The Betty White Effect: Fans Launch 'SNL' Campaign for Carol Burnett

By John Mitchell Posted May 11th 2010 06:30PM

During her smashing 'Saturday Night Live' monologue, living legend Betty White gave credit where credit was due, thanking (with the odd back-handed joke) the massive Facebook campaign that helped successfully land her on stage at Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Center.

"Now, I'm here tonight because you wanted me to be," White said sincerely. "I just want to say I feel so loved. Thank you."

The show nabbed huge ratings and continues to create buzz for both White and 'SNL,' so is it any surprise that a host of copycat Facebook campaigns have popped up in its wake? According to the New York Times, one of the most prominent is for comedienne Carol Burnett.

The page is closely modeled after the one built to support White. "Carol Burnett to Host SNL (PLEASE?)!" has attracted over 25,000 (and counting!) fans, though it has a ways to go to reach White-like levels -- more-than half a million fans joined the campaign to support the 'Golden Girls'' 'SNL' bid.

Burnett recently admitted on 'The Joy Behar Show' that she would host 'SNL' if invited to:

While Burnett's campaign may be picking up steam, the legendary star of 'The Carol Burnett Show' (a spin-off from which, 'Mama's Family,' featured both White and Burnett as supporting characters) is just one of many stars getting the Facebook-'SNL' campaign treatment.

Leading the pack is New Orleans Saint quarterback, NFL MVP Drew Brees, with nearly 6,000 Facebookers joining the good fight to see him play opposite the likes of Kristen Wiig and Jason Sudeikis on the NBC late night staple -- just like former MVPs Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have. Not far behind: White's 'Golden Girls' co-star Rue McClanahan and country music diva (and former CW sitcom leading lady) Reba McEntire.

Other notable hopefuls include Carol Channing, Jane Lynch and Rachel Maddow.

Unfortunately, this week's show -- hosted by 'SNL' fave Alec Baldwin -- is the season finale, so fans will have to wait until fall to see if any of their favorites make the 'SNL' cut.

Brees might be busy with his day job when 'SNL' returns, and McClanahan is still recovering from a stroke she suffered earlier this year -- though we do know her sense of humor remains in tact. White reportedly sent her longtime friend a card reading, "Dear Rue, I hope you hurry up and die so I can be the last Golden Girl left. NOT KIDDING!" And McClanahan thought the card was "hilarious."

That leaves Reba. No slouch on the stage, Ms. McEntire is the second most successful female country artist of all time and even earned a Drama Desk Special Award for her acclaimed Broadway turn in 'Annie Get Your Gun.'

For further evidence of Reba McEntire's awesomeness, the video for her song 'Fancy' is below:

Tags: betty white, carol burnett, golden girls, reba mcentire, Rue McClanahan, SaturdayNightLive, snl

Comments

(44)

Wednesday 12 May

By kevin

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Better yet, as someone previously said..replace SNL with Carol Burnett reruns...100x better than the crap skits they do now and maybe the youngins would get an idea about sketch shows

By theresa

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ACTUALLY RUE WAS MAMA'S VICKI CARR SISTER,AND BETTY WHITE WAS CAROL BURNETTE'S SISTER EUNICE....WAS AND STILL IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOW'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE GOLDEN GIRL'S AND ALL IN THE FAMILY.AHHH'THOSE WERE THE DAY'S....

By themeeker

Vicki Lawrence, not Vicki Carr.

By chris

Reba would be awesome to see! So would Carol and Vicki, but I would definitely watch if Reba hosted. I mean, If they let Taylor Swift do it-really, it should be no challenge for someone who actually has done it all, right? Just like Garth and Taylor-it's way past Reba's time!

By JAM

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I thought that Betty's use of the F Bomb negated all the humor. SNL should of had a little more tact than that!

By FENDER

CAROL BURNETT HAD TALENT.SHE WAS REAL FUNNY.

Carol Burnett HAS talent. She IS real funny.

By mermanator11

Carol would be Great!

By beatledonny

hurray for betty,,and yes please bring on the best of the best,,,Carol burrnet!!

By Jen

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The SNL episode featuring Betty White was awful! I don't blame Betty, I blame the show. It's time to cancel it.

By Kevin

I'd like to see Conchetta Farrell (Berta from Two and a Half Men) do the show. She can belt out the nasty lines with ease.

By JJ

I love Carol Burnett, but I wish she would not have messed with her face. She was fine the way she was. She looks awful. Same with Rue. MY god, she doesnt even LOOK the same. Looking at Betty White should show these women that you dont need to mess up your face to look good at an old age.

By mego

Would love to see Carol Burnett She is terrific Would love to see her reruns

Thursday 13 May

By Marg

Count me in to vote for Carol Burnett on SNL. She has made me laugh so much over the years; she made me pee my pants when she came down the stairs in Gone with the Wind. Still makes me chuckle now.

Love this woman. Talk about talent !!! Get her on the show. Promise you she will not let you down.

Love ya Carol !!!

Marg

Friday 21 May

By Jimmy

I would love to see Carol Burnett on the show or Carol Channing for that matter. Betty White was wonderful, but I don't want Carol being dirty as the skits with Betty were. What about Fran Drescher? Delta Burke?

Tuesday 18 May

By sleepyhead

I was little and I'd watch The Carol Burnett Show. That's part of the reason I am "weird"! "At McDoodles!" We have to remember the funny people who molded us from childhood and beyond. ( Also Bugs Bunny!) The world can use some more or fresh funny people. Betty White was a riot with her wigs and dancing. The tweens out there now like ICarly make my daughter laugh and then Drake and Josh and so on. My son watched Keenan on The Amanda Show and now he's on SNL.

By Sundance7

There are many older talented prople who would be very funny on SNL. Provided the writing is as good as it was for Betty White. I am thinking Burt Reynolds, George Hamilton, Jean Stapleton, Jerry Lewis to name a few.

By kath

I LOVE BETTY AND CAROL , BUT BETTY WAS OFFERED FIRST AM I CORRECT ON THAT ?

By auramac

Carol Burnett would be great. With a Tim Conway cameo. Reba? Shirley, you must be joking.

By Michael

I'd love to see Reba host SNL. She's a wonderful talent and even more wonderful human being. She's a true hero of mine.

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