The WORST episodes of 60 Minutes
Every episode of 60 Minutes ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of 60 Minutes!
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 Swindler, The Case Against Nada Prouty, The Sharkman
Season 42 - Episode 36 - Aired 6/6/2010
“The Swindler” rebroadcasts a segment on a Ponzi scheme run by Marc Dreier. “The Case Against Nada Prouty” rebroadcasts an investigation into a former agent from the FBI and CIA who is accused to consorting with terrorists. “The Sharkman” rebroadcasts a profile on shark expert Mike Rutzen. “Andy Rooney” talks about newspaper comics.
#2 - The Swindler, White House Diary: Jimmy Carter, Football Island
Season 42 - Episode 51 - Aired 9/19/2010
“The Swindler” rebroadcasts a segment on a Ponzi scheme run by Marc Dreier. “White House Diary: Jimmy Carter” interviews the former president about his new book. “Football Island” rebroadcasts a segment on how American Samoa has become a breeding ground for top football talent.
#3 - 21st Century Snake Oil, Beyonce
Season 42 - Episode 50 - Aired 9/12/2010
“21st Century Snake Oil” rebroadcasts an investigation into a medical conman who is attempting to profit by offering miracle cures involving stem cells. “Beyonce” rebroadcasts a profile of the famous singer. “Andy Rooney” talks about sleeping and the economy.
#4 - 60 Billion Dollar Fraud, The Seed School, Doubles
Season 42 - Episode 49 - Aired 9/5/2010
“60 Billion Dollar Fraud” rebroadcasts a segment on government agents fighting Medicare Fraud. “The Seed School” rebroadcasts a segment on a successful inner city public boarding school. “Doubles” rebroadcasts a look at twins who are playing doubles tennis.
#5 - Stealing America's Secrets, The Bloom Box, The Birdmen
Season 42 - Episode 48 - Aired 8/29/2010
“Stealing America’s Secrets” rebroadcasts a segment examining how an American intelligence analyst gave secrets to China. “The Bloom Box” rebroadcasts a look at an invention that could revolutionize energy delivery. “The Birdmen” rebroadcasts a look at a winged sky-diving suit. “Andy Rooney” talks about being an average American.
#6 - The Blowout, The Russian Is Coming
Season 42 - Episode 47 - Aired 8/22/2010
“The Blowout” rebroadcasts a segment on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster. “The Russian is Coming” rebroadcasts a profile of Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov who is trying to buy an NBA team. “Andy Rooney” talks about Christmas, games, and the election.
#7 - A Crack in the Swiss Vault, 130 Million Tons of Waste, Pacino
Season 42 - Episode 46 - Aired 8/15/2010
“A Crack in the Swiss Vault” rebroadcasts an examination of how Swiss banks help people secretly conceal wealth overseas. “130 Million Tons of Waste” rebroadcasts a segment on the dangers of coal ash. “Pacino” rebroadcasts a profile of the famous actor. “Andy Rooney” talks about specialization in medicine.
#8 - The Cost of Dying, The Patriarch, Chef Jose Andres
Season 42 - Episode 45 - Aired 8/8/2010
“The Cost of Dying” rebroadcasts a segment on the enormous costs associated with end of life care. “The Patriarch” rebroadcasts a profile on the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church. “Chef Jose Andres” rebroadcasts a profile of the world famous chef.
#9 - Out of the Shadows, Discovery, Derek
Season 42 - Episode 44 - Aired 8/1/2010
“Out of the Shadows” rebroadcasts a segment on CIA agent Hank Crumpton who is working against the Taliban. “Discovery” rebroadcasts a segment on the discovery of a new human ancestor in South Africa. “Derek” rebroadcasts a revisit to a blind musical savant. “Andy Rooney” talks about newspapers.
#10 - Golf Company, Penelope Cruz, Guiding Light
Season 42 - Episode 42 - Aired 7/18/2010
“Golf Company” rebroadcasts a segment on visits G Company in Afghanistan and the strategy of separating enemy combatants from civilians. “Penelope Cruz” rebroadcasts a profile of the Spanish actress. “Guiding Light” rebroadcasts a segment on the famous long-running soap opera which is ending its run. “Andy Rooney” talks about kitchen gadgets.
#11 - The Lost Children of Haiti, Kathryn Bigelow, White Hot
Season 42 - Episode 41 - Aired 7/11/2010
“The Lost Children of Haiti” rebroadcasts a visit to the Caribbean country to see how children are managing in the weeks since the earthquake. “Kathryn Bigelow” rebroadcasts a profile of the Academy Award winning director. “White Hot” rebroadcasts a profile of Olympic snowboarder Shaun White. “Andy Rooney” talks about old papers he has kept.
#12 - Blackwater 61, Fight for a Cure, Cameron's Avatar
Season 42 - Episode 39 - Aired 6/27/2010
“Blackwater 61” rebroadcasts an investigation into the crash of an airline run by a U.S. military contractor. “Fight for a Cure” rebroadcasts a segment on David Axelrod and his family’s fight against epilepsy. “Cameron’s Avatar” rebroadcasts a segment on the science fiction movie. “Andy Rooney” responds to viewer mail about his comments on the post office.
#13 - Assault on Pelindaba, The Liquidator, A Living for the Dead
Season 42 - Episode 38 - Aired 6/20/2010
“Assault on Pelindaba” rebroadcasts a segment on an attack at a South African nuclear research center. “The Liquidator” rebroadcasts a segment on the men in charge of undoing some of the damage from Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. “A Living for the Dead” rebroadcasts a segment on the business of marketing dead celebrities. “Andy Rooney” talks about the U.S. citizenship test.
#14 - Sabotaging the System, The Great Explorer
Season 42 - Episode 37 - Aired 6/13/2010
“Sabotaging the System” rebroadcasts an investigation into how easily foreign hackers could create havoc by breaking into computer systems controlling the world infrastructure. “The Great Explorer” rebroadcasts a profile of the famous famous underwater explorer Robert Ballard.
#15 - U.S. v. Drake, Children in the Fields, Al Sharpton
Season 43 - Episode 35 - Aired 5/22/2011
“U.S. v. Drake” looks at former NSA executive Thomas Drake who claims 9/11 could have been stopped though he now faces espionage charges. “Children in the Fields” examines how some farmers are forced to work with their families in the fields. “Al Sharpton” profiles the famous activist. “Andy Rooney” memorializes producer Joe Wershba.
#16 - The Deadliest Weapon, Resurrecting the Extinct, Vogue, Anna Wintour
Season 42 - Episode 35 - Aired 5/30/2010
“The Deadliest Weapon” rebroadcasts a segment on a group of soldiers in Afghanistan who look for roadside bombs. “Resurrecting the Extinct” rebroadcasts a discussion with scientists who are trying to recreate extinct animals. “Vogue, Anna Wintour” rebroadcasts a profile of the Vogue editor. “Andy Rooney” talks about Memorial Day and remembering fallen soldiers.
#17 - Are They Safe?, The Seed School, Marty's Big Idea
Season 42 - Episode 34 - Aired 5/23/2010
“Are They Safe?” investigates the danger posed by phthalates a set of chemical compounds that are found in many plastics. “The Seed School” examines a successful inner city public boarding school. “Marty’s Big Idea” interviews the inventor of the cell phone. “Andy Rooney” talks about advice from his doctor.
#18 - Alan Greenspan, Swimming with Sharks
Season 39 - Episode 49 - Aired 9/16/2007
Alan Greenspan; Swimming with Sharks Alan Greenspan is featured in this double length segment with Lesley Stahl exploring how he could lead the economy out of the 9/11 aftermath, but why he didn’t even seem to try to curb the subprime lending abuses crushing today’s economy? In this interview, Stahl also taps into the more personal side of Greenspan. His marriage to a television news correspondent and his tour with a band playing saxophone. In the Swimming with Sharks segment, Bob Simon explores the controversial tourist attraction of entering a cage then dropped into the ocean while sharks are attracted, sometimes with chum (fish bait to spur a feeding frenzy). Is this teaching the sharks that humans are to be associated with food ?
#19 - Deepwater, The Age of Warming, Simon Cowell
Season 39 - Episode 45 - Aired 8/19/2007
“Deepwater” rebroadcasts a segment on how the Coast Guard may be in worse shape after a $24 billion refurbishment. “The Age of Warming” rebroadcasts a segment examining how global warming is effecting Antarctica. “Simon Cowell” rebroadcasts a profile of the famous American Idol judge. “Andy Rooney” compares President Bush and Queen Elizabeth.
#20 - The Dust at Ground Zero, Get Me the Geeks!, Pavarotti
Season 39 - Episode 48 - Aired 9/9/2007
“The Dust at Ground Zero” rebroadcasts a segment on how 9/11 searchers are suffering health problems due to dust at the former site of the World Trade Center. “Get Me the Geeks!” rebroadcasts a segment on the technicians who set up our sophisticated computer gadgets. “Pavarotti” rebroadcasts an interview with the opera singer to memorialize his recent death. “Andy Rooney” talks about statistics.
#21 - The Killings in Haditha, The Shipbreakers
Season 39 - Episode 47 - Aired 9/2/2007
“The Killing in Haditha” rebroadcasts an interview with Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich about the killings of twenty-four Iraqi civilians in the city of Haditha. “The Shipbreakers” rebroadcasts a segment on Bangladesh’s dangerous shipbreaking industry. “Andy Rooney” talks about watching movies in the theater.
#22 - Was It Murder?, Left Behind, One Laptop Per Child
Season 39 - Episode 46 - Aired 8/26/2007
“Was It Murder?” rebroadcasts an investigation into the murder accusations against a doctor and two nurses in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. “Left Behind” rebroadcasts an interview with an Iraqi translator who worked with the U.S. but is now considered a collaborator by insurgents. “One Laptop Per Child” rebroadcasts a profile to a man who wants give a laptop to every child for use in education. “Andy Rooney” talks about kitchen gadgets. “Update” reports on the deaths of Brooke Astor and Leona Helmsley.
#23 - Searching for Jacob, Stop Snitchin', King of Comedy
Season 39 - Episode 44 - Aired 8/12/2007
“Searching for Jacob” rebroadcasts a segment on the search for a Sudanese boy whose schoolbooks were found in a destroyed village in Darfur. “Stop Snitchin’” broadcasts a report on how hip-hop culture discourages cooperation with the police. “The King of Comedy” rebroadcasts an interview with the man behind Larry the Cable Guy. “Andy Rooney” talks about men’s fashion.
#24 - The Other Iraq, The Phantom of Corleone, The Dame
Season 39 - Episode 43 - Aired 8/5/2007
“The Other Iraq” rebroadcasts a segment on Kurdistan a relatively peaceful area in Iraq where Americans are well liked. “The Phantom of Corleone” rebroadcasts a segment on the Sicilian Mafia in Italy. “The Dame” rebroadcasts a profile of British actress Helen Mirren. “Andy Rooney” looks at how much politicians pay to get elected.
#25 - Under the Influence, Prisoner 05A4820, A New Kind of Fight
Season 39 - Episode 42 - Aired 7/29/2007
“Under the Influence” rebroadcasts a segment on how the pharmaceutical lobby was behind the passing of the Medicare prescription drug law. “Prisoner 05A4820” rebroadcasts an interview with the former CEO of Tyco who is now in prison. “A New Kind of Fight” rebroadcasts a segment on mixed martial arts. “Andy Rooney” talks about office clutter.