The BEST episodes of 60 Minutes season 44
Every episode of 60 Minutes season 44, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of 60 Minutes season 44!
60 Minutes has been on the air since 1968, beginning on a Tuesday, but spending most of its time on Sundays, where it remains today. This popular news magazine provides both hard hitting investigations, interviews and features, along with people in the news and current events. 60 Minutes has set unprecedented records in the Nielsen's ratings with a number 1 rating, five times, making it among the most successful TV programs in all of television history. This series has won more Emmy awards than any other news program and in 2003, Don Hewitt, the creator (back in 1968), was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Emmy, along with the 60 Minute correspondents. Added to the 11 Peabody awards, this phenomenally long-lived series has collected 78 awards up to the 2005 season and remains among the viewers top choice for news magazine features.
#1 - The Majority Leader, The Perfect Score, The ascent of Alex Honnold
Season 44 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/1/2012
Lesley Stahl profiles House Majority Leader Eric Cantor; Then, Sam Eshaghoff tells how he was able to take the SAT and ACT college admissions exams for others; Also, Mountain climber Alex Honnold seems to defy gravity by scaling sheer, steep rock faces with no rope and apparently no fear.
Watch Now:Amazon#2 - President Obama, Howard Buffett
Season 44 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/11/2011
President Obama - Steve Kroft questions the president on a wide range of critical topics, including his performance in office, the U.S. economy and unemployment, and the budget woes in Washington. Howard Buffett - Legendary investor Warren Buffett has chosen his son Howard to succeed him as head of his multibillion dollar holding company. But as Lesley Stahl reports, "Howie" - a farmer - is no chip off the old block.
Watch Now:Amazon#3 - NYPD's Counterterrorism Unit, Trey Parker and Matt Stone
Season 44 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/2011
New York Police Department’s counterterrorism unit; the murder of a neo-nazi leader; “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
Watch Now:Amazon
#4 - Gen. John Allen, Vincent van Gogh
Season 44 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/2011
Scott Pelley interviews Marine Corps Gen. John Allen about the war in Afghanistan; Morley Safer interviews authors Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, who discuss their biography of Vincent van Gogh (“Van Gogh: The Life”).
Watch Now:Amazon#5 - The Majority Leader, The Gardens of the Queen, Meryl Streep
Season 44 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/18/2011
The Majority Leader - Lesley Stahl questions House Majority Leader Eric Cantor about the partisan politics that are holding up legislation and giving the U.S. Congress such a low approval rating among Americans. The Gardens of the Queen - "60 Minutes" cameras take viewers on an underwater adventure off the Cuban coast to one of the world's most pristine and vibrant coral reefs. But as Anderson Cooper reports, reefs like these are already dying and could disappear someday if mankind isn't more careful. Meryl Streep - The two-time Oscar-winner and Grande Dame of American film and stage sat down with Morley Safer for a rare interview to discuss acting, her career and her latest leading role as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Watch Now:Amazon#6 - Killing Bin Laden
Season 44 - Episode 51 - Aired 9/9/2012
Scott Pelley interviews a former SEAL who was part of the team that assassinated Osama bin Laden.
#7 - Insiders, Taser, Freeman Hrabowski
Season 44 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/13/2011
Insiders – Steve Kroft reports on how America’s lawmakers can legally buy stock based on non-public information. Taser – The non-lethal device has saved many lives and prevented serious injury to suspects and police say its law enforcement advocates, but a new study says some authorities use it too quickly, causing unnecessary pain and sometimes death. Freeman Hrabowski – University President Freeman Hrabowski has turned the University of Maryland Baltimore County into a well-known producer of outstanding scientists and engineers, many of whom are minorities.
#8 - Hard Times Generation, The Flavorists, Angelina
Season 44 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/27/2011
Hard Times Generation - Scott Pelley brings "60 Minutes" cameras back to Central Florida to document another level of homelessness - kids and their parents living in cars. The Flavorists - Meet the scientists behind the real and artificial flavors that make foods and beverages so tasty. Morley Safer reports on this fascinating industry that food manufacturers depend on, but which critics say make some people dependent on less-than-healthy food choices. Angelina - Bob Simon profiles international film star Angelina Jolie, who has gone behind the camera to direct a film for the first time.
#9 - Jeffery Immelt, the Egyptian military
Season 44 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/2011
General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt discusses creating jobs in the U.S. Also: a report on the treatment of Egyptian citizens by the country’s military; a profile of NFL sports agent Drew Rosenhaus.
#10 - Prosecuting Wall Street, Michael Bublé
Season 44 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/4/2011
Prosecuting Wall Street - Two whistleblowers tell Steve Kroft that their warnings about fraudulent and substandard mortgages were ignored by their companies, offering a rare window into the root causes of the subprime mortgage meltdown still holding back the struggling U.S economy. Michael Buble - He fills concert halls and has sold 35 million albums by covering classic American songs made famous by crooners like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. Lara Logan profiles this still-rising singer whose current album, "Christmas," is number one.
#11 - The Case Against Lehman, Christians of the Holy Land, The Trouble with Treasure
Season 44 - Episode 31 - Aired 4/22/2012
The Case Against Lehman - Steve Kroft talks to the bank examiner whose investigation reveals the how and why of the spectacular financial collapse of Lehman Brothers, the bankruptcy that triggered the world financial crisis. Christians of the Holy Land - Bob Simon reports on the slow exodus from the Holy Land of Palestinian Christians, who say life in the middle of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become too difficult. The Trouble with Treasure - Jay Miscovich says he found a cache of emeralds on the bottom of the ocean off of Florida, but it may be years before he can profit from the treasure.
#12 - Steve Jobs, Apps for Autistic People
Season 44 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/2011
Author Walter Isaacson discusses his biography of Steve Jobs and reveals that Jobs refused early and potentially lifesaving surgery after learning he had cancer. Also: a report on apps for autistic people that help them communicate.
#13 - Wildebeest Migration, Elephant Dictionary, Jane Goodall
Season 44 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/22/2012
Scott Pelley visits Kenya to observe the great wildebeest migration; Bob Simon reports on the compilation of an elephant dictionary in Central Africa; Lara Logan interviews anthropologist Jane Goodall.
#14 - The Raptor, Cleaning Up Whitley County, Michael Phelps
Season 44 - Episode 33 - Aired 5/6/2012
The Raptor - Two pilots who refuse to fly the nation's top fighter jet because of safety and health concerns risk their wings to become military whistleblowers and speak out about the F-22 Raptor. Cleaning Up Whitley County - A corrupt sheriff in a drug-infested Kentucky county who federal authorities initially failed to indict was finally foiled by a pair of twenty-something journalists from the local newspaper. Michael Phelps - The Olympic gold wunderkind is back to a strict training regimen after a lull that included some fun downtime and unimpressive races. He tells Anderson Cooper he's now ready for the London games, where his coach predicts another multiple gold medal effort.
#15 - The Case Against Lehman Brothers, The Archbishop of Dublin, Aerosmith
Season 44 - Episode 48 - Aired 8/19/2012
The financial collapse of Lehman Brothers is studied via a conversation with a bank examiner who investigated the financial-service firm. Also: a sex-abuse crisis in the Irish Catholic Church; and an interview with classic rockers Aerosmith.
#16 - Hank, The Gulen Movement, The Role of a Lifetime
Season 44 - Episode 34 - Aired 5/13/2012
Hank - Legendary retired covert CIA Officer Henry "Hank" Crumpton tells his spy stories to Lara Logan, including his role in the early war in Afghanistan as Deputy Director of the CIA's Counter-Terrorism Center. The Gulen Movement - A worldwide Islamic movement that has inspired scores of public charter schools here in the U.S. is led by a Turkish cleric living in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Lesley Stahl reports on Fethullah Gulen and his message of education. The Role of a Lifetime - "CSI: NY" star Gary Sinise's appearance in "Forrest Gump" helped lead to his humanitarian efforts for disabled veterans like the "Lt. Dan" character he made so memorable in the classic film.
#17 - Dropping Out, Hard Cases, Roger Waters
Season 44 - Episode 35 - Aired 5/20/2012
Dropping Out - A billionaire's program to pay students with promising ideas to drop out of college is attracting students and critics. Internet business pioneer Peter Thiel thinks his program is a viable alternative to what he sees as a costly and ineffective university system. Hard Cases - The last resort for patients with rare, undiagnosed medical conditions is Dr. William Gahl's Undiagnosed Diseases Program at the National Institutes of Health. Roger Waters - Pink Floyd's creative force is still performing the rock opera "The Wall" to sold-out stadiums around the world.
#18 - Final Resting Place, Tel Aviv, The Many Meryls
Season 44 - Episode 36 - Aired 5/27/2012
An interview with former marine Dakota Meyer upon receiving the Medal of Honor; profiles of five sets of brothers who fought to do battle together in Afghanistan; a report on Operation Proper Exit that helps wounded warriors find closure.
#19 - Leon Panetta, Texas Safaris, Matt Stone and Trey Parker
Season 44 - Episode 38 - Aired 6/10/2012
Scott Pelley interviews Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta; Lara Logan reports on breeding and hunting big-game species in the U.S.; Steve Kroft profiles Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
#20 - Resurrecting Chrysler, The Flavorists, Teacher to the World
Season 44 - Episode 50 - Aired 9/2/2012
“Resurrecting Chrysler” rebroadcasts a segment on the revitalization of the automaker. “The Flavorists” rebroadcasts a segment on the people who make the artificial flavors in food. “Teacher to the World” rebroadcasts a segment on educator using computer to teach millions around the world.
#21 - The Spymaster Speaks, The Player, The Year of Adele
Season 44 - Episode 52 - Aired 9/16/2012
“The Spymaster Speaks” rebroadcasts an interview with the former head of Israel’s intelligence service. “The Player” rebroadcasts a profile of the famous sports agent Drew Rosenhaus. “The Year of Adele” rebroadcasts an interview with the singer.
#22 - President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney
Season 44 - Episode 53 - Aired 9/23/2012
President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are interviewed.
#23 - The Pledge, Stem Cell Fraud, The Sport of Kings
Season 44 - Episode 49 - Aired 8/26/2012
“The Pledge” rebroadcasts a profile of conservative anti-tax activist Grover Norquist. “Stem Cell Fraud” rebroadcasts an investigation into a doctor who falsely claims he can use stem cells to treat cerebral palsy. “The Sport of Kings” rebroadcasts a look at polo and efforts to make it popular in the United States.
#24 - Elon Musk, Jeff Hall and the NSM, Angelina Jolie
Season 44 - Episode 37 - Aired 6/3/2012
Scott Pelley interviews SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who discusses private space travel; Lesley Stahl investigates the murder of a neo-Nazi and a growing subculture of hate in the U.S.; Bob Simon profiles Angelina Jolie.
#25 - Insiders, Freeman Hrabowski, Taylor Swift
Season 44 - Episode 39 - Aired 6/17/2012
Steve Kroft reports on how U.S. lawmakers legally buy stock based on nonpublic information; Byron Pitts profiles Freeman Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County; Lesley Stahl interviews Taylor Swift.