60 Minutes Season 39 Episode 26 The Killings in Haditha, Simon Cowell
- March 18, 2007
The 26th episode of the 39th season of 60 Minutes examines two different stories. The first segment focuses on the 2005 incident in Haditha, Iraq, where a group of US Marines executed 24 Iraqi civilians in a rampage after losing a fellow Marine to a roadside bomb. The episode reports on the aftermath of the incident, as well as the trial and the subsequent investigation by the media and the government. The episode interviews the Marines who survived the attack and the family members of the victims, as well as the lawyers and the government officials involved in the investigation. Through their interviews, the episode explores the challenges of investigating such incidents, the military code of ethics, and the impact of the incident on the Iraq war and the US's relationship with Iraq.
The second segment of the episode features an interview with Simon Cowell, the creator and producer of popular TV shows such as American Idol and The X Factor. The episode explores Cowell's early life, his rise to fame as a music mogul, and his experiences working on TV shows that shaped the pop culture of the 2000s. The interview delves into Cowell's opinions on the state of the music and entertainment industries and how he has adapted to changes in technology and consumer preferences. The episode also touches on Cowell's charitable work and his personal life.
Overall, season 39 episode 26 of 60 Minutes offers an in-depth look at two very different topics: a tragic incident of war and its aftermath, and the life and work of a pop culture icon. The juxtaposition of the two stories highlights the breadth and diversity of the show's coverage and its capacity to engage with issues that matter to its viewers.