Andy Rooney’s been offering his perspective on CBS’ 60 Minutes for thirty-three years. This Sunday night’s episode will mark the man’s final (regular) appearance on the series. CBS announced the news today, stating that after 1097 original essays for the weekly series, Rooney is stepping down from his role on the show.
As posted on CBS’ news website, stating that Rooney, 92, has been appearing on 60 Minutes since 1978. However, his career with CBS goes back to 1949 when he wrote for Arthu Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, which at the time, was on the network and radio. His career includes a number of other writing credits in the years that followed.
"There's nobody like Andy and there never will be. He'll hate hearing this, but he's an American original," said Jeff Fager, chairman CBS News and the executive producer of 60 Minutes. "His contributions to "60 Minutes" are immeasurable; he's also a great friend. It's harder for him to do it every week, but he will always have the ability to speak his mind on "60 Minutes" when the urge hits him."
Despite his age, given how long he's been on the air, it's somewhat surprising that he's choosing to step down and very difficult to picture 60 Minutes without Rooney. It's also highly likely that many people will miss Andy’s take on things each week. Fans of the show and Rooney should appreciate his send-off this Sunday night on CBS. The episode is set to feature a segment that looks back on the man's career, including an interview with Morley Safer.
