source said Thursday, after the reports were fully debunked by a CBS News spokesperson.'We were thinking that it sounds possible because he’s got a huge audience and that CBS might want to partner with him. It was plausible and that’s actually scarier than anything.' 60 Minutes staffers are scared-stiff over reports suggesting podcaster Joe Rogan could be next in line to join the decorated newsmagazine Scott Pelley, another former 60 Minutes correspondent, was fired from the newsmagazine the day before, making the rumor all the more believableAnother insider said 'staff [at 60 Minutes] are beside themselves' - before the report was roundly rejected.CNN Media Reporter Brian Stelter replied to a post from the Statesman that shared the piece Thursday afternoon: 'A CBS News spokesperson says this is false.'Semafor's media editor, Max Tani, received the same statement and launched a similar X post.The Statesman's piece has since been updated.Cooper, meanwhile, left the program ahead of his contract's expiration last month, in part because of the show's new direction under Weiss, Status reported.Weiss took the reins in October, after Paramount's merger with Skydance. She was hired by then-new CEO David Ellison personally.Weiss has since set out on moving CBS into the digital age.'Broadcast is an ice cube that is melting, OK?' her most recent hire, 60 Minutes' new top executive Nick Bilton, told a diminished 60 Minutes team during his first meeting on Monday.Last Thursday, a wave of firings that affected not only correspondents but the show's two top producers hit the newsmagazine at full-force. Several presenters, such as Sharyn Alfonsi (far left), were also cut last week. Rogan was erroneously framed as potential replacement for Anderson Cooper, who opted not to renew his contract last month CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss is in the midst of network wide overhaul - one that's bristled many at the newsmagazine, which has long enjoyed a large degree of autonomyThe hiring of Bilton, a filmmaker and former tech columnist, is hailed as being in line with Weiss and Ellison's vision for a more modern CBS. He is fluent in topics like AI.Pelley was fired on Tuesday after a clash with Bilton during the Monday meeting over his credentials and perceived loyalties.The Daily Mail has approached CBS News for comment.
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Panic at 60 Minutes as rumors fly that JOE ROGAN will become new host of prestigious CBS News show after Scott Pelley firing
