SOCIAL ISSUES

 

Andy Rooney: Mel Gibson a 'nut case'
Satirical monologue suggests 'wacko' filmmaker motivated by greed
 

In his regular "60 Minutes" monologue last night, veteran CBS news correspondent Andy Rooney used a satirical "conversation with God" to assert actor and filmmaker Mel Gibson is a "nut case" and "wacko" seeking to enrich himself off the crucifixion of Christ.

Andy Roon

Playing off of how television evangelist Pat Robertson "heard from God" about the outcome of the 2004 presidential election, Rooney said he had heard from the Almighty recently as well. Rooney said the divine "conversation" went like this: 'Andrew, you have the eyes and ears of a lot of people. I wish you'd tell your viewers that both Pat Robertson and Mel Gibson strike me as wackos. I believe that's one of your current words. They're crazy as bedbugs, another earthly expression. I created bedbugs. I'll tell you, they're no crazier than people,' said God." Referring to Gibson's ABC News interview Feb. 16, God "told" Rooney: "As far as Mel Gibson goes, I haven't seen his movie, 'The Passion of the Christ,' because it hasn't opened up here yet. But I did catch Gibson being interviewed by Diane Sawyer. I did something right when I came up with her, didn't I,' added God. 'Anyway, as I was saying, Mel is a real nut case. What in the world was I thinking when I created him? Listen, we all make mistakes.'Rooney said that was about it as far as the conversation went, "because I'm sure God has a lot more important things to do than talk to someone on television." Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," focused on the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus, opens Wednesday amid wide acclaim by Protestant and Catholic leaders and fierce criticism from some who believe it could provoke anti-Semitism. Rooney opened the monologue stating: "It doesn't seem right, but religion has been in the news a lot recently." In conclusion, Rooney said he had something to ask the filmmaker: "My question to Mel Gibson is: 'How many million dollars does it look as if you're going to make off the crucifixion of Christ?'" Analysts predict Gibson will quickly make back the approximately $30 million he personally invested in the film, but when he first broached the idea, Hollywood thought it was a sure loser, and no distributor wanted to touch it. -WNDailyNews.