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TagsBY BOB HOLT
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
A lot of “60 Minutes” fans have missed a familiar, yet cranky face in recent weeks; that of Andy Rooney. CBS has been getting calls about the whereabouts of Rooney and his curmudgeonly commentaries, for which he has won three Emmys.
Rooney's appearances on “60 Minutes” have been rare as of late due to illness, being bumped by major news stories and sensitive topics he would rather not discuss.
"It's realistic to say he's slowing down," said Susie Bieber, Rooney’s “60 Minutes” producer, according to timesunion.com. "People call and ask why he's not on every week and I say, I don't know of anyone else who's doing what he's doing at 92."
Bieber said they will be taping a Rooney commentaries every week, without any guarantees they will air. She said that she doesn’t feel that CBS is ready to put Rooney on the sidelines just yet.
"He doesn't want to quit. He doesn't know what he would do with himself," said Stacy Deibler, Rooney's column editor for Tribune Media Services for over 15 years.
Rooney said to TV Newser, “I will work until I drop, or until I lose my head. Until somebody tells me different, I’m not going to quit.”
He has been a correspondent for CBS, a writer and producer, and he has won best script of the year honors a record six times by the Writers Guild.
Biography.com reports Rooney was suspended in 1990 for saying that too much alcohol, food, drugs, cigarettes and homosexual unions lead to an early death. His suspension was cut short after 60 Minutes' ratings fell 20 percent.
Rooney lost his wife of 62 years, Marguerite, to heart failure. The Rooneys have four children, two of whom made careers in TV. Rooney also has two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Rooney has stated in the past, "It seems to me that grandfathers are a lot younger than they used to be before I got to be one.”
Rooney joined CBS in 1949 as a writer for “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts.” He is in his 34th season on “60 Minutes.”
He last appeared on the program on March 27.
