Not That You Asked...

Before the homespun/off-kilter "Observational" style seemed to reach a peek with Seinfeld, "The View", "The Savage Nation", Andy Rooney was poundin' that IBM Selectric, producing some tasty journalistic tidbits for us folks out there in the masses dreading another working week coming up in about 10 hours. His writing style is original; his phraseology is timed with the precision of a great vaudeville monologist like a Jack Benny or George Burns. But that was before "Political" humour really took over. So, in a way, Rooney a kind of kinder-gentler, TV General Audience Lenny Bruce for the '80s. Or a later day kinescopic Will Rogers? This book is crammed with the kind of quotable quotes which come from an American *original* and which sustain us on that miserable Monday at work (following a 40 minute late arrival at work, greeted by that glaring, knowing nod from the creature at the end of the hallway who decides folks' employability). As a Period piece, Not That You Asked has its' share of dated bits and pieces: how come the bride gets the newspaper coverage, not the groom? (Not that there's anything wrong with it) but what guy wants his kisser out there?. I daresay Rooney would be the last - although apparently he agreed to have his visage on the cover of this book; he also asks the question, is the Creator of the Cosmos a member of the Republican Party? By now, after watching "Hannity & Colmes" at least once, a reader might say, that question is a tad tired. (Although, the Creator can do anything He/She wants). Another slightly played-out theme is Where I would take Gorbachev if I had the chance to hang out with him for 24 hours? - I'd show him all the Culture and History that goes with Freedom. Well, of course, these writings came before the Wall came down, and the Internet went up.