'Vulgar' Betty White Kills on 'SNL' Hosting Debut

By PopEater Staff Posted May 8th 2010 11:42PM

Betty White on SNL Betty White found herself at the center of a rip-roaring round of applause during her first appearance on screen during the cold open on 'Saturday Night Live,' marking the successful viral campaign launched by Facebook fans that ultimately led to White getting the hosting gig. During her monologue, White -- decked out in a glittery top -- joked that she made her live TV debut in 1952 because they "didn't know how to tape things ... I don't know what this show's excuse is." Watch the monologue video below, and more videos after the jump!

"I really have to thank Facebook ... I didn't know what Facebook was, and now that I do know what it is, it sounds like a huge waste of time. I would never think that people on it are losers, but that's only because I'm polite," White joked during her monologue. She continued on Facebook, saying: "At my age, if i want to connect with old friends, I need a Ouija board. Facebook just sounds like a drag. In my day, seeing pictures of people's vacations was considered a punishment."

Kidding aside, White was nothing but thankful for the online push to get her on 'SNL,' declaring that she's "here tonight because you wanted me to be. I feel so loved, thank you."

It was clear that the 'SNL' writing staff knew what a momentous occasion this was for the show -- not to mention that there would likely be a big chunk of extra audience thanks to all of the hype -- and they brought their A-game when writing the skits, which generally delivered the funny from the show's open all the way to the credits.

White first appeared in a MacGruber sketch as -- you guessed it -- the incompetent gadget guy's grandmother. In true MacGruber fashion, White did nothing more than add to his inefficiency, distracting the mulletted wannabe-hero from diffusing a bomb.

Then it was on to the faux-radio shot 'Delicious Dish,' in which Betty White's muffin (see suggestive metaphor) was the topic of discussion. Don't get the entendre? "My muffin hasn't had a cherry since 1939" White declared while Molly Shannon and Ana Gasteyer chowed down on her "yeasty" and "crusty" muffins. Gawker dubbed the subversive skit as "an instant classic."

Many of White's jokes and skits played off of her age, as the majority of the punchlines were either of the variety of how she's the old gal in the room, or the she's-old-and-saying-shocking-sexual-things type. Still, the reception she got from the crowd, and the media, it seems. EW.com's headline champions White's appearance, declaring in the headline that she was "funny, vulgar and totally charming." The perfect trio for 'SNL,' no?

Even the New York Times declared that White's show "was one of the strongest outings of the season. With energy, enthusiasm and plain old laughs, Ms. White and the 'SNL' cast and crew (including an ensemble of recent alumnae) more than delivered on this much promoted episode's promise."

The Mother's Day show -- annually a showcase of the show's female talent both past and present -- featured appearances by many old faces. Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph and others made their way back to the stage to celebrate.

To top it all off, the show's Digital Short featured the 'SNL' cast singing the 'Golden Girls' theme song 'Thank You for Being a Friend' as a tribute to White -- with the 'Golden Girl' herself chiming in herself with a screamy, punk rock version of the tune.

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Betty White Snapshots

In this publicity image released by NBC, cast member Kristen Wiig,left, and Betty White are shown on the set of "Saturday Night Live," Tuesday, May 4, 2010 in New York as they film promotional videos for White's appearance on the late night comedy show.

NBC

Betty White Snapshots

Actress Betty White attends the TIME 100 gala celebrating the 100 most influential people, at the Time Warner Center, Tuesday, May 4, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

Betty White Snapshots

NEW YORK - MAY 04: Betty White, Managing Editor of Time inc. Richard Stengel and Lorne Michaels attend Time's 100 most influential people in the world gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 4, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Time Inc) *** Local Caption *** Betty White;Richard Stengel;Lorne Michaels

Betty White Snapshots

NEW YORK - MAY 04: Betty White and Mehmet Oz attend Time's 100 most influential people in the world gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 4, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Time Inc) *** Local Caption *** Betty White;Mehmet Oz

Betty White Snapshots

NEW YORK - MAY 04: Martha Stewart, Betty White and Taylor Swift attend Time's 100 most influential people in the world gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 4, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Time Inc) *** Local Caption *** Martha Stewart;Betty White;Taylor Swift

Betty White Snapshots

NEW YORK - MAY 04: *EXCLUSIVE* Sarah Palin and Betty White attend Time's 100 most influential people in the world gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 4, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Time Inc) *** Local Caption *** Betty White;Sarah Palin

Betty White Snapshots

Betty White attend Time's 100 most influential people in the world gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 4, 2010. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

Betty White Snapshots

Tags: betty white, Saturday Night Live, snl

Comments

(280)

Sunday 09 May

By Femma

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

WE LOVE BETTY WHITE!!!

By Wish Belkin

SNL was actually funny this week. Betty White was terrific.
Jay-Z was excellent as well.

By ashleigh

Agreed! SNL was GREAT tonight! Betty White was FANTASTIC and it was great to see Maya, Ana, Molly, Rachel, Amy, etc., too!! The best SNL in a while, thanks to them and mostly to Betty -- now why can't they write great EVERY week?

By ElenaRN

Betty White was amazing! I laughed out loud the entire show...and I haven't laughed during SNL since the Spade/Farley/Sandler/MacDonald era! Thanks for the laughs, Betty!

By carolyn

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Betty White was great. But even she cannot save SNL. It hasn't been funny in many, many years. Give it up. it is time to let it die.

By Funjustforu

Ha! Ha! You are silly. Barry White!

I miss him :-)

Monday 10 May

By doc

Bette White kept us laughing the entire show.
Wonderful to see her get the acclaim she richly deserves.

By Kelly

I love Betty White!!! I thought she did a great job, I was laughing the entire time! ;o)

By j

I am looking forward to things being normal when we can talk about Sandra Bullock sneezing again and how important that is to the future of all man kind

By aidan

OMG this was a fantastic SNL, Betty White was great and so were the
other female cast members. I am so glad I recorded this one.

By KimmieB17

She did a fantastic job. Gotta love Betty White!!! She definitely lived up to my expectations. :o)

By Lisa

AWESOME SHOW TONIGHT!

By Michelle

Betty you are one amazingly awesome woman!! I have watched you on so many shows..I just love you! I love that you are an animal lover as am I and my husband..thank you for all you do..we try to do our part..you are such a funny lady thank you

By bchbunnie4

This was the only funny SNL in a long time!!!! Go Betty!!!

By AS

I dont really care much for SNL but Id have to say the having Betty White host was a smart move. She was as charming as ever even when she is "nasty" she is just so sweet at it. lol
Great Job Mrs. White

By Eilish

BEST SML all season. Betty was in EVERY skit except the music. And what a nice tribute to her at the close: two bouquets of roses.

By Joanne

I wasn't sure what to expect but she was great. The show itself was one of the best this season. CSI Sarasota was my favorite. It was also nice to see all the talented ladies on SNL that we have not seen in awhile.

By James

I enjoyed Betty's monologue. I hadn't seen SNL in over fifteen years. It was dumb then. It still is. Betty should have skipped this gig. I went to the kitchen and made a sandwich (with the sound off) during the so-called musical segment.
Earlier in the evening I watched a DVD of THE PHILADELPHIA STORY with Hepburn, Grant and Stewart. That was REAL entertainment.

By Nancy

James- Hey, GET OVER IT. Betty was GREAT. You must hate puppies & Christmas too.

By onewhoknowsbetter

Sadly, you're half right. It's not Betty White herself that flopped. It was SNL's insistence on using EVERY single skit to drive the oldster jokes into the ground- adnauseum. They get stuck on one once funny gag and use it until it's dead. Its called lazy and uncreative. Sorry, Betty. It isn't you that blew it. It was your boring ho hum medium- NBC.

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