Charlie Rose and Lara Logan will host an interview program modeled after the groundbreaking Edward R. Murrow series. It debuts Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012, at 8 p.m.
CBS News Bringing Back ‘Person To Person’
CBS News will revive its iconic franchise, Person to Person, it was announced today by CBS News Chairman and 60 Minutes Executive Producer Jeff Fager and David Rhodes, president, CBS News. The broadcast, based on the ground-breaking interview series created by news legend Edward R. Murrow, will begin Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012, at 8 p.m. ET.
Cbs This Morning co-host Charlie Rose and CBS News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and 60 Minutes Correspondent Lara Logan have been named co-hosts of the series.
In addition to her duties as executive producer of 48 Hours Mystery and special projects, Susan Zirinsky will serve as executive producer, as will Judy Tygard, senior producer of 48 Hours and special projects.
“We have dreamed about bringing a modern version of this great program, Person to Person, back to CBS for years — and now it is happening,” said Fager. “It is an exciting new development for us, particularly because it will be led by two of our most accomplished producers and two of our best interviewers.”
“Person to Person is about original reporting on extraordinary people,” said Rhodes. “Charlie and Lara are the perfect team to carry forward this storied franchise.”
“Building on the legacy of CBS News, we will present a broadcast that is both entertaining and insightful,” said Tygard. “It will provide a refreshing glimpse into the lives of the legends of today.”
CBS said Person to Person will retain many of the elements of the original. Rose and Logan will bring viewers into the private homes of public people — musical artists, actors, directors, political leaders and newsmakers. Conversation will be the primary focus, CBS said, “distinguishing the series from more traditional interview programs and news magazines.” Guests for the premiere broadcast and the schedule for other broadcasts will be announced at a later date.
The original series debuted in 1953, when Murrow began taking viewers into the homes of people whose names continue to resonate today: John and Jacqueline Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Harry Truman, Fidel Castro and John Steinbeck.
Viewers saw Robert Kennedy soothing his young children, who had stayed awake long past their bedtimes especially for the broadcast; they also saw Marlon Brando playing bongos with a friend; and Sammy Davis, Jr. polishing dance moves.
Comments (5)
Lady Success says:
December 15, 2011 at 4:08 pm
How long will it be before Charlie Rose will be interviewing Snooki? I don’t see this working in the long run. The definition of “celebrity” has been diluted greatly since the days of Murrow’s show.
Hope Yen and Charles Babington says:
December 15, 2011 at 4:21 pm
This might work if they use someone else than Rose. Rose is old hat, and I’m surprised that CBS is going to use him in the AM, but that bet is still at least reasonable. CBS has a lot of great reporters who could do better than Rose. AND, if CBS is really serious about making this as memorable as the original P-to-P, then they will all, absolutely, with NO excuses, be live and unscripted!!
Todd Keel says:
December 15, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Will Charlie or Laura be smoking a cigarette?
Anthony Iacovone says:
December 15, 2011 at 4:47 pm
I must say I am thrilled with this new life for Person-to-Person on CBS. I am old enough to have watch many of Murrow’s episodes. I agree that the original format, live with the hosts in the studio looking at the subject on a big screen is a key part of the program. As is the brief tour of the home, etc. I hope Fager, Zirinsky, and Tygard will spend a lot of time review old kinescropes of the original and do their best to duplicate and not “improve” on the original format from Murrow and crew. The camera following the subject on the tour is an important element of the program. It was a unique program with production values that work today. Sure, Steadicam, color and LED lighting with make the program better, but please, no format changes. Except the cigarettes! Even the Murrow chair should be a model….. Now I have to go find some original Person-to-Person DVDs on the internet!
Ellen Samrock says:
December 15, 2011 at 11:06 pm
What’s old is new again. But it would be great if network television would stop the recycling and develop some fresh concepts. Sometimes the phrase,’you can’t go home again,’ applies to TV shows that were great in their day.