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Morley Safer has been reporting for "60 Minutes" for longer than most Americans have been alive — since 1970. He's filed 919 reports for the top-rated newsmagazine.
And he's been working for CBS News for more than half a century.
But he's decided to retire. And CBS will celebrate his career on Sunday at 7 p.m. with a special edition of "60 Minutes" titled "Morley Safer: A Reporter's Life."
"After more than 50 years of broadcasting on CBS News and '60 Minutes,' I have decided to retire," Safer said. "It's been a wonderful run, but the time has come to say goodbye to all of my friends at CBS and the dozens of people who kept me on the air. "But most of all, I thank the millions of people who have been loyal to our broadcast."
According to CBS, the hour-long special traces Safer's life, from his birth in Toronto to his rise in the '50s and '60s as a distinguished war reporter and then "60 Minutes" correspondent, whose inimitable style, wonderful writing and broad range captivated millions on the most successful broadcast in television history.
Safer speaks in interviews about some of the impactful work he is known for, namely his 1965 CBS News dispatch that changed war reporting when it showed Marines torching the homes of Vietnamese villagers and his "60 Minutes" investigation that freed Lenell Geter, a black man wrongly convicted and sentenced to life in prison in Texas.The hour recalls his classic profiles, including those of Jackie Gleason, Katharine Hepburn and Anna Wintour.
The program also features interviews with former NBC News Anchor Tom Brokaw, historian David McCullough and retired U.S. Brig. Gen. Joe Stringham, who commanded a Green Beret unit Safer accompanied into battle in Vietnam.
Viewers will get a look at the off-camera Morley Safer too, the man who could play a mean hand of poker, had artistic talent and loved driving a sports car at top speeds. Safer makes this surprising confession: "I really don't like being on television.... It makes me uneasy. It is not natural to be talking to a piece of machinery. But the money is very good."
Friday on TV ...
• "The Amazing Race" (7 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): The final three teams race from China to California, where one pair wins the $1 million.
• "The Vampire Diaries" (7 p.m., CW/Ch. 30): Bonnie's friends taking drastic measures to save her. (Season finale)
• "Hawaii Five-0" (8 and 9 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Five-0 gets trapped inside a dilapidated building where they're trying to protect a wounded Gabriel; McGarrett and Danny go undercover as drug pilots, and McGarrett is seriously wounded. (Season finale)
• "Grimm" (8 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Nick fears there's a chance he'll lose everything to Black Claw.
• "The Originals" (8 p.m., CW/Ch. 30): Freya receives new visions of the looming prophecy and learns her family is on a collision course with a dangerous new enemy.
• College softball (8 p.m., P12N): Utah at Oregon
• "Banshee" (8 and 11 p.m., Cinemax): Worried that Dawson's safety is threatened, Lucas and Brock to hunt down Bode.
Saturday on TV …
• MLS (6:30 p.m., KMYU): Real Salt Lake at Houston Dynamo
• "The Stanford Prison Experiment" (9 p.m., Showtime): Docudrama about a 1971 psychological experiment in which 24 Stanford undergrads role-played as prison guards and inmates.
• "Outlander" (10 p.m., Starz): Claire's medical knowledge is used to devise a plan to halt a deal that would fill the war chest.
• "Saturday Night Live" (10:30 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Drake is the host and the musical guest.
• "Party Over Here" (10:35 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): Skits include "Sorkin," ""Internet Safety Lesson," "Ad Stalker" and "Twitter Trash Talking."
Sunday on TV ...
• "60 Minutes" (6 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) That's followed by a second episode (7 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2), an hourlong tribute to the career of Morley Safer, who's retiring.
• "Once Upon a Time" (6 and 7 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): Regina grieves Robin Hood's death and Henry sets out to destroy all magic; Snow, David, Hook and Zelena are imprisoned. (Season finale)
• "Bordertown" (6 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): Janice maxes out her credit card iand takes a job as Ernesto's housekeeper to earn some extra cash.
• "Call the Midwife" (7 p.m., PBS/Ch. 7): The release of the contraceptive pill excites Dr. Turner, but Sister Julienne thinks it creates a moral dilemma.
• "The Simpsons" (7 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): Homer tries improv comedy; Marge rebuilds Bart's shoddy treehouse. And at the end of the episode, Homer answers questions from fans.
• "Bob's Burgers" (7:30 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): Finally getting to attend horse camp, Tina must part ways with her imaginary steed.
• "Undercover Boss" (8 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Hamburger Mary's Bar and Grille co-owners Ashley and Brandon Wright go undercover.
• "The Family" (8 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): Claire visits the underground bunker where Adam and Ben were kept; a phone call shatters Ben's world. (Series finale — the show has been canceled.)
• "Carmichael Show" (8 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Maxine's wealthy father arrives for her graduation.
• "Wallander on Masterpiece" (8 p.m., PBS/Ch. 7): Wallander searches for the missing daughter of a murdered woman.
• "Family Guy" (8 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): Chris is elected homecoming king, but the cool kids are setting up a prank.
• "Crowded" (8:30 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Stella, Shea and Martina assume Ethan is gay after they spot him at a male strip club.
• "The Last Man on Earth" (8:30 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): The entire group in Malibu is in for a big surprise. (Season finale)
• "Quantico" (9 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): We're supposed to find out who the terrorist is. (Season finale)
• "The Girlfriend Experience" (9, 11 and 11:30 p.m., Starz): Christine guards against any further intrusions by Jack.
• "Sister Wives" (9 p.m., TLC): An episode titled "Confessions and Polygamy Perks." Ugh.
• "Mr. Selfridge on Masterpiece" (9:30 p.m., PBS/Ch. 7): Jimmy and Mr. Crabb take a big risk.
• "Fear the Walking Dead" (10 p.m., AMC): Chris makes a decision that shakes the family.
• "Good Witch" (10 p.m., Hallmark): Cassie wrestles with her ambivalent feelings for Sam and John.
• "Game of Thrones" (10 p.m., HBO): Tyrion makes a deal; Theon tries to make amends; Jorah and Daario try to free Daenerys.
• "House of Lies" (10 p.m., Showtime): Marty's entrée into the black-hair market on behalf of a client hits a surprising snag.
• "Dice" (10:30 p.m., Showtime): Dice's place at the top of his crew being threatened when his old buddy Bobby the Mooch returns to town. (Season finale)
• "Silicon Valley" (11 p.m., HBO): Erlich has new competition; Monica stands her ground; Gavin reaches a decision about Nucleus.
• "Penny Dreadful" (11 p.m., Showtime): Vanessa is confronted by a familiar who reveals a clue to her past.
• "Veep" (11:30 p.m., HBO): Selina rushes to the hospital to see her mother.