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Video: <em>60 Minutes</em>' Andy Rooney Says Good Bye
By
Garth Johnston
Published Oct 3, 2011
Modified Oct 3, 2011
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CBS
By
Garth Johnston
Published Oct 3, 2011
Modified Oct 3, 2011
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Last night was the end of an era for television news magazines. As had been previously announced CBS staple 60 Minutes aired its final regular opinion piece by the man who is arguably our nation's greatest curmudgeon, Andy Rooney. Aired along with a loving sendoff and retrospective interview conducted by Morley Safer, the 92-year-old Rooney's last report from his (sadly clean) desk wasn't too different from the pieces he has been doing seemingly since the dawn of television. Which is to say, please for goodness sake if you see the man eating in a restaurant let him be!
Like most things to do with Rooney, you either watched his final segment (his 1097th!) and the interview that preceded it nodding knowingly (man was totally right right about those irritating cotton balls they used to put in pill bottles! And dogs are nicer than people!) or cheering that this was the last time you'd have to watch him peevishly state the obvious on national television. But, as he says in his final go round, that was sort of the point. He wasn't trying to break new ground:
People have often told me I said the things they are thinking themselves. I probably haven't said anything here that you didn't already know or have already thought. That's what a writer does. There aren't too many original thoughts in the world.
A writers' job is to tell the truth. I believe that if all the truth were known about everything in the world it would be a better place to live. I know I've been terribly wrong sometimes, but I think I've been right more than I've been wrong.
Mr. Rooney, we salute you! May 60 Minutes still find a way to slip you on the airwaves now and then. In the meantime, we promise not to bother you if we see you dining.
Here's Rooney's last segment:
And, for good measure, here's his interview with Safer:
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60 minutes
andy rooney
cbs
curmudgeon
Garth Johnston
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