"Being in show business is like being in a very small town and no matter how old you get and the more years that pile up, I walk on a set now and somebody up in the rafters says, 'Hey Betty! Nice to see you again!' I don't know how I lucked in, but boy I'm tasting every minute. Don't look back on something and say, 'Gee wasn't that great, I didn't realize it at the time.' Realize it as you go along. Taste it for what it is now."

    About This Interview

    In her one-hour interview for the American Comedy Archives at Emerson College, Betty White (1922-2021) talks about her early aspirations before setting on a career in television and appearing on several early live and local Los Angeles broadcasts. She describes her first show Life with Elizabeth, and becoming one of the first television stars to form her own production company with the help of producer Don Fedderson. She recounts her time playing "Sue Ann Nivens" on the classic Mary Tyler Moore Show, including the famous "Chuckles Bites the Dust" episode. White discusses the importance of humor in her life, and playing "Rose Nylund" for seven season on The Golden Girls. She speaks of her "bag of tricks" as an actress, as well as the business side of the entertainment industry. She discusses her prolific career on several game shows including Match Game and Password. She outlines her then-current role as "Catherine Piper" on Boston Legal, and working on that show with co-star William Shatner. She concludes with some words of wisdom for aspiring television performers, and comments on her career longevity. Bill Dana and Jenni Matz conducted the interview on March 11, 2005 at Emerson College in Boston, MA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Betty White with Emerson College

    Betty White on her "bag of tricks" as an actress 

    03:39
    Thumbnail of Betty White with Emerson College

    Betty White on playing "Rose Nylund" on The Golden Girls

    06:09
    Thumbnail of Betty White with Emerson College

    Betty White on The Mary Tyler Moore Show  episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"

    04:01
    Thumbnail of Betty White with Emerson College

    Betty White on how Life with Elizabeth came about and forming her production company

    03:03
    Thumbnail of Betty White with Emerson College

    Betty White on realizing she was funny

    00:46
    Thumbnail of Betty White with Emerson College

    Betty White on her career longevity 

    01:44
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    Introductions by interviewees Bill Dana (Emerson Alum and comedian) and Jenni Matz

    00:47

    On her early aspirations; on realizing she was funny; on being a pioneer on television and appearing on early live local television in Los Angeles

    05:17

    On how Life with Elizabeth came about and forming her production company with George Tibbles; on the premise of Life with Elizabeth 

    08:08

    On her Mary Tyler Moore Show character "Sue Ann Nivens", the importance of writers, and building her characters; on filming The Mary Tyler Moore Show in front of a live studio audience; on the finale of the show and the infamous episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"

    13:58

    On the importance of humor in her life; on playing "Rose Nylund" on The Golden Girls; on her "bag of tricks" as an actress 

    14:30

    On playing "Catherine Piper" on Boston Legal; on her great success on various game shows; on dealing with agents and managers and her avid animal activism

    10:29

    On her career longevity; on working with William Shatner on Boston Legal and Estelle Getty on The Golden Girls; on words of wisdom for aspiring television performers

    09:51

    Boston Legal

    Betty White on playing "Catherine Piper" on Boston Legal

    01:38

    Betty White on working with William Shatner as "Denny Crane" on Boston Legal

    01:58

    Golden Girls, The

    Betty White on playing "Rose Nylund" on The Golden Girls

    06:21

    Betty White on working with Estelle Getty as "Sophia Petrillo" on The Golden Girls

    01:51

    Life With Elizabeth

    Betty White on how Life with Elizabeth came about and forming her production company with Don Fedderson

    03:14

    Betty White on the premise of Life with Elizabeth

    04:33

    Mary Tyler Moore Show, The

    Betty White on her Mary Tyler Moore Show character "Sue Ann Nivens", the importance of writers, and building her characters

    02:51

    Betty White on filming The Mary Tyler Moore Show in front of a live studio audience

    01:24

    Betty White on being cast as "Sue Ann Nivens" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show

    01:46

    Betty White on The Mary Tyler Moore Show finale 

    03:26

    Betty White on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"

    04:21

    Mary Tyler Moore Show, The: "Chuckles Bites the Dust"

    Betty White on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"

    04:21

    Advice

    Betty White on words of wisdom for aspiring television performers

    04:08

    Characters & Catchphrases

    Betty White on being cast as "Sue Ann Nivens" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show

    01:27

    Betty White on playing "Rose Nylund" on The Golden Girls

    06:09

    Classic TV Series Episodes

    Betty White on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"

    04:22

    Betty White on The Mary Tyler Moore Show finale 

    03:00

    Comedy

    Betty White on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"

    04:22

    Betty White on The Mary Tyler Moore Show finale 

    03:00

    Pop Culture

    Betty White on being cast as "Sue Ann Nivens" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show

    01:32

    Betty White on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"

    04:22

    Betty White on The Mary Tyler Moore Show finale 

    03:00

    Betty White on playing "Rose Nylund" on The Golden Girls

    06:09

    Television Industry

    Betty White on words of wisdom for aspiring television performers

    04:08

    TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

    Betty White on being a pioneer on television and appearing on early live local television in Los Angeles

    03:25

    Actress

    Betty White on her "bag of tricks" as an actress 

    03:47

    Betty White on dealing with agents and managers

    02:08

    Betty White on her career longevity 

    01:44

    Betty White on words of wisdom for aspiring television performers

    04:09

    Performers

    Betty White on her "bag of tricks" as an actress 

    03:47

    Betty White on dealing with agents and managers

    02:08

    Betty White on her career longevity 

    01:44

    Betty White on words of wisdom for aspiring television performers

    04:09

    Comedy Series

    Betty White on playing "Elizabeth" on Life with Elizabeth

    07:41

    Betty White on playing "Sue Ann Nivens" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show

    13:58

    Betty White on playing "Rose Nylund" on The Golden Girls

    06:09

    Legal Dramas

    Betty White on playing "Catherine Piper" on Boston Legal

    01:20

    Don Fedderson

    Betty White on how Life with Elizabeth  came about and forming her production company with Don Fedderson

    03:14

    Estelle Getty

    Betty White on working with Estelle Getty as "Sophia Petrillo" on The Golden Girls

    01:51

    Al Jarvis

    Betty White on appearing on early live local television in Los Angeles with Al Jarvis

    02:42

    Betty White on working with Al Jarvis on live television

    02:47

    William Shatner

    Betty White on working with William Shatner as "Denny Crane" on Boston Legal

    01:58

    Ethel Winant

    Betty White on being cast by Ethel Winant as "Sue Ann Nivens" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show

    01:24

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