why doesn`t somebody flush that boring old geezer, rooney, down the toilet immediately. at least - take him off the screen. even here in norway that grumpy old witch shows up every week creating a fucked up, bad atmosphere.

I listened to Andy tonight -And he spoke about my favorite President- King George II and his thoughts on why are we still in Iraq. Mr. Rooney should be given a Pulitzer Prize or something for that. He is my favorite curmurgeon, outside of myself. The Peace Of The Lord Be With Him- John

Am I the only one that read "If you don't believe me, do yourself a favor and track down the Ali G interview with him." and thought "What the...?" I am not an Ali G fan, simply because it's just a guy playing a really annoying character and I think it's kind of a cop out to do an interview while in character. But I guess that also shows that like Akber said "You either get him and think he is funny and witty... or you think he isnt." Apparently mike doesn't get it. As a fan of Mr. Rooney, I find that quite sad.

I've always thought Andy Rooney was brilliant. If he's an "acquired" taste then I must have acquired it it instantly, before I was aware of it. Not like black olives, for example, which were something I started out disliking but gradually came to love.

One thing usually left off Rooney's credits are his collaborations with the humorist/performer Marshall Effron doing segments for a PBS show called The Great American Dream Machine back in the early Seventies -- Rooney and Effron skewered modern advertising and consumer culture in a bunch of satirical sketches well before Saturday Night Live came along. Since it's unlikely this show or these sketches will ever resurface, you'll just have to take my word that these were hilarious bits. So in addition to his journalistic resume, Rooney has genuine comedy writing experience under his belt.

Imagine calling a commentator who discusses in plain language the sort of everyday things that ordinary people think about as "elitist" when it seems the polar opposite of elitism. People who use the word "elitist" as an all-purpose put-down only reveal themselves as desperately afraid that someone, somewhere might actually be smarter than they are. How dare intelligent people talk intelligently! How dare anyone think his taste is better than mine! That's so elitist!

Wow - an Ali G interview with Andy Rooney. I'm sure that will set it all straight! I've been reading him for years; he is very sarcastically funny. Realize it's not exactly jackass material, but what can you do.

Andy is an aquired taste. You either get him and think he is funny and witty (and I agree his actual writing is leaps and bounds above his 60 minute cranky old man spots) or you think he isnt.

There is no defense possible for Andy Rooney.

He's an out of touch, elitist crumudgeon. Why is he still on 60 minutes?

If you don't believe me, do yourself a favor and track down the Ali G interview with him.

And where is Joe Piscopo now?