TIME: Almanac 1993/TIME Almanac 1993.iso/time/031290/0312250.000

Text File | 1992-08-28 | 4KB | 87 lines

                                                                                VIDEO, Page 68

The Return of a Curmudgeon


Andy Rooney is back, but his boss's future is less certain


    Television is one of those peculiar in stitutions
(professional  sports is another) where the underlings often
wield more clout than their bosses. The faces onscreen, after
all, are what count for the audience, not the faceless
executives who ostensibly hire and fire them. David Burke,
president of CBS News, found that out the hard way, when he
suspended 60 Minutes commentator Andy Rooney last month for
allegedly making offensive remarks about blacks and
homosexuals. The uproar over the suspension was instant and
unrelenting. Thousands of complaints from viewers poured in to
CBS. Press critics chided the network for trampling on Rooney's
free-speech rights. CBS colleagues, most notably 60 Minutes
executive producer Don Hewitt, lobbied on Rooney's behalf.

    Last week the boss capitulated. With just three weeks of
the three-month suspension completed, Burke reinstated Rooney.
"Painful though these events have been," said Burke in a press
release, "we have all learned a great deal about how sensitive
and fragile our society is . . . how deeply people and groups
can be hurt if great care is not taken in conducting public
discourse." Rooney was back on the air Sunday night with a
comment about the controversy.

    Rooney's troubles stemmed from remarks attributed to him in a
gay magazine, The Advocate. He was quoted as saying that blacks
had "watered down their genes because the less intelligent ones
are the ones that have the most children." In a letter published
in the same issue, Rooney expressed his distaste for
homosexuality in blunt and ill-informed terms. Rooney denied
making the racist remarks. But insiders say it was the letter
-- which was sent without Burke's approval -- that was most
responsible for the suspension.

    The campaign for Rooney's reinstatement was fierce. Hewitt
even posted a memo at CBS headquarters blaming a dip in 60
Minutes' ratings on Rooney's absence. A much more important
factor: last week ABC scheduled the hit show America's Funniest
Home Videos opposite it. Though Burke did not elaborate on the
reasons for his change of heart, Rooney was quick to attribute
it to "the preponderance of public opinion." Says he: "It took a
lot of courage to do what [Burke's] done."

    Burke may need more than courage to survive in his
increasingly hazardous job. Rumors swirled last week that the
CBS News chief, who was named to the position in August 1988
after eleven years at ABC, was about to resign. In the corridors
of CBS News, Burke was criticized not only for his handling of
the Rooney affair but also for his aloof and uncommunicative
management style. (Burke, head of one of the nation's leading
news organizations, routinely turns down all press interviews.)
He is also under pressure to reverse the ratings slide of the
CBS Evening News. Yet CBS sources last week discounted reports
that Burke's job was in jeopardy. CBS Broadcast Group chief
Howard Stringer praised Burke for dealing with "a delicate and
complicated issue with thoughtfulness and strength. He has my
and this company's full support."

    Amid all the ruckus, Rooney should be happy to return to
his weekly musings on trivia like junk mail and vacuum
cleaners. And how contrite is the curmudgeonly commentator? "I'm
furious about the race issue," he says. "As for homosexual
insensitivity, I suspect I'm guilty." His reinstatement proved
at least two things. Insensitivity to homosexuals is a
pardonable offense, even at the skittish networks. And TV
executives should think twice before tangling with a star.


By Richard Zoglin. Reported by Leslie Whitaker/New York.