confessions

60 Minutes Is Probably a Little Sorry for Being So Tough on Lance Armstrong

SACRAMENTO, CA - MAY 14: Lance Armstrong of Team Radio Shack addresses the media during a press conference prior to the 2010 Tour of California at the Sacramento Convention Center on May 14, 2010 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lance Armstrong
TENERIFE, SPAIN - DECEMBER 05: Lance Armstrong of the USA stops during a training ride at a Team Astana Training Camp at the Hotel Las Madrigueras on December 5, 2008 in Playa de las Americas, Tenerife. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lance Armstrong Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

As international TV crews descend upon Lance Armstrong’s leafy Austin neighborhood in anticipation of his Monday chat with the Queen of Daytime, 60 Minutes executive producer Jeff Fager told an audience in LA that, “We wanted the Lance Armstrong interview badly, [but] he chose to go with Oprah.” Of course, the rejection probably wasn’t a major surprise, given the investigative news show’s “rigorous” treatment of Armstrong’s steroid scandal last summer. (Hey, sometimes you have to do your job.) Meanwhile, Armstrong, who was reportedly planning on keeping his televised confession “limited,” has now promised the AP that he’s “ready to speak candidly” with Oprah. “I hope we’ll talk for a couple of hours,”  he added.

CBS Probably Sorry for Being Tough on Armstrong