European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 27, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse And now for a few minutes with Andy Rooney by Brian Lewis staff writer new York a Andy Rooney started his lbs career with a remark that could have irritated no less a person than Arthur Godfrey. Instead Godfrey gave him a Job and Andy Rooney has been irritating a and amusing a people Ever since. Rooney met the late great radio personality in an elevator in 1949, when he was in new York doing free Lance work at lbs. Quot i suggested that i had heard him and he could use some Rooney said. Was Godfrey annoyed apparently not. Quot that show i started with and that s How Rooney started at lbs beginning a sometimes Stormy relationship that has lasted to the present Day. But though he Snow one of americans Best known humorists Rooney regards himself As a journalist first and a humorist second. And the controversial broadcaster of 60 minutes Fame prefers writing for print Over television. In addition to his weekly everyman stint on 60 minutes where he holds court on subjects such As crowded elevators and the Fine print in advertisements Quot i Don t know what it is about Nebraska but offers Are never Good writes a newspaper column carried by More than 250 newspapers. A i enjoy writing the column More than the television pieces Quot Rooney said in a recent interview at his office in Manhattan. Quot if you Are a writer i think you just naturally like seeing your words on that writing career he said was Given a big boost when he worked for the stars and stripes during world War ii. Quot i was not an experienced reporter just out of College. Most of the other Andy Rooney reporters were More experienced. It was like journalism school for Rooney wrote for Godfrey s daily radio show and two to programs Between 1949 and 1955 and later became a writer for lbs shows that featured Victor Barge Sam Levinson and Garry Moore. He went on to work with lbs news correspondent Harry Reasoner on specials such As an essay on Bridges an essay on chairs and the strange Case of the English language. Rooney s insightful scripts on things most of us take for granted earned him Praise. But one such show an essay on War led to a blowup with lbs which was reluctant to air the piece in 1971. Rooney eventually look it to Public television there he did the narration himself and took a major step toward becoming the television performer he is today. Despite the blowup he worked As a 60 minutes producer in the 1970s. But it Wasny to until 1978 that Don Hewitt executive producer of 60 minutes began using Rooney a essays with Rooney doing his own narration As a replace ment for the Point counterpoint segment that had previously been used to close 60 minutes. After 30 years in the business Andy Rooney was a fresh face on television his career with lbs has been difficult on both parties at times most recently when lbs sus Pended him earlier this year for remarks that it Felt were offensive to Blacks and Gays a huge Public outcry made lbs rethink the decision and brought Rooney Back on the air. Quot the suspension was an important event in my life Quot he said. Quot i was laced with the Prospect of being regarded As a racist bigot Quot but he believes much o the stirred up by the incident is behind him Quot i done to think there is any residual resentment left in the Black Community Quot he said of the incident Quot there prob ably still is in the Gay Community. I Lind that harder to deflect. I done to know what to say to them they be gotten a bad Deal in a lot of ways and i certainly never wanted to make it any More difficult Lor them Quot barring any future blowups Rooney said to expects to continue working at 60 minutes Quot As Long As i can. Until i die Quot he said the limitations of doing the Short pieces is not a problem for him and May even be a help. He quotes the composer Igor Stravinsky Quot Given an infinite number of possibilities i can do nothing Quot and says that he needs the restrictions of Lime and space the 60 minutes pieces arc shot in his Olf Ico and usually take about two hours Quot we usually shoot it twice once with a wide Angle and then in close up then the director makes whatever cuts or changes he needs sometimes they also do a shot Over my shoulder if there is a visual we Rooney does some of his work on an old Underwood typewriter but also has a personal com Puter for some of his writing. Quot i never thought i d go for these to said gesturing to the pc. Quot but Tor the in piece especially i find t get a lot cleaner copy with the typewriter i was always cutting and gluing things in Quot he offers a typical Rooney observation on the changes brought about by the computer Quot i use a lot less glue than i used to Quot sunday May 27. 1990 to plus c Page 3
