Op-Ed: Obits for Andy Rooney...and a Kardashian Marriage

60 Minutes' resident kvetch Andy Rooney died on Friday. He was 92 and worked right up until the end. He had one of the best and longest running jobs on television - or anywhere. He  got paid for being perpetually perturbed, and he complained about almost everything.   

Paid for being cranky? I'm actually qualified for this - sign me up! Though no one can ever fill his shoes, a hormonal woman could certainly try. 

In a way, Rooney was like NBC's much more affable, Willard Scott. Perhaps passed his prime - OK, yes, prime was a while ago - and you tended not to really pay attention during his segments, but surprisingly, you really miss him when he's not on television anymore.   

Next week, try to actually watch one of those "Happy Smucker's Birthday" shout outs. You'll be sad when they're gone.  

Rooney began as a 60 Minutes commentator in 1978. He was also a writer for celebrities like Arthur Godfrey.  A journalist, he wrote for Stars and Stripes while serving in the Army. Also an author, he wrote several books and as a newspaper columnist, he had a syndicated column for 30 years.  Sunday nights will never be the same.  

As Andy Rooney is not one to quietly fade away, I imagine he's probably complaining right now to Steve Jobs about the iPhone 4S. Run Steve, run.

If Andy Rooney were still here, I think he could have had some keen observations to make about Kim Kardashian's 15 Minutes of Fame - like, "Are they over yet?"

We've all heard that Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries' magical marriage is o-v-e-r.  Who's surprised?  Apparently, the groom.  He says he was blindsided and he still loves his wife. He wants to work on the marriage and remains committed to Kim. Unfortunately, Kardashian says that she gave it her all, for all of 72 days. 

To put this into perspective, two days ago, I threw out an expired yogurt that had been in the back of my refrigerator since August, before the "fairy tale" wedding.

Some have leveled accusations that the wedding was nothing more than a lucrative, elaborate and intricately choreographed media stunt that the couple did for money.

Kris Jenner, Kardashian's mom, was on television this week as she is very coincidentally promoting her own new book. On NBC's "Today Show," she claimed that the couple really didn't profit much at all. Jenner said that most of the money they were paid went to cover the cost of the wedding. Yeah, OK, want to buy a bridge? 

The ring - oh, that bling. On the television show, "Keeping Up With The Kardashians,"  Kim's engagement ring was delivered by armored car because it was valued at a whopping $2 million. It was a big part of one of the episodes and the pricetag, $2 million, was repeatedly bandied about the show.

This week, when asked if Kim was going to give back the ring, Mama Jenner said that she thought Kim was going to keep the ring. Big surprise. Jenner said that the ring was of great sentimental value to Kim - and the groom wasn't???   She also said that the 20 carat diamond wasn't worth the reported $2 million they kept saying it was worth on the show.   

If Andy Rooney were here, I think he'd have a lot of questions: Do Kardashians have any klass? Was this all a big hoax? Does anyone kare?  Does this kancel out a potential Kardashian Kristmas Special?  One kan only hope. 

Rest in peace, Andy Rooney. Wish you were here to put things in perspective.