Saying farewell to the extraordinary Mike Wallace

And 30 years later, Mike went back to My Lai with Hugh Thompson and Larry Colburn, the two soldiers who put a stop to the massacre.

[Mike Wallace: She wants to meet Mister Thompson. Well, here is Mr. Thompson.]

Mike Wallace: And it was such a moving experience...to see the people who had heard about them.

Mike Wallace: Astonishing what you learn and feel and see along the way. A reporter's job as you know is such a joy.

When you think of Mike, you might think of him barging in on bureaucrats and bad guys, loaded for bear. But over the years some of his most memorable interviews were with entertainers. It was just a couple of years ago we sat down with Mike to screen some of his greatest show biz hits, beginning with an example of almost every interviewer's nightmare: a performer so quick and so funny that right from the start, you're not sure who's interviewing whom. In this case, it's Mike and Mel Brooks.

[Mike Wallace: Tell me something. The show -

Mel Brooks: Is that a $100 watch? Let me see that watch.

Mike Walace: It's about a $40 watch.

Mel Brooks: It's a beautiful watch.

Mike Wallace: Isn't it? It's a $40 watch.

Mel Brooks: Really?

Mike Wallace: Yeah. Lights up in the dark.

Mel Brooks: What a cheap son of a bitch you are.

Mike Wallace: You got that right. You're a great judge of character.

Mel Brooks: Yeah.

Mike Wallace: Tell me this -

Mel Brooks: What did you pay for your jacket?

Mike Wallace: I don't know. This, this is hopsack.

Mel Brooks: Hopsack is like fancy burlap. Right?

Mike Wallace: That's exactly right. That's exactly right.

Mel Brooks: It's like burlap shrunk down. Do you know that six months ago that, your jacket carried coffee beans? Do you realize that? Wait a minute. It reeks of Colombian coffee, I gotta tell you.

Lesley Stahl: He's completely hijacked your interview. Clearly.

Mike Wallace: Good. That's not hijacking an interview.

Lesley Stahl: You didn't think, oh my god, I'm out of control here?

Mike Wallace: Oh, not for an instant. I was grateful to him for what he was doing.

[Mel Brooks: Make a noise! ]

Over the years he has matched wits with the best that Broadway, Hollywood and the music world have to offer. Long-hairs from Leonard Bernstein to Luciano Pavarotti and divas of all stripes, from Janis Joplin to Julie Andrews to Oprah.

[Mike Wallace: God.

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[allthatisnecessary]

Really found your recent airing of the Mike Wallace tribute highly offensive. I found your failure to censor his blasphemous language extremely insensitive. If you can mask racial and sexual orientation slurs, (as you should), certainly you could do the same for those us who find the use of this type of language disgusting, nauseating and absolutely reprehensible.

[Htos1]

Why is this still on the front page?

[sixshtr56]

I just watched your episode reflecting back on Mike Wallace's life and career. I don't think it was necessary for the producers to allow the language ( G-D ) to be heard. It should have been bleeped, it just wasn't necessary and I don't appreciate it. I'm a Christian and find it very offensive. You should be as sensitive to Christians as you are to atheist, the Jewish community, Muslims or any other religion.

[RocDoc86]

Will you talking heads PLEASE stop try to glorify each other. You are talking heads - very over paid for what you - which none of you do honestly & unobjectively - compaired to our killed & wounded warriors you are nothing - but you sure don't talk about them alot - when one of you dies - how about just announce it - read the obit - move on - believe me - the only people that really give a crap you of you has died is you people - don't waste a lot of air time on it PLEASE - Mike Wallace died - Rest In Peace - Move ON!- get over yourselves!