Tonight, 60 Minutes will toast the late correspondent Bob Simon, with fine single malt whisky.
Simon’s last unfinished story is a report from the Scottish island of Islay, home to some of the world’s greatest whiskies. “Bob always had an appetite for a new adventure, and he loved whisky – so it was a perfect mixture,” said 60 Minutes ep Jeff Fager. “It was a labor of love for us to put it together and broadcast it as a salute to our old pal Bob.”
Harry Radliffe II was Simon’s producer on the story. At Simon’s memorial service last Thursday, Radliffe paid tribute to his friend and colleague, and played a clip from the story that you won’t see on TV.
The clip was one of those long walking shots you see so often in TV news, only, during the walking, Simon was telling a joke to the man he was interviewing. The joke involved a man, his wife, her gynecologist… and… well, you get the picture.
Tonight’s story is also reported by correspondent Steve Kroft.
Simon was killed in a car accident in New York City, Feb. 11. His memorial service was held at the Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center.