Betty White Having the Best Week (Heck, Month) Ever

By Gary Susman Posted Feb 12th 2010 11:01AM

It's no exaggeration to say that the most popular woman in America right now is Betty White.

The biggest TV audience of all time saw the 88-year-old get tackled in a Snickers ad during the Super Bowl, a commercial that was the viewers' favorite among all of Sunday's much-discussed ads, according to USA Today's Ad Meter. The octogenarian also became the queen of Facebook thanks to an online petition drive, nearly 200,000 fans strong, to convince the producers of 'Saturday Night Live' to let her host the comedy show. (Get full details on the Facebook campaign.)

In short, this has been the best week ever for the TV legend. In fact, it may even be her best month ever, if you extend the 'Golden Girl's' golden moment back to January 23, when she picked up a Life Achievement Award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and gave a hilarious acceptance speech that brought down the house.

You could call it a comeback, except that White's never gone away. She's worked steadily throughout a seven-decade career that's earned her six Emmys and has included countless appearances in TV comedies, game shows and movies. Still, we have to ask: what's behind her current heat? Here are some theories:

► Everyone likes an old broad with a dirty mouth. There's no more reliable laugh-getter in comedy than a filthy-minded old lady. White's been happy to fill that bill for a long time. Her standard answer to the question "What would you still like to do in show business that you haven't done?" is "Robert Redford." The contrast between her sweet appearance and her sometimes shocking utterances is one that she's milked for laughs for decades, from her man-eating "Happy Homemaker" Sue Ann Nivens on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' to naive but still sexually active Rose Nylund on 'The Golden Girls' to last year's 'The Proposal,' where her dear old granny character got lots of laughs for feeling up Sandra Bullock.

► She loves animals. White's four decades of animal-welfare activism are well known. She's a longtime spokesperson for the Morris Animal Foundation and a veteran supporter of the Los Angeles Zoo. Not that she's humorless about her advocacy -- she spoofed her rep in 'Lake Placid,' where her character happily let hapless humans get eaten by a giant crocodile rather than let the carnivorous creature be captured or killed.

► She'll do anything for a laugh. Whether it's getting tackled in the mud in order to sell candy bars or playing beer pong with Jimmy Fallon on 'Late Night,' she's game -- literally: White was a regular on classic game shows like 'Match Game,' 'Pyramid' and 'Password,' which was hosted by her late husband, Allen Ludden. She played a bigot in 'Bringing Down the House,' a blackmailer on 'Boston Legal' and Betty Suarez (i.e. 'Ugly Betty') on the TV Land Awards. She's a frequent guest on 'The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,' where she's appeared as a Girl Scout, a cocaine-smuggling accountant and a prison guard. Ferguson knows he can call on her any time (the way David Letterman used to depend on Tony Randall) to fill a slack segment on his show with dependable laughs.

► She appeals to all ages. If you're a kid, you love Betty White because you know her her work on 'Glenn Martin, DDS.' If you're older, you love her for 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show,' 'Mama's Family' and 'The Golden Girls.' In fact, even if you're under 40, you know her from 'Golden Girls,' since the 1985-92 comedy is still airing in perpetual syndication in 49 countries.

► She has a tireless work ethic. Why is she so busy? Talking to George Lopez during a recent appearance on 'Lopez Tonight,' she explained, "I'm such a whore. I can't say no." Already this year, she's booked for a TV Land sitcom pilot called "Hot in Cleveland" and a movie comedy with Kristen Bell called 'You Again,' due in September. In her SAG Awards acceptance speech, White said, "You still can't get rid of me. I was only 88 last Sunday, so I've got lots more stuff to do."

About the only thing she hasn't ever done, besides Redford, is host 'SNL.' If hired, she'd be the oldest host in the show's history, though not the first octogenarian. Twice in 1977, the series had an 80-year-old host: 'Rosemary's Baby' star Ruth Gordon and Miskel Spillman, winner of 'SNL''s first and last 'Anyone Can Host' contest.

So far, there's been no comment from NBC on whether it's taking any note of the Facebook petition, nor from White on whether she's even interested. (Like she'd really say no. As she told Lopez...) Maybe her beer pong buddy Fallon can broker the deal, since his 'Late Night' boss is also 'SNL' honcho Lorne Michaels. So, keep your fingers crossed, Betty White fans. Which is to say, everybody.

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Betty White Snapshots

Yes folks, you're looking at a paparazzo-snapped photo of Betty White. The 88-year-old TV legend was spotted leaving a chocolate store on Feb. 9 in Los Angeles. Check out more pics Betty >>

BuzzFoto/BuzzFoto/FilmMagic.com

FilmMagic.com

Betty White Snapshots

Betty White leaves Madame Chocolat on February 09, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles - February 9, 2010 Los Angeles, CA United States February 9, 2010 Photo by BuzzFoto/BuzzFoto/FilmMagic.com To license this image (59533455), contact FilmMagic.com

Betty White Snapshots

This image provided by Snickers shows part of a television ad featuring actress Betty White scheduled to air during the 2010 Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Snickers) NO SALES

Betty White Snapshots

Actress Betty White will appear in a Snickers commercial during the Super Bowl broadcast. (MCT)

Betty White Snapshots

Actress Betty White will appear in a Snickers commercial during the Super Bowl broadcast. (MCT)

Betty White Snapshots

Actress Betty White will appear in a Snickers commercial during the Super Bowl broadcast. (MCT)

Betty White Snapshots

Actress Betty White poses in the press room at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 23, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards - Press Room The Shrine Auditorium Los Angeles, CA United States January 23, 2010 Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.com To license this image (17135508), contact WireImage.com

Betty White Snapshots

Actress Betty White arrive at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 23, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards - Arrivals The Shrine Auditorium Los Angeles, CA United States January 23, 2010 Photo by Dan MacMedan/WireImage.com To license this image (59392629), contact WireImage.com

Betty White Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 23: President of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation JoBeth Williams and actress Betty White arrive at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 23, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** JoBeth Williams;Betty White

Betty White Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 23: Actress Betty White arrives at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 23, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Betty White

Betty White Snapshots

Tags: betty white, betty white to host snl please, BettyWhite, saturday night live, super bowl, super bowl ads

Comments

(154)

Friday 12 February

By kelice

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Betty White has provided all of us a long history of her achievements. She has a super work ethic. The young say they can't find a job. They should look to her as a role model. She doesn't say no to any work, so she is still working. She is someone to praise as a role model! You think she is senile? She is still making more money than you and having a good time at it. Learn your lesson; get a work ethic, don't put down anyone willing to work, as we have enough on the dole. Get a life and if you're busy you won't be worrying about Betty White making a buck and having a good time at her age. Everyone should be so lucky as Betty White!

By blnllwhite

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Hi Betty
My wife ( Betty White ) has enjoyed having the same name as you for 54 years. When we order something on line. It's always ( are you that Betty White ) I guess thats because we live in Santa Barbara CA. We love you Betty Keep up the good work.

Betty & Larry

By ray

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

miss betty is just plain cool as hell thats the secret to her success cool has no age it is what it is . miss betty is cool

Saturday 13 February

By Jayme

Betty White is just the most adorable human being to ever live. She's hilarious and especially for 88 years old she's still absolutely stunning. We love you Betty! I once had a dream that Betty White was my fairy godmother. Seriously. I wish it were true. She'd be the best fairy godmother ever.

By josh b

NBC has developed a bad habit of thinking that their high ranking producers know more than viewer audiences as we have seen in the recent late-night talk show fiasco. perhaps they have since wizened up and will contact miss white about hosting SNL, i know as a long time fan of the Golden Girls and SNL i wouldnt miss it for the WORLD! you go Betty, i hope you are enjoying your current fame wave, because you have certainly earned it!

By FUK PASTY FACE

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Nobody gives a rats ass about some old pasty face cracker that looks like the walking dead ... lmao

By granny

You being the nobody of course!

Sunday 14 February

fuk you pasty face youre just a moron

Tuesday 16 February

By jessi

"granny"....perfect response to "pasty face"!!!

By Brian

Betty White started on TV in Los Angeles in 1947 as the side-kick of Al Jarvis, who had been an LA DJ. I used to watch her on our 10" black & white TV.

By Paul

Betty White is so funny. Most of all she is so natural, and is really having fun. As for Leroy get over yourself. You are just jealous, that Betty has a sense of 'HUMOR', and you don't. Go get em BETTY!

By DRobinson

YOU GO GIRL!!!

By Fran

I have loved Betty White ever since I first saw her. ( and that was way in the 60's!) She has been around forever. Always funny and delightful. I hope I'm as spry as her when I get that old.

By Barbara Michalski

Betty White has always been a favotite of mine with a good sense of humor. She lights up a room when she walks in and she is still good looking. You go girl.

By cb

I take offense to the remark about the "short bus". My son rides the "short bus" to school and there is nothing amusing about it. Poke your jabs some other way.

By dakneebrasco79

CB's right, actually...likening the morons around here to special needs children is insulting to the intelligence of these children!

By LINDA KAY

BETTY WHITE IS SUPER..........INTELLIGENT AND BEAUTIFUL..SHE IS ONE OF THE LAST OF HER GENERATION OF ACTORS. NO ONE CAN SURPASS BETTY IN ANY AREA. LONG LIVE BETTY, YOU GO BETTY AND YOU ROCK !!!!! LIVE A LONG AND HEATHLY LIFE BETTY, FOR YOU ARE ONE OF THE MOST LOVED AND WATCHED GIRLS ON TV AND IN THE MOVIES. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, WE WILL LOVE TO WATCH YOU ENTERTAIN US. I WOULD LOVE TO MEET HER, IT WOULD BE AN HONOR AND A PRIVLEDGE TO MEET ONE OF THE GREATEST ACTRESSES OF ALL TIME.!!!!!!!!!

By David

Love Betty White, she is awesome !
Lighten up and get over yourself Leroy !

By jtwyman23

OMG!!! Betty White is the Best!!!!! She hasn't changed one bit since I discovered her on the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Betty White is funny without being mean, has a great laugh, very pretty and I am glad she is still around to entertain us. YOU GO GIRL. GOD BLESS YOY.

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