CBS News has been scrambling to hire top producers to help run “60 Minutes” — but the show’s new boss Nick Bilton has been using interviews with prospective candidates as “therapy sessions” to vent about his own work conditions, sources told The Post.
Multiple insiders said the Tiffany Network recently interviewed seasoned candidates who were under the impression they were auditioning to be Bilton’s No. 2 executive — and noted that the job description sounds an awful lot like Bilton’s own executive producer role.
“They want the candidate to run investigations, story development and operations,” said one source briefed on the situation. “What the f–k is Nick going to do?”
A network source, however, clarified that Bilton now seeks three to four deputies to help him run the show, although the source declined to confirm whether that was after scrapping a search for a single No. 2. The person said each deputy will have a specialized role, as a slew of senior producers have either been fired or resigned in recent months.
Meanwhile, 49-year-old Bilton — a former New York Times technology columnist who was brought in by CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss to shake up “60 Minutes” and expand it across multiple platforms — has been openly griping to potential hires about office politics.
Specifically, Bilton appears to be chafing over how he and Weiss are viewed internally after they fired “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley in early June. Pelley had confronted Bilton in a meet-and-greet, telling him he had “slender qualifications” for the job and that Weiss was “murdering ’60 Minutes’.”
After a heated back-and-forth, Bilton stormed out of the meeting, inviting journalists to “enjoy the bagels”. Pelley was ousted the next day by Bilton, which accused him in a letter leaked to the press of having “no interest in contributing to the future success of the show.”
One prospective job candidate said Bilton spent a major chunk of a recent interview addressing the incident and the behavior of the staff, while another candidate said the exec was “defensive” and “dismissive” when it was pointed out that a major hurdle is staffers’ lack of trust in him and Weiss.
“He’s having therapy sessions in these interviews,” a source told The Post.
Bilton on Tuesday announced four “new faces” coming to “60 Minutes” — Ross Douthat, Sebastian Junger, Gianna Toboni and Trevor Phillips. Longtime CBS News journo Norah O’Donnell is becoming a “60 Minutes” correspondent, he added.
Regarding 42-year-old Weiss, Bilton has shrugged off criticism as “Bari-derangement syndrome” — a term that’s popular in Weiss’ inner circle, according to sources close to the network.
Bilton has also told sources that he feels like he’s “assembling ‘The Avengers of news,’” referring to the Marvel superhero franchise.
“I was speechless,” one source said of Bilton’s flip comment. “Really? ‘The Avengers?’ We’re journalists. Not Marvel movie characters. We report, question, speak truth to power, not shoot lasers out of our eyes.”
The source said that Bilton’s comment seemed light and didn’t sound like he was taking his role of rebuilding the award-winning show’s foundation seriously.
“I think he’s dumb and naive about what ’60 Minutes’ is, which is great for the executive producer,” the source added sarcastically.
CBS News and Bilton declined to comment.
A person close to Bilton said “The Avengers” reference was merely an analogy, adding that Bilton, who grew up in England, is “terrible with American sports” and “never gets sports analogies correct.”
Bilton’s lack of TV experience appears to be the key issue with higher-ups at CBS, who have expressed concerns that he has “big ideas” but lacks the “skills to get things done,” sources said.
Three people who interviewed with Bilton said the executive has difficulty explaining his vision with precision, noting that he doesn’t articulate “how” he will transform “60 Minutes” digitally. One person said that he uses inscrutable jargon, adding: “If he would have used the word ‘synergy,’ I wouldn’t have been surprised.”
A network source claimed Bilton was “intentionally” not clear about strategy with interviewees over concerns about “leaking” to the press. The person added that Bilton is expected to lay out his vision clearly in the coming months.
Currently, longtime “60 Minutes” producer Maria Gavrilovic, who was promoted to senior producer, is playing the role of Bilton’s deputy, and she will be named to the role full time, the person said. Bilton also spoke about the gig with former “60 Minutes” producers Ira Rosen, Joel Bach and current producer Andy Court, according to Status.
He also met with ABC News executive producer Muriel Pearson, but talks with the aforementioned candidates appear to have hit a dead end. According to a source, there has been talk of moving Jay Kernis, a producer on “CBS Sunday Morning,” to the role. So far, Bilton has yet to hire any senior producers.
The show was decimated in May when Weiss fired executive producer Tanya Simon, as well as correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. Senior producers Draggan Mihailovich and Guy Campanile were also let go, and veteran producer Michael Gavshon and star correspondent Anderson Cooper both resigned amid the tumult.
While Simon was replaced by Bilton, efforts to staff up elsewhere appear to be dragging – even as the first episode of the new season is slated to air in September. Some sources believe Bilton is being careful about the selection process and aware of the enormity of his decision.
Others who spoke to Bilton, along with other senior execs, gathered that they didn’t know exactly what they wanted. Two sources said they had multiple conversations with Bilton, Weiss and her deputy Charles Forelle that dragged out for weeks with little clarity.
Sources opined that another issue inhibiting recruitment is the bad press “60 Minutes” has garnered under Weiss’ reign.
A source with knowledge of the matter said he’s interviewed 70 people in the last two months.
“I can’t imagine anyone with a profile and existing perch wants to be part of the Bari-Bilton s–t show,” one insider said.
Earlier this year, Weiss reportedly yanked a segment on El Salvador’s CECOT prison shortly before it aired. She felt the piece wasn’t ready and asked Alfonsi to get comment from the Trump administration, among other steps, sparking pushback from the correspondent.
The move ruffled feathers inside “60 Minutes,” which previously operated in a vacuum and was led solely by the executive producer – not the network’s top exec.
Other skirmishes included Weiss playing a hands-on role in booking the show’s interview with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu.
As previously reported by The Post, Weiss allowed Netanyahu to OK who would interview him – and he chose CBS News correspondent Major Garrett over “60 Minutes” stalwart Lesley Stahl.
