Clinton Didn't Have Time for'60 Minutes'

AP ^ | 1-18-04

[Indy Pendance]

OS ANGELES (AP) -- Those "60 Minutes" debates between former President Clinton and Bob Dole failed partly because Clinton was writing a book and didn't have time to concentrate on the show, the program's executive producer says.

Announced with much fanfare last spring, the Clinton-Dole mini debates lasted only 10 episodes. They brought little ratings buzz to the CBS newsmagazine and were considered boring by many TV critics.

"It didn't work because Bill Clinton is so involved in writing his book he never could give us the time," said Don Hewitt, "60 Minutes" founder, who is stepping down as executive producer in May after 35 years.

Dole wasn't as good a TV performer as Clinton, but "he was ready to give us as much time as we needed because he didn't have anything to do," Hewitt said.

"You can't be a success on '60 Minutes' unless '60 Minutes' is the number one thing on your mind," Hewitt said.

[elli1]

Actually, I thought it was Hewitt's fault & the mini-debates was a stupid idea to start with.

[OldFriend]

Anyone believing that bull needs hip boots.

[DustyMoment]

Hmph! Clinton was on 60 Minutes with Dole!!???

Who KNEW!!!!?????

(Yes, I AM being sarcastic!)

[Imal]

"You can't be a success on '60 Minutes' unless '60 Minutes' is the number one thing on your mind," Hewitt said.

That goes a long way toward explaining some of their more questionable work.

[ozzymandus]

Too busy? Try too stupid, too lazy, or too stoned.

[giznort]

Beelzebubba reportedly has a hard time concentrating on one thing at a time. I can't name the source because I've read so many books/articles on the impeached former president, but one author (maybe Dick Morris) said that his greatest weakness was running off in all directions at once, failing to prioritize. Perhaps this is the case.

With all that's been said and done, I just wish he would go away. Far, far away. How many times do we have to flush to make this turd go away?

[weegee]

Bill Clinton didn't have time for "60 minutes" but he did have time for a quickie!

Cue the Dominoes' "Sixty Minute Man"...

[weegee]

What's he doing? Advising each of the candidates of the details he has from their FBI files? "Play ball with me or else"?

[LibertarianInExile]

Exactly. It's like Point and Counterpoint. Without the difference.

Tweedledee: I have always preferred flip.
Tweedledum: WHAT? How could you...you can't...I prefer flop!

[Palladin]

Don Hewitt is a babbling idiot, and nothing can save Sixty Minutes from its terminal boredom.

[My Dog Likes Me]

Yes!
And did you notice how Hewitt blames it on Clinton (to work here, you must be 100 percent dedicated to 60 Minutes, or something like that...)?
It was a terrible concept. We like Andy, not a strange debate between Bill and Bob.

[Sharpshot613]

Lt. Col. Patterson. "All thrust, no vector" was the term he used...