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The Best Episodes of 60 Minutes Season 45

Every episode of 60 Minutes Season 45 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of 60 Minutes Season 45!

The Best Episodes of 60 Minutes Season 45

America's popular television News magazine in which an ever changing team of CBS News correspondents contribute segments ranging from hard news coverage to politics to...
  1. Background image for The Syrian Civil War; New Program in Texas for War Vets; Daniel Craig & Barbara Broccoli
    8.3/10(10 votes)

    #1 - The Syrian Civil War; New Program in Texas for War Vets; Daniel Craig & Barbara Broccoli

    S45:E3

    The impact the Syrian Civil War has on the country; A new program in Texas for veterans who have gotten in trouble with the law; Props & gadgets from James Bond films and interviews with actor Daniel Craig and producer Barbara Broccoli.

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  2. Background image for Free The Children; New York City Ballet; Dereck & Beverly Joubert
    7.8/10(8 votes)

    #2 - Free The Children; New York City Ballet; Dereck & Beverly Joubert

    S45:E9

    The organization Free the Children empowers kids to help others; the New York City Ballet; filmmakers Dereck & Beverly Joubert.

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  3. Background image for The Boston Bombings; Sniffing For Bombs; The 9/11 Museum
    7.8/10(9 votes)

    #3 - The Boston Bombings; Sniffing For Bombs; The 9/11 Museum

    S45:E27

    The inside story of the Boston Marathon bombing investigation: Scott Pelley interviews Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis. Lara Logan gets a rare look into the secretive world of these special dogs, some of whose capabilities are classified. Lesley Stahl gets the first in-depth look at the National September 11 Memorial Museum currently under construction seven stories below ground at ground zero, touring the massive space, getting a preview of its planned exhibits, and speaking to its director, president, and family members of victims who sit on its board.

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  4. Background image for Internet's Impact on the News and Print Media; David Kelley and his company, IDEO; the Barcelona soccer team's unique training system is spotlighted
    7.6/10(16 votes)

    #4 - Internet's Impact on the News and Print Media; David Kelley and his company, IDEO; the Barcelona soccer team's unique training system is spotlighted

    S45:E15

    Morley Safer explores the Internet's impact on newspapers and the print media; Charlie Rose profiles David Kelley and his company, IDEO, a creator of iconic products such as the computer mouse. Also: the Barcelona soccer team's unique training system is spotlighted.

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  5. Background image for Bionic limbs; Danish Spy; Judd Apatow
    7.5/10(9 votes)

    #5 - Bionic limbs; Danish Spy; Judd Apatow

    S45:E14

    How humans can move robotic limbs with their thoughts; a former Danish spy who claims to have played a role in the killing of an Al-Qaeda leader; filmmaker Judd Apatow.

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  6. Background image for Attack in Algeria; 40 Million Mistakes; Lincoln
    7.3/10(11 votes)

    #6 - Attack in Algeria; 40 Million Mistakes; Lincoln

    S45:E18

    Mark Cobb, Steve Wysocki and Nick Frazier, three of the five Americans who survived the al Qaeda attack on an Algerian natural gas facility that resulted in the deaths of 37 foreign workers, recount their ordeals for the first time to Charlie Rose. Howard L. Rosenberg and Julie Holstein are the producers. A Steve Kroft investigation looks into the accuracy of the credit reports that American consumers rely on for credit cards and loans. James Jacoby and Michael Karzis are the producers. 60 Minutes explores the character of Lincoln, the president and the man, as seen through the eyes of the team that made the 12-time Oscar nominated film "Lincoln": best director nominee Steven Spielberg, best actor nominee Daniel Day Lewis and the historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, on whose book the movie was based. Lesley Stahl reports. Ruth Streeter is the producer.

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  8. Background image for Chinese Telecom Giant Huawei; U.S. Eyeware Company Luxotyica; Singer Rodriguez
    6.7/10(10 votes)

    #7 - Chinese Telecom Giant Huawei; U.S. Eyeware Company Luxotyica; Singer Rodriguez

    S45:E2

    The potential risks of Huawei, a Chinese telecom giant; doing business with the U.S. eyewear company Luxottica; singer Rodriguez.

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  9. Background image for The Rescue of Jessica Buchanan; Succeeding As Civilians; Bill Gates 2.0
    6.0/10(10 votes)

    #8 - The Rescue of Jessica Buchanan; Succeeding As Civilians; Bill Gates 2.0

    S45:E30

    Scott Pelley interviews Jessica Buchanan, an American aid worker who was captured and held hostage for three months in Somalia before being rescued by Navy SEALs. Also: a look at a Syracuse University course designed to help disabled military veterans start their own businesses; a visit with Bill Gates.

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  10. Background image for Afghan President Hamid Karzai; US General John Allen; Arnold Schwarzenegger
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #9 - Afghan President Hamid Karzai; US General John Allen; Arnold Schwarzenegger

    S45:E1

    Afghan President Hamid Karzai and U.S. Marine General John Allen discuss the war with Laura Logan in Afghanistan; Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger talks about marital issues.

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  11. Background image for Medical Marijuana; Goldman Sachs Employee Greg Smith; Steven Spielberg
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #10 - Medical Marijuana; Goldman Sachs Employee Greg Smith; Steven Spielberg

    S45:E4

    Colorado's medical marijuana industry; former Goldman Sachs employee Greg Smith; director Steven Spielberg discusses his upcoming film, "Lincoln," and shares the first clips of the movie.

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  12. Background image for Jobs & the Economy in Asheboro, NC; Missing American Historical Treasures; Shahid Khan
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Jobs & the Economy in Asheboro, NC; Missing American Historical Treasures; Shahid Khan

    S45:E5

    Jobs and the economy in Asheboro, NC; American historical treasures that have gone missing; Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan.

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  13. Background image for Partisan U.S. Senate Gridlock; Historian David McCullough; Football Player Aaron Rodgers
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #12 - Partisan U.S. Senate Gridlock; Historian David McCullough; Football Player Aaron Rodgers

    S45:E6

    Current and former members of the U.S. Senate discuss the partisan gridlock; historian David McCullough; professional football player Aaron Rodgers.

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  14. Background image for Residents of Belle Harbor, NY; Manufacturers Looking for High-Tech Capable Employees; David McCullough
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Residents of Belle Harbor, NY; Manufacturers Looking for High-Tech Capable Employees; David McCullough

    S45:E7

    Residents of Belle Harbor, a shoreline neighborhood in New York, who were impacted by Hurricane Sandy; U.S. manufacturers looking for employees capable of operating high-tech machinery; historian David McCullough.

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  15. Background image for An Immigration & Customs Enforcement Investigation; Infant Morality; College Football Programs
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #14 - An Immigration & Customs Enforcement Investigation; Infant Morality; College Football Programs

    S45:E8

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement's three-year investigation into the largest drug trafficking cartel ever seen; morality in infants; college football programs.

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  16. Background image for Claims Against a Hospital Chain; Shin Dong Hyuk; Adventurers Bertrand Piccard & Abdre Borschberg
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #15 - Claims Against a Hospital Chain; Shin Dong Hyuk; Adventurers Bertrand Piccard & Abdre Borschberg

    S45:E10

    Claims a hospital chain pressured doctors to admit patients; Shin Dong Hyuk talks about his escape from a North Korean prison camp; adventurers Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg discusses their plan to fly a solar-powered plane around the world.

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  17. Background image for Individuals Confessing To Crimes They Did Not Commit; The Race to Save the Tortoise; Hugh Jackman
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Individuals Confessing To Crimes They Did Not Commit; The Race to Save the Tortoise; Hugh Jackman

    S45:E11

    Individuals confessing to crimes they did not commit; poachers sell endangered turtles and tortoises for large sums of money; actor Hugh Jackman discusses his childhood, his family, and his latest role in "Les Miserables."

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  18. Background image for Tragedy in Newton; Costa Concordia; The Vatican Library's treasures
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Tragedy in Newton; Costa Concordia; The Vatican Library's treasures

    S45:E12

    60 Minutes reports: Tragedy in Newtown Scott Pelley reports on the Newtown shooting and interviews a school nurse, a former classmate of the alleged gunman's, and former Secret Service members. Scott Pelley reports on the Newtown shooting and interviews a school nurse, a former classmate of the alleged gunman's, and former Secret Service members. Costa Concordia: Salvaging a shipwreck Eleven months after wrecking at sea, the Italian luxury liner awaits one of the most expensive and daunting salvage operations ever. Lesley Stahl reports. A rare look at the Vatican Library's treasures No one is allowed to borrow a book from the Vatican Library except the pope. And no wonder: the archive holds some of the oldest and most precious works of art and treasure known to man. Morley Safer and "60 Minutes" cameras get to see the best of the best.

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  19. Background image for The Year of Adele/Rodriguez/Taylor Swift
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #18 - The Year of Adele/Rodriguez/Taylor Swift

    S45:E13

    "The Year of Adele" rebroadcasts a profile and interview with the singer. "Rodriguez" rebroadcasts a profile and interview the famous singer and songwriter about the recent film about his life. "Taylor Swift" rebroadcasts a profile and interview with the young musician.

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  20. Background image for March of the Machines; Justice Sotomayor; Free Diving
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #19 - March of the Machines; Justice Sotomayor; Free Diving

    S45:E16

    Steve Kroft reports on technological advances, especially robotics, that are revolutionizing the workplace, but not necessarily creating jobs; In her first broadcast interview, Justice Sonia Sotomayor talks to Scott Pelley about her life and career leading up to her appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court, including the role affirmative action played; In a growing extreme sport in which divers reach great depths on one breath, records are being broken and doctors are increasingly surprised by feats never thought possible. Bob Simon reports.

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  21. Background image for The President and the Secretary of State; The Fall of Lance Armstrong
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    #20 - The President and the Secretary of State; The Fall of Lance Armstrong

    S45:E17

    President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton appear in their first joint interview when they speak together to Steve Kroft; He confessed to doping in an interview with Oprah Winfrey last week, but U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart, says the evidence proves Lance Armstrong withheld the truth and lied to Winfrey on key issues. Tygart tells Scott Pelley that if the disgraced cyclist wants his lifetime ban lifted, he will have to tell all.

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  22. Background image for Israel's Iron Dome; World's Largest Civilian Hospital Ship; Downton Abbey's Maggie Smith
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #21 - Israel's Iron Dome; World's Largest Civilian Hospital Ship; Downton Abbey's Maggie Smith

    S45:E19

    Bob Simon reports on Israel's "Iron Dome," a game-changing defense system that the Israeli Air Force says shot down 85 percent of the rockets its enemies fired into the country from nearby Gaza last November. The world's largest civilian hospital ship takes volunteer medical staff to the Third World where they have restored sight to thousands of people suffering from cataracts and returned smiles to victims of facial tumors and cleft palates. Scott Pelley reports. Steve Kroft profiles Downton Abbey's Maggie Smith, who, at 78, has reached new heights of stardom due to the popular PBS series.

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  23. Background image for The Life and Death of Clay Hunt; China's Real Estate Mogul; China's Real Estate Bubble
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #22 - The Life and Death of Clay Hunt; China's Real Estate Mogul; China's Real Estate Bubble

    S45:E20

    Byron Pitts reports on the suicide of Clay Hunt, a former marine combat veteran; Lesley Stahl profiles Chinese billionaire Zhang Xin, a leading real-estate developer in China. Also: an examination of China's economy and its troubled real-estate market.

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  24. Background image for Lethal Medicine; Sheryl Sandberg; God's Architect
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Lethal Medicine; Sheryl Sandberg; God's Architect

    S45:E21

    Scott Pelley investigates the deadly fungal meningitis outbreak that killed 48 people and sickened hundreds of others; Norah O'Donnell profiles Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg; Lara Logan reports on construction of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

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  25. Background image for Disillusionment Among Nuns in America; Twitter Creator Jack Dorsey; Former Hit Man Says He Has Found God
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Disillusionment Among Nuns in America; Twitter Creator Jack Dorsey; Former Hit Man Says He Has Found God

    S45:E22

    Bob Simon reports on how Pope Francis may address the disillusionment among American nuns; Lara Logan interviews Twitter creator Jack Dorsey; Byron Pitts profiles former Mafia hit man John Veasey, who claims he is now a born-again Christian.

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  26. Background image for Crackdown in Russia; Blindsided; The Nile Crocodile
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Crackdown in Russia; Blindsided; The Nile Crocodile

    S45:E23

    Lesley Stahl interviews a member of Russia's punk protest band Pussy Riot, about the group's anti-Putin demonstration that resulted in two members being imprisoned. Also: James Brown interviews NFL hopeful Brian Banks, who spent five years in prison for a rape he did not commit; and Anderson Cooper swims in the Nile with crocodiles.

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Season 45 Ratings Summary

"The Syrian Civil War; New Program in Texas for War Vets; Daniel Craig & Barbara Broccoli" is the best rated episode of "60 Minutes" season 45. It scored 8.3/10 based on 10 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 10/14/2012. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Free The Children; New York City Ballet; Dereck & Beverly Joubert".