White… as in Betty

  When I’m  tossing in bed with middle age insomnia, nothing makes me happier than finding Golden Girls in reruns.  I have loved Betty White since I was a young girl watching Mary Tyler Moore in my grandmother’s TV room.  Who can forget the evil Sue Ann Nivens –

I loved her as Rose, the lovable ditz on the Golden Girls…

That show had so much appeal – when the girls are discussing the issues of the day and trading hilarious barbs, there’s the feeling that you’re right there in the kitchen with them. They were real, they were humorous without having to be obscene… although there was certainly some raunch, but tastefully done. The show had class, the women had class, they made you want to know them, root for them, laugh  and cry with them.
Some fun facts about GG: 
– Bea’s two hit shows (Golden Girls & Maude) ended because she decided to leave.

– Estelle Getty (Sophia) is younger than her on screen daughter, Dorothy (Bea Arthur).

– The Golden Girls were nominated for 57 Emmys. (7 of them for “Best Comedy Series”)

– The Golden Girls has two spin-offs: “Empty Nest” and “The Golden Palace”.

– According to the E! TV Tales, TGG shares a special coincidence with All In the Family. Both shows are the only two in television history where the main characters all won an Emmy Award.

– Bea Arthur hates cheesecake. Said dessert was featured in almost 100 episodes in the series.

– Betty White was originally supposed to play Blanche, and Rue McClanahan Rose. However, Betty didn’t want to play another “sexpot” like Sue Ann Nivens. She was caught off-guard when they asked her to read for the part, but it turned out to be wonderful!

– It was Rue McClanahan’s idea to give Blanche a Southern accent.

– The first episode of The Golden Girls attracted more than 25 million viewers and was the #1 show that week, beating out the NBC powerhouse, The Cosby Show.

– Bea actually wanted to leave the series after season 5 but was coaxed to stay for 2 more seasons. (thankfully!)

– None of the Golden Girls have daughters in real life.

– Estelle Getty suffered from stage fright every Friday night for 26 weeks.

– It took 45 minutes in make-up for Estelle to be transformed into Sophia.

  SO… when I heard about Hot In Cleveland with Betty White and a great cast including some terrific comedic actresses, I was thrilled!…. and it took me a whole year to find it on a local cable channel.  I finally found it way up in the 300 block of channels… and watched my first episode, which aired this week.  I don’t know..is it just me?  Betty White was terrific in her roll, as always… but… the show fell flat for me and I can’t really put my finger on it…too cliche’ or cheap, kinda throws women under the bus a little….. or something. 

 I wish these girls the best because they’re all terrific – but this girl didn’t find Cleveland quite so Hot.

17 thoughts on “White… as in Betty”

  1. I haven't seen the new show. I just turned off TV. Was watching Chanel USA, a crime show. All of a sudden the girl in the car started giving the driver a U-know what job, as he was driving a get-a-way car. I can't believe what they get away with
    this time of night on USA chanel TV. It is really
    gone to far. Can you imagine a 12 year old watching that like it was nothing? no class.

  3. I agree, there's just not much on that I can say I love anymore. We watch re-runs of Seinfeld instead of watching the news…what does that say? We do take the paper and read it everyday! I spend more time on the computer than watch tv, a flip flop of the way it used to be. We are enjoying the sorbet and gelato so much, plan on posting the blog Monday.

  6. I haven't seen that show either, but then I don't have cable. Betty is in a made for t.v. movie tomorrow night on CBS (in case you hadn't seen it advertised.) She was on The Talk this week, and so sweet & funny. 89 years old and still goin' strong. I remember when she was on the game show (can't remember the name) but that's how she met her husband, Alan Ludden, who unfortunately passed away many years ago; she was asked why she never remarried and replied: "when you have the best". 🙂

  7. Karen,

    Great post. Love the Golden Girls, Designing Women, and shows like that. Betty is the best and I had forgotten about Sue Ann Nivens.

    I would be sure to get some chickens that lay colored eggs. We get farm fresh eggs in the summer and there is always at least one colored egg.

    Carol

  8. I've been a big fan of Betty's for years too. Love all the research you've done with the interesting facts. I'm sorry to hear the show fell flat.

    I always thought she was her best with her quick wit and humor when she was on the game show with her husband Alan Luden.
    Sam

  9. We don't have cable so haven't seen the new show but that doesn't sound good…I did love the golden girls and often wonder why more women don't live that way …think of the nice house etc you could have in every one pooled their money ..not to mention the fun !

  11. I'm enjoying Hot in Cleveland, mostly because I love all of those women and enjoyed all of them in their other shows back in the day. Especially Just Shoot Me!

    I wish I could find The Mary Tyler Moore Show. I'd love to watch it with insomnia. You're just like me; right now I watch Bewitched when I can't sleep.

  13. Unfortunately, new shows featuring old favorites just don't seem to cut the mustard.

    Thankfully, you can watch re-runs of the old sit-coms on cable or Netflix. 🙂

  14. I have to agree with you about 'Hot In Cleveland'… I love the 4 actresses and think they deserve better. Show is definitely flat and tries too hard for laughs. Even with great guests like Carl Reiner and Tim Conway it's just not that funny.
    Watch GG everytime it's on though, never get tired of it.

  15. I agree about Betty she's a hoot. I actually caught the first 3 episodes of Hot, before loosing interest. The women all had impressive credentials. But the script had them all so needy and desperate it was unwatchable.

    And one more TGG trivia item: Betty White is the sole surviving cast member.

  16. I just watched my first episode tonight. Betty was so funny, as always, but I agree… fell a little flat. I am going to give it a few more chances. Sometimes it takes a bit for a show to hit it's stride. Plus, I can't miss the chance to watch Betty!

  17. You are right Karen, Golden Girls was a very classy and funny show! The only show that made living in Florida with a group of women look like it could be fun!

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