THR's 35 Most Powerful People in Media

Few television hosts can claim to have interviewed the sheer volume of personalities that Rose, 70, has during more than 20 years on his PBS program.

Always at the nexus of culture, politics and science, the show’s utilitarian oak table continues to be a destination for everyone from Hollywood celebrities (Brad Pitt, 10 appearances; Angelina Jolie, eight; George Clooney, 16) to world leaders (Benjamin Netanyahu, 12; Bill and Hillary Clinton, six each; Barack Obama, four appearances before he was elected president).

PHOTOS: THR's 35 Most Powerful People in Media

Rose has appeared as himself in numerous films and TV shows including Primary Colors, The Ides of March and The Simpsons. In 2009, when MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann and Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly were engaged in bitter on-air flame- throwing, Rose helped to broker a detente, encouraging execu- tives at the companies to bury the hatchet.

Since January, Rose has been leveraging his con- nections for CBS This Morning, where news, original reporting and smart conversation are being stressed to differentiate it among the morning shows. “It has come a long way in a short amount of time,” says Rose. “We’re getting there.” As if two daily broadcasts weren’t enough, in February, Rose added co-host — with Lara Logan — of Person to Person to his résumé.

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He still manages to maintain a robust social life that includes jetting to Italy to play basketball with Clooney at his Lake Como villa. “He beat me last summer,” he says. “And I’ve been practicing my fade-away jump shot.”