Andy Rooney with Emerson College

Writer


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

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.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"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." 

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Highlights
Andy Rooney on summing up his career
01:40
Andy Rooney on discovering the use of humor as a device when writing
03:10
Andy Rooney on the "Andy Rooney" persona he developed on 60 Minutes
02:12
Andy Rooney on writing for television shows, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Garry Moore Show
01:52
Andy Rooney on realizing that he was funny
06:33
Andy Rooney on his writing process
03:44
Full Interview

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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

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Andy Rooney on the "Andy Rooney" persona he developed on 60 Minutes
02:12
Andy Rooney on dealing with the business aspect of his job on 60 Minutes
01:56

Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts

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Andy Rooney on writing for television shows, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Garry Moore Show
01:52

Garry Moore Show, The

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Andy Rooney on writing for television shows, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Garry Moore Show
01:52
Professions

Writers

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Andy Rooney on discovering the use of humor as a device when writing
03:10
Andy Rooney on his writing process
03:44
Andy Rooney on realizing that he was funny
06:33
Andy Rooney on various aspects of using humor in his writing
02:03
Genres

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Andy Rooney on writing for television shows, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Garry Moore Show
01:52

News and Documentary

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Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes
04:08

Talk Shows

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Andy Rooney on writing for television shows, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Garry Moore Show
01:52

All Interviews

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