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60 MINUTES {THE LETTER; IMUS} (TV)

Summary

One in this series of news magazine programs. In the first segment, Steve Kroft reports on Francine Florio-Bunten, a former juror in the murder trial of retired football player O.J. Simpson. Florio-Bunten was dismissed from the case because of an anonymous letter received by Judge Lance Ito, viewers learn. The letter claimed that the juror was secretly negotiating a deal to write a book about the case. William Hodgeman, the head of the Simpson prosecution, suggests to Kroft that the case would have turned out differently had Florio-Bunten not been dismissed. Florio-Bunten tells the reporter that she thinks Simpson was guilty -- and that she is sure the letter was a fake. Various people are interviewed, all of whom give credibility to the idea of a fraudulent letter. Hodgeman says that he believes Florio-Bunten was targeted to be removed from the Simpson jury because she believed the athlete was guilty. In the second segment, Mike Wallace interviews Don Imus, the irreverent host of a radio show that is portrayed as full of political satire, smut, and bigotry. Imus talks about his humor and his program.

Segments of the taping of Imus's program are seen, including guest appearances by Dan Rather and Bob Dole. Imus is also seen speaking at a political function with illustrious attendees, including Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Wallace gives a brief history of Imus's life, and then Imus talks about his past substance-abuse problems. Imus's brother Fred says of the radio personality, "He says what he thinks, and that's what people like." Wallace then introduces Imus's younger wife, Deirdre Coleman, and Imus talks about his marriage. In the third segment, Andy Rooney describes news stories of interest from the past week. These include Catholic Cardinal John O'Connor's statement of his opposition to the death penalty and the threat of excommunication by a Nebraska bishop to any of his parishioners who maintain an involvement with organizations he deems inappropriate. Rooney then talks about the reluctance of military leader Colin Powell to entire political life and finally alludes to a recent piece by journalist Frazier Moore suggesting that "60 Minutes" would be better off without Andy Rooney. The commentator invites viewers to vote on whether he should resign. Commercials deleted. Includes promos.

Cataloging of this program has been made possible by the Bell Atlantic Foundation, 2000.

Details

  • NETWORK: CBS
  • DATE: March 31, 1996 7:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:46:39
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:63178
  • GENRE: News magazine
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Disc jockeys; Radio broadcasting - Biography; Trials (Murder)
  • SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1968-
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Promo - "A Season in Purgatory"
    • TV - Promo - "CBS Evening News"
    • TV - Promo - "Cybill"

CREDITS

  • Don Hewitt … Executive Producer
  • Josh Howard … Senior Producer
  • Merri Lieberthal … Producer
  • Tom Anderson … Producer
  • Howard L. Rosenberg … Producer
  • Andy Court … Associate Producer
  • Fred McKnight … Associate Producer
  • Rebecca Peterson … Associate Producer
  • Robert R. Forte … Associate Producer
  • Susan Bieber … Associate Producer
  • Arthur Bloom … Director
  • Allen Mack … Direction (Misc.), Associate Director
  • Alicia Tanz Flaum … Direction (Misc.), Associate Director
  • Terry Robinson … Direction (Misc.), Associate Director
  • Andy Rooney … Commentator
  • Mike Wallace … Reporter
  • Morley Safer … Reporter
  • Ed Bradley … Reporter
  • Steve Kroft … Reporter
  • Lesley Stahl … Reporter
  • Bill Clinton
  • Hillary Rodham Clinton
  • Deirdre Coleman
  • Dole, Bob (See also: Dole, Robert)
  • Francine Florio-Bunten
  • William Hodgeman
  • Don Imus
  • Fred Imus
  • Lance Ito
  • Frazier Moore
  • John Cardinal O'Connor
  • Colin Powell
  • Dan Rather
  • Simpson, O.J. (See also: Simpson, Orenthal James)