Andy Rooney retires from ‘60 minutes’
An everlasting “60 minutes” contributor is announced to leave the show on next Sunday’s transmission: Andy Rooney. After producing 1,096 essays for the program, Rooney will produce his last one before he is officially out of the picture. Today at 92 years of age, Rooney has been part of ‘60 Minutes’ since 1978. Before he pays his last respects to the show, Rooney will watch his contribution to the program during a segment picturing his career.
Eternal Gratitude
Departures usually come together with recognitions, honors, and sometimes criticisms. As far as CBS News and “60 Minutes” executive producer, Jeff Fager, is concerned, “there’s nobody like Andy and there never will be.” Also, Fager aknowledges that it has been harder for Rooney to keep up with his regular contribution on a weekly basis, but he will always be welcome to speak whenever he feels up to it.
On Rooney’s first appearance at a ‘60 Minutes’ essay, he talked about misleading reporting of automobile fatalities. Back then, Rooney explained that the safest way of going anywhere during the Independence Day Weekend was by car. That same fall was when Rooney earned his place as a regular and his participation was once named “A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney.”
Pros And Cons
While some believe they will miss Rooney’s part in ‘60 Minutes’, others say that it is about time he left the job. However, one of the most credible arguments against his retirement is: who will replace Rooney? When that comes to mind, it seems difficult to be convinced that Rooney will have a major personality filling his shoes. Having that said, pro-Rooney’s state that it is a matter of weeks until people beg for his re-hirement.
Another point of view reminds us that Rooney has the advantage of being a person who has lived through generations. Even though his age is one of the reasons to believe that he needs to leave his job, Rooney has the ability to compare and to provide knowledge that most people nowadays cannot anymore. In that sense, Rooney’s memory might not be in use as the best way it probably could.