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Well, it looks like the corporate clown car at CBS just lost another passenger. Wendy McMahon, the big cheese at CBS News and Stations, announced she’s bailing on the network faster than you can say “abandon ship!”
Poor Wendy is apparently not vibing with the suits at Paramount, CBS’ parent company, as they scramble to settle a $20 billion lawsuit from President Donald Trump. You know, the one where he claims “60 Minutes” played fast and loose with an interview of Kamala Harris to make her look less like incompetent and possibly even sober during her presidential campaign.
McMahon, in her goodbye note, called her time at CBS “a privilege and joy,” but admitted the last few months have been “challenging.”
No kidding, Wendalah.
Trying to keep a straight face while navigating Paramount’s legal and political minefield must’ve been like juggling flaming torches on a unicycle with a flat tire. She didn’t mince words, saying, “It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward.” Translation: I’m outta here before this clusterfrack before it worse.
The drama doesn’t stop there. McMahon’s exit comes hot on the heels of her backing “60 Minutes” veteran Bill Owens, who stormed off last month in a hissy fit because he couldn’t steer the show’s direction.
And let’s not forget the cherry on this mess: Redstone publicly roasted CBS News last October after they slapped “CBS Mornings” anchor Tony Dokoupil on the wrist for daring to ask anti-Semite and fake race expert, Ta-Nehisi Coates some real questions about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
McMahon’s sticking around for a few weeks to hand over the keys to Tom Cibrowski, a 30-year ABC News vet, and Jennifer Mitchell, who wrangles CBS’ 27 owned stations across 17 markets. Good luck to them; they’re going to need it.
The drama doesn’t stop there. McMahon’s exit comes hot on the heels of her backing “60 Minutes” veteran Bill Owens, who stormed off last month in a hissy fit because he couldn’t steer the show’s direction.
Apparently, Paramount’s top dogs were sweating bullets over how the program was covering the Trump administration. Refusing to call him Hitler frequently enough to their satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Paramount’s big boss, Shari Redstone, is desperate to settle Trump’s lawsuit while begging his administration to green-light her plan to offload the company to Skydance. Talk about a tightrope walk.
And let’s not forget the cherry on this mess: Redstone publicly roasted CBS News last October after they slapped “CBS Mornings” anchor Tony Dokoupil on the wrist for daring to ask anti-Semite and fake race expert, Ta-Nehisi Coates some real questions about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
McMahon told Dokoupil he broke “the preproduction process where questions are run through Race and Culture and Standards and Practice.” Redstone wasn’t having it, calling the reprimand “a mistake” and adding, “I think we all agree that this was not handled correctly.”
When your boss’s boss is throwing shade like that, you know the writing’s on the wall.
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McMahon’s sticking around for a few weeks to hand over the keys to Tom Cibrowski, a 30-year ABC News vet, and Jennifer Mitchell, who wrangles CBS’ 27 owned stations across 17 markets. Good luck to them; they’re going to need it.
As for McMahon, she’s probably already sipping a margarita somewhere, far away from Paramount’s circus. Can’t say I blame her.
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