About
"I get mad almost every week and do a piece that I think is quite serious and profound and meet people on the street and they say, 'Yeah, you're really funny, we love all that stuff, we laugh.' So, there is something about my character that strikes people as funny, even when I'm serious."
In his twenty-minute interview for the American Comedy Archives at Emerson College, Andy Rooney (1919-2011) talks about the use of humor as a device when writing, as well as his writing process. He discusses having written for several television shows, including Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts and The Garry More Show. He speaks of the development of his “Andy Rooney” persona on 60 Minutes, and on the business aspect of writing. Rooney concludes with a summary of his career, and his opinion on the word “curmudgeon.” Bill Dana and Jenni Matz conducted the interview on October 19, 2005 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Andy Rooney on summing up his career
Andy Rooney on discovering the use of humor as a device when writing
Andy Rooney on the "Andy Rooney" persona he developed on 60 Minutes
Andy Rooney on writing for television shows, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Garry Moore Show
Andy Rooney on realizing that he was funny
Andy Rooney on his writing process
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On discovering the use of humor as a device when writing; on his process of writing; on writing for television shows, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Garry Moore Show
On realizing that he was funny; on the "Andy Rooney" persona he developed on 60 Minutes; on dealing with the business aspect of his job on 60 Minutes
On various aspects of using humor in his writing; on summing up his career; on the word "curmudgeon"
Shows
60 Minutes
Andy Rooney on the "Andy Rooney" persona he developed on 60 Minutes
Andy Rooney on dealing with the business aspect of his job on 60 Minutes
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Andy Rooney on writing for television shows, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Garry Moore Show
Garry Moore Show, The
Andy Rooney on writing for television shows, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Garry Moore Show
Professions
Writers
Andy Rooney on discovering the use of humor as a device when writing
Andy Rooney on his writing process
Andy Rooney on realizing that he was funny
Andy Rooney on various aspects of using humor in his writing
Genres
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Andy Rooney on writing for television shows, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Garry Moore Show
News and Documentary
Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes
Talk Shows
Andy Rooney on writing for television shows, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Garry Moore Show