Sunday’s episode of 60 Minutes saw Anderson Cooper sign off from the news magazine after 20 years.
During the Overtime portion of 60 Minutes, Cooper reflected on his time at the CBS News program, calling it a “hell of a ride.” The segment looked back at the numerous stories he filed for the program, with Cooper providing additional context.
In February, Cooper announced he would be leaving the long-running program, saying he wanted to spend more time with his growing children.
CBS News at the time acknowledged Cooper’s departure, releasing a statement that said, “We’re grateful to him for dedicating so much of his life to this broadcast, and understand the importance of spending more time with family. 60 Minutes will be here if he ever wants to return.”
Cooper joined 60 Minutes in 2006 with the arrangement for him to contribute as many as five reports a year. His first report for 60 Minutes in December 2006 was on Joe Darby, the man who gave authorities pictures of U.S. soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison.
Cooper’s final 60 Minutes piece was about the clash between technology and the taxi industry. He reported on how London cab drivers aren’t easily being driven off the road by big tech.
During his closing remarks, Cooper also vouched for the long-running program, saying he hopes it “remains 60 Minutes,” indirectly referencing the potential changes the program may undergo under the guise of CBS News’ editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.
“There are very few things that have been around for as long as 60 Minutes has and maintained the quality that it has,” Cooper said. He added, “Things can always evolve and change, and I think that’s awesome, and things should evolve and change, but I would hope the core of what 60 Minutes is always remains.”
In the 60 Minutes Overtime piece, Cooper went on to say that maintaining 60 Minutes’ independence is “critical” and that the “trust it has with viewers is critical to the success of the show.
The segment closed with Cooper talking about what it was like recording the “I am Anderson Cooper” intro that appears at the start of the program. He said recording those intros was “weird” and that Mike Wallace made fun of him when he did his first “I am’s.”
The show ended with a behind-the-scenes look at Cooper doing his final “I am Anderson Cooper” takes, with Cooper getting emotional over the process.
In a heartfelt sign-off, Anderson Cooper reflects on the stories, risks, adventures, and human connections that defined his two decades with television’s most iconic newsmagazine. https://t.co/bbRt5TYrmd pic.twitter.com/ZTUX0clIil
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) May 18, 2026
