Rooney had convinced CBS News he could write for television on any subject when he wrote his first television essay in 1964, an original genre he is credited with developing.

1964年，当他写出第一篇电视短评时，他说服CBS新闻相信他能够为电视节目写遍所有内容的话题；电视短评是他创生的一种全新体裁。