CBS '60 Minutes' back on TV, premiere recap after Scott Pelley fired

Key Points:

• "60 Minutes" returned for its 59th season on September 13, featuring new executive producer Nick Bilton and fresh correspondents including Ross Douthat, Norah O'Donnell, Sebastian Junger, Gianna Toboni, and Trevor Phillips.
• The season premiere maintained the show's traditional format, covering stories such as the rescue of American airmen from Iran, an investigation into pardon brokers linked to former President Trump, a feature on the Los Angeles Rams, and a segment on artificial intelligence safety.
• The program did not address recent internal controversies or the firing of longtime correspondent Scott Pelley during the premiere, with only Douthat briefly noting he is a new addition to the team.
• The summer shakeup at "60 Minutes" involved the dismissal of several key staff, including Pelley, executive producer Tanya Simon, and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, following allegations of misconduct and changes under CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
• These personnel changes and broader shifts at CBS News coincided with Paramount's 2025 merger with Skydance and the appointment of Weiss by new CEO David Ellison, prompting significant restructuring within the news division.