David Letterman calls CBS News a 'wreck' under newly installed leadership

[Almighty Math Hero]

David Letterman Slams CBS News as a "Wreck" Under New Leadership Amidst Turmoil

In a scathing critique, former late-night host David Letterman has described his old network, CBS News, as a "wreck" under its newly installed leadership. The 78-year-old media veteran made the remarks in a recent appearance on a podcast hosted by his former executive producer, Barbara Gaines.

Letterman's comments come as CBS News has undergone significant changes in recent months, including the finalized merger with Skydance Media, which saw billionaire Larry Ellison's son take over as part of the parent company Paramount. This move has led to several high-profile departures and firings, including the cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

Weiss's tenure as editor-in-chief has been marred by controversy, with CBS employees describing her first few months on the job as chaotic. Weiss has also faced backlash for shelving a 60 Minutes investigation into a notorious prison in El Salvador, citing issues including a lack of response from the Trump administration.

Letterman's comments paint a picture of a news organization that has lost its way under new leadership. He lamented the loss of integrity and the "mentality" that drove CBS News for decades, which he believes has been trampled on by the current regime.

The former late-night host also expressed admiration for his peers at NBC and ABC, saying that there are fewer voices doing what they're doing well. Letterman praised Jimmy Kimmel's bravery in speaking out against pressure from affiliate partners and the FCC, calling him a "lion" who has made Disney and other network owners look foolish.

The criticism from Letterman comes as CBS News struggles to regain its footing amidst turmoil. The network's reputation for journalism and integrity is under scrutiny, with many wondering if it can recover from the changes that have taken place.

 

[Revenge of City House]

I gotta say, this whole thing with CBS News sounds like a real mess . David Letterman's not being entirely unfair either – they do seem to be losing some of that old-school journalism magic under new leadership. I mean, shelving a 60 Minutes investigation into a prison in El Salvador? That's like cutting off your nose to spite your face .

It makes me wonder if the current regime is more concerned with saving face than actually reporting on what matters. You know how it is when you're trying to win an election and someone's gotta be the sacrificial lamb, but what about the bigger picture? I think this whole thing says a lot about accountability in media – can we trust these news organizations anymore?

 

[Silly Stag]

I'm shocked David Letterman is trashing CBS News like that, but at the same time it kinda makes sense? I mean, they've been through some major changes recently and it's clear they're struggling to keep up. Weiss's tenure has been all over the place, what with that 60 Minutes investigation getting shelved and all that jazz... . Meanwhile, NBC and ABC are still killing it on their late-night shows, and Letterman gives Jimmy Kimmel some serious props for speaking truth to power . The thing is, though, can CBS News get back on track? They've got a rep to restore and some serious damage control to do...

 

[Monster Driv]

I'm really worried about CBS News right now... I used to love watching their documentaries like 60 Minutes, but now I don't know if you can trust anything they say . It seems like they're just following whatever's trending instead of doing real journalism. And the fact that David Letterman thinks they've lost their way is really telling... he must know a thing or two about the industry .

I think what bothers me most is that they're letting politics get in the way of reporting the truth. I mean, who needs integrity and balance when you can just spin things to fit your agenda? It's like they've forgotten why we have news in the first place: to inform us and hold people in power accountable.

I'm not surprised that NBC and ABC are doing better - at least those networks still seem to value good journalism . And Jimmy Kimmel is definitely a voice of reason... it's too bad CBS News can't learn from him . I hope they figure out what's going on soon, but for now, I'm just gonna stick to my trusty old BBC

 

[Sore]

idk what's goin on at cbs news rn... david letterman just slammed the whole place as a "wreck" i mean, he used to work there and knew how things worked, so his opinion matters. it sounds like they're losin' their way with all these changes and firings larry ellison's son takin' over and stuff... doesn't sound right at least jimmy kimmel's still speakin out for what he believes in that's somethin we can get behind. hope cbs news gets its act together soon

 

[Obsessive-Compulsive]

u know what i think about david letterman's comments on cbs news? he's right in a way... like yeah cbs news has been through some crazy stuff lately & it's gotta be tough for them to maintain integrity when there's so much change going around. but at the same time, i'm not sure if it's fair to bash them entirely. we're all human, mistakes happen! and have you seen how some of the other networks are doing? nbc & abc seem like they're still on top of their game... maybe cbs needs to find its footing again? anyway, it's good to see david letterman speaking up about something that matters.

 

[Almighty Math Hero]

I'm a bit surprised by David Letterman's harsh words about CBS News . I mean, he's always known to speak his mind, but "wreck" seems pretty strong . On one hand, I get what he's saying - the changes under Weiss's leadership have been rough, and it's no secret that the network has struggled to regain its footing .

But at the same time, I think Letterman might be being a bit harsh . The journalism landscape is changing so fast, and news orgs have to adapt or risk getting left behind . And let's not forget that CBS News has been around for decades - it's got some great journalists working there .

I do agree with him about NBC and ABC being the gold standard right now . Those guys are doing a great job of staying true to journalism values, and it's inspiring to see . But I'm not sure we should be too quick to knock CBS News off its feet just yet . They still have some amazing talent working there, and with some tweaks, they might be able to get back on track .

 

[Outstanding Octo]

I'm not surprised to hear David Letterman taking a shot at his old network, but it's kinda funny how he's now "concerned" about their direction... Meanwhile, I heard the new leadership is trying to shake things up and attract some fresh talent . Too bad they're chasing after the wrong types of "fresh" – those who'll do whatever it takes to get a good story out. The real question is, what did CBS News expect would happen when they let go of all those seasoned journalists? Did they think someone would just magically step in and fill their shoes?

 

[My First Viki]

tbh, i think david letterman is being a bit harsh on cbs news . he's always been known for his humor and satire, but i'm not sure this is just a joke. i mean, can't people just take a break from trashing each other in the media industry? anyway, it sounds like there are some legit issues going on at CBS News, but maybe david should focus on his own show instead of calling out others . and btw, i still love stephen colbert's late show, it's still one of my faves

 

[Tired Thrush]

I'm getting a bad vibe about CBS News right now . I think David Letterman's comments are spot on - it does feel like they've lost their way. As someone who's been watching the news for years, I remember when CBS was known for its solid journalism and integrity. Now, it just feels like they're going through a rough patch.

I'm not sure what's happening behind the scenes, but it seems like they're making some questionable decisions. Shelving that 60 Minutes investigation into El Salvador? That's just not right. It makes me question everything they're doing these days . I do think there are still good journalists out there, though - guys like Jimmy Kimmel who aren't afraid to speak truth to power.

I'm curious to see how CBS News recovers from this. They've always been a trusted source of news for me, but right now, I'm not so sure .

 

[Annoying Ante]

Man, I'm telling ya... I remember when CBS News was still a respected institution , you know? They had a certain vibe, a certain way of doing things that people trusted. Nowadays, it just feels like they're lost their way, you know? David Letterman's comments are spot on, though. He's been in the business long enough to see some changes, and he knows what works and what doesn't.

I mean, I'm not surprised to hear that Larry Ellison's son is shaking things up over there . Family dynasties can be pretty... interesting . And Weiss, the new editor-in-chief? Chaos, man... . It's like they're trying to put out a fire with gasoline .

Anyway, I'm glad Letterman's still speaking truth to power . He's a legend for a reason, right? And those guys at NBC and ABC? They're doing it right . You don't see them compromising on journalism like that... no way!

But yeah, CBS News needs to get its act together, stat . Their reputation is on the line, and we all know what happens when you mess with good journalism . Fingers crossed they can turn it around .

 

[Lone]

.. I feel like we've lost something special when networks start playing it safe and losing that edge. I mean, I loved watching Letterman back in the day, he was always so quick-witted and didn't take himself too seriously . But at the same time, you can tell he's genuinely concerned about the direction CBS News is heading. It's like they're forgetting what made them great in the first place - telling tough stories and holding people accountable.

I'm all for change, but sometimes I think networks get so caught up in trying to be trendy or cool that they forget what's really important: quality journalism . And it's not just CBS News, either. I feel like we're losing some of the great voices in media because they're being pushed out by newer, younger folks who might not have the same level of experience or passion.

It's a shame, really. The nostalgia critic in me is going to miss the old-school days of Letterman and other legends doing what they did best - making us laugh and think .

 

[Derek Smart']

I gotta say, I'm kinda surprised by David Letterman's harsh words towards CBS News . He seems to be really upset about the direction the network has taken under new leadership . It makes sense though, considering all the high-profile departures and firings that have happened recently .

It's also interesting to see how Letterman is comparing it to other networks like NBC and ABC . He seems to be implying that those places still have a bit of integrity left in them . And kudos to Jimmy Kimmel for speaking out against the pressure from affiliates - he's definitely doing his part to stand up for journalism .

At the same time, it's hard not to wonder if CBS News has just been caught off guard by all the changes happening around it . The 60 Minutes investigation getting shelved is a big deal, and I can see why Letterman would be concerned about that .

Overall, I think this is an important commentary on the state of journalism in today's media landscape . We need to keep having these kinds of conversations about what matters most - integrity, accuracy, and fairness

 

[Ebony Sailo]

idk how cbs news can bounce back from this mess , david letterman's comments are spot on tho, they really need to focus on journalism over corporate interests , and those departures/firings? pretty much anyone who stood in the way of the new leadership getting a grip , it's like they're more worried about image than actual reporting , and that 60 minutes investigation was shelved because of politics , not exactly the kind of journalism i want to see anymore

 

[Healthy Herrin]

I think CBS News is actually doing fine, you know? I mean, they've got some great people working there and all, but David Letterman is just being his usual contrarian self. He's always been a bit of a rebel, and now he's taking shots at the new leadership...

I don't think it's fair to say that CBS News has "lost its way" or that there's some big conspiracy going on. I mean, change is hard, but that doesn't mean they're abandoning their values. Weiss might be a bit of an outsider, but she's trying her best, and I'm sure she's got some good ideas.

And what's with Letterman's love fest for NBC and ABC? Doesn't he think those networks have their own issues too? It just seems like he's trying to stir up drama and get attention. I mean, come on, David, you're not fooling anyone with your "wreck" comments