Betty White

Actress
Bob Hope Comedy Collection
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On appearing on Mama's Family and The Carol Burnett Show; on the original script and casting of The Golden Girls; on her character "Rose Nylund" on The Golden Girls, and how director Jay Sandrich helped her find her

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About
About this interview

In her nearly two-and-a-half-hour interview, Betty White (1922-2021) talks about her start in television as a co-host, with Al Jarvis, on L.A.'s local station KLAC in 1949. She also recalls her years as a guest host on Jack Paar's Tonight Show, and as a 20-year co-host for the Rose Parade. White speaks in detail about The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls, including the members of both casts and the producers: Mary Tyler Moore, Grant Tinker, Ed Asner, Ted Knight, Gavin MacLeod, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, and Bea Arthur. Tony Fantozzi conducted the interview on June 4, 1997 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I'd like to be remembered as Betty, their good friend that they invite into their home."

People Talking About ...
Betty White
Highlights
Betty White on appearing in an experimental television broadcast of "The Merry Widow" in 1939
01:22
Betty White on appearing on Password with eventual husband Allen Ludden
07:25
Betty White on appearing on Tonight Starring Jack Paar
01:53
Betty White on the ensemble cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
03:18
Betty White on the end of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
04:09
Betty White on the original script and casting of The Golden Girls
01:25
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On her early years and influences; on appearing in an experimental television broadcast of "The Merry Widow" in 1939; on her experience with World War II
On appearing on the radio program "The Great Gildersleeve" for sponsor Parkay; on going on the air on KLAC in Los Angeles, and on the panel show Grab Your Phone; on television programming on the west coast in the '40s and early '50s, and on appearing on The Al Jarvis Show
On winning an Emmy Award for Outstanding female personality in 1952; on her first TV series, Life with Elizabeth co-starring Del Moore

Chapter 2
On hosting Hollywood on Television and on having guests like Buster Keaton on; on how it was for women in television in the early '50s; on how Life with Elizabeth developed
On the Betty White Show experimenting with color in 1954, and on the show going off the air; on hosting Tournament of Roses Parade and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
On her affinity for game shows; on appearing on Password with eventual husband Allen Ludden

Chapter 3
On appearing on What's My Line?, I've Got a Secret, and To Tell the Truth; on appearing on Match Game; on the enduring popularity of Goodson/Todman game shows
On the Quiz Show Scandals and how they never touched Goodson/Todman shows; on hosting Date with the Angels; on appearing on Tonight Starring Jack Paar
On turning down a chance to work on the Today show; on her syndicated show about animals, The Pet Set (1971); on her first appearance as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Chapter 4
On the ensemble cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on winning two Emmys for The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on the end of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
On appearing on Mama's Family and The Carol Burnett Show; on the original script and casting of The Golden Girls; on her character "Rose Nylund" on The Golden Girls, and how director Jay Sandrich helped her find her
On how she, Beatrice Arthur, Estelle Getty, and Rue McClanahan complemented each other on The Golden Girls; on The Golden Palace , and on the importance of time slots; on her Television Hall of Fame honor
On the then-current state of her career, and on her love of animals; on the then-future of television; on how she'd like to be remembered

Chapter 5
On various people with whom she's worked in her career
On B-roll footage pictures from her career- in 1939; with Al Jarvis; with Del Moore; wedding picture with Allen Ludden; with the cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show with Emmys; with Allen Ludden at the Emmys; with Johnny Carson doing an Adam and Eve sketch
Shows

Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)

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Betty White on appearing on Mama's Family and The Carol Burnett Show
03:36

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Betty White on winning an Emmy for Outstanding female personality in 1952
01:20
Betty White on winning two Emmys for The Mary Tyler Moore Show
00:50

Golden Girls, The

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Betty White on the original script and casting of The Golden Girls
01:25
Betty White on how she, Beatrice Arthur, Estelle Getty, and Rue McClanahan complemented each other on The Golden Girls
02:23
Betty White on her character "Rose Nylund" on The Golden Girls, and how director Jay Sandrich helped her find her
03:36
Betty White on Rue McClanahan
00:36
Betty White on The Golden Girls director Terry Hughes
00:50
Betty White on The Golden Girls creator Susan Harris
00:37

Golden Palace, The

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Betty White on The Golden Palace , and on the importance of time slots
05:08

I've Got a Secret

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Betty White on appearing on What's My Line?, I've Got a Secret, and To Tell the Truth
01:52

Jack Paar Show, The (1953-56)

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Betty White on appearing on Password with eventual husband Allen Ludden
07:25

Life With Elizabeth

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Betty White on her first TV series, Life with Elizabeth co-starring Del Moore
03:15
Betty White on how Life with Elizabeth developed
03:34

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

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Betty White on hosting Tournament of Roses Parade and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
02:11

Mama's Family

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Betty White on appearing on Mama's Family and The Carol Burnett Show
03:36

Mary Tyler Moore Show, The

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Betty White on her first appearance as "Sue Ann Nivens" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
06:23
Betty White on the ensemble cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
03:18
Betty White on winning two Emmys for The Mary Tyler Moore Show
00:50
Betty White on the end of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
04:09

Mary Tyler Moore Show, The: "The Lars Affair"

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Betty White on being cast on The Mary Tyler Moore Show as "Sue Ann Nivens" - the Happy Homemaker, on the episode "The Lars Affair"
05:05

Match Game

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Betty White on appearing on Match Game
01:29

Pet Set, The

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Betty White on her syndicated show about animals, The Pet Set (1971)
02:56

To Tell the Truth

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Betty White on appearing on What's My Line?, I've Got a Secret, and To Tell the Truth
01:52

Today

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Betty White on turning down a chance to work on the Today show
02:18

Tonight Starring Jack Paar aka The Jack Paar Show

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Betty White on appearing on Tonight Starring Jack Paar
01:53

Tournament of Roses Parade

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Betty White on hosting Tournament of Roses Parade and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
02:11

What's My Line?

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Betty White on appearing on What's My Line?, I've Got a Secret, and To Tell the Truth
01:52
Topics

Historic Events and Social Change

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Betty White on her experience with World War II
01:50
Betty White on how it was for women in television in the early '50s
02:14

Industry Crossroads

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Betty White on the Quiz Show Scandals and how they never touched Goodson/Todman shows
02:11

Quiz Show Scandals

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Betty White on the Quiz Show Scandals and how they never touched Goodson/Todman shows
02:11

Representation on Television

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Betty White on how it was for women in television in the early '50s
02:14

Technological Innovation

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Betty White on the Betty White Show experimenting with color in 1954, and on the show going off the air
04:06

Television Industry

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Betty White on the Quiz Show Scandals and how they never touched Goodson/Todman shows
02:11

War

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Betty White on her experience with World War II
01:50

Women

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Betty White on how it was for women in television in the early '50s
02:14

World War II

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Betty White on her experience with World War II
01:50
Genres

Comedy Series

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Betty White on her first TV series, Life with Elizabeth co-starring Del Moore
03:15
Betty White on how Life with Elizabeth developed
03:34
Betty White on hosting Date with the Angels
04:14
Betty White on her first appearance as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
06:23
Betty White on the ensemble cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
08:17
Betty White on appearing on Mama's Family and The Carol Burnett Show
03:36
Betty White on playing "Rose Nylund" on The Golden Girls
11:07

Game Shows

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Betty White on her affinity for game shows
05:09
Betty White on appearing on Password with eventual husband Allen Ludden
07:25
Betty White on the enduring popularity of Goodson/Todman game shows
01:48
Betty White on attempting to host three different game shows, including Just Men!
04:48
Betty White on appearing on What's My Line?, I've Got a Secret, and To Tell the Truth
01:52
Betty White on appearing on Match Game
01:29

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Betty White on hosting Tournament of Roses Parade and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
02:11
Betty White on appearing on Mama's Family and The Carol Burnett Show
03:36

News and Documentary

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Betty White on turning down a chance to work on the Today show
02:18

Talk Shows

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Betty White on appearing on Tonight Starring Jack Paar
01:53
People

Al Jarvis

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Betty White on working with Dick Haymes, Al Jarvis, and Don Fedderson
00:55

Allan Burns

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Betty White on Allan Burns, Ed. Weinberger, Stan Daniels, Jan Sandrich, Bob Daly, Donna Reed, and Johnny Carson
06:03

Allen Ludden

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Betty White on appearing on Password with eventual husband Allen Ludden
07:25
Betty White on her husband Allen Ludden
00:52

Barbara Walters

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Betty White on turning down a chance to work on the Today show, and being replaced with Barbara Walters
02:18

Beatrice Arthur

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Betty White on how she, Beatrice Arthur, Estelle Getty, and Rue McClanahan complemented each other on The Golden Girls
02:23

Bob Daly

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Betty White on Allan Burns, Ed. Weinberger, Stan Daniels, Jan Sandrich, Bob Daly, Donna Reed, and Johnny Carson
06:03

Bob Newhart

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Betty White on Vicki Lawrence, Rue McClanahan, Terry Hughes, Susan Harris, and Bob Newhart
03:24

Buster Keaton

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Betty White on hosting Hollywood on Television and on having guests like Buster Keaton on
05:03

Carol Burnett

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Betty White on appearing on Mama's Family and The Carol Burnett Show
03:36

Cloris Leachman

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Betty White on working with Mark Goodson,Dinah Shore, Rod Serling, Grant Tinker, Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Cloris Leachman, and Ted Knight
04:30

Dinah Shore

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Betty White on working with Mark Goodson,Dinah Shore, Rod Serling, Grant Tinker, Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Cloris Leachman, and Ted Knight
04:30

Don Fedderson

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Betty White on working with Dick Haymes, Al Jarvis, and Don Fedderson
00:55

Donna Reed

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Betty White on Allan Burns, Ed. Weinberger, Stan Daniels, Jan Sandrich, Bob Daly, Donna Reed, and Johnny Carson
06:03

Ed. Weinberger

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Betty White on Allan Burns, Ed. Weinberger, Stan Daniels, Jan Sandrich, Bob Daly, Donna Reed, and Johnny Carson
06:03

Eddie Albert

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Betty White on working with Eddie Albert, Sam Peckinpah, Del Moore, Frank De Vol, Seaman Jacobs, and Jack Paar
02:22

Edward Asner

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Betty White on working with Mark Goodson,Dinah Shore, Rod Serling, Grant Tinker, Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Cloris Leachman, and Ted Knight
04:30

Estelle Getty

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Betty White on how she, Beatrice Arthur, Estelle Getty, and Rue McClanahan complemented each other on The Golden Girls
02:23

Ethel Winant

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Betty White on her first appearance as "Sue Ann Nivens" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (cast by Ethel Winant)
06:23

Frank De Vol

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Betty White on working with Eddie Albert, Sam Peckinpah, Del Moore, Frank De Vol, Seaman Jacobs, and Jack Paar
02:22

Grant Tinker

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Betty White on working with Mark Goodson,Dinah Shore, Rod Serling, Grant Tinker, Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Cloris Leachman, and Ted Knight
04:30

Jack Paar

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Betty White on working with Eddie Albert, Sam Peckinpah, Del Moore, Frank De Vol, Seaman Jacobs, and Jack Paar
02:22

James L. Brooks

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Betty White on James L. Brooks, Allan Burns, Ed. Weinberger, Stan Daniels,
06:03

Jay Sandrich

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Betty White on her character "Rose Nylund" on The Golden Girls, and how director Jay Sandrich helped her find her
03:36
Betty White on Allan Burns, Ed. Weinberger, Stan Daniels, Jan Sandrich, Bob Daly, Donna Reed, and Johnny Carson
06:03

Johnny Carson

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Betty White on Allan Burns, Ed. Weinberger, Stan Daniels, Jan Sandrich, Bob Daly, Donna Reed, and Johnny Carson
06:03

Mark Goodson

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Betty White on working with Mark Goodson,Dinah Shore, Rod Serling, Grant Tinker, Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Cloris Leachman, and Ted Knight

Mary Tyler Moore

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Betty White on the end of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
04:09
Betty White on working with Mark Goodson,Dinah Shore, Rod Serling, Grant Tinker, Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Cloris Leachman, and Ted Knight
04:30

Rod Serling

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Betty White on working with Mark Goodson,Dinah Shore, Rod Serling, Grant Tinker, Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Cloris Leachman, and Ted Knight
04:30

Rue McClanahan

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Betty White on how she, Beatrice Arthur, Estelle Getty, and Rue McClanahan complemented each other on The Golden Girls
02:23
Betty White on Vicki Lawrence, Rue McClanahan, Terry Hughes, Susan Harris, and Bob Newhart
03:24

Sam Peckinpah

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Betty White on working with Eddie Albert, Sam Peckinpah, Del Moore, Frank De Vol, Seaman Jacobs, and Jack Paar
02:22

Seaman Jacobs

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Betty White on working with Eddie Albert, Sam Peckinpah, Del Moore, Frank De Vol, Seaman Jacobs, and Jack Paar
02:22

Stan Daniels

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Betty White on Allan Burns, Ed. Weinberger, Stan Daniels, Jan Sandrich, Bob Daly, Donna Reed, and Johnny Carson
06:03

Susan Harris

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Betty White on Vicki Lawrence, Rue McClanahan, Terry Hughes, Susan Harris, and Bob Newhart
03:24

Ted Knight

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Betty White on working with Mark Goodson,Dinah Shore, Rod Serling, Grant Tinker, Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Cloris Leachman, and Ted Knight
04:30

Vicki Lawrence

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Betty White on Vicki Lawrence, Rue McClanahan, Terry Hughes, Susan Harris, and Bob Newhart
03:24

Zsa Zsa Gabor

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Betty White on winning her 1952 Best Actress Emmy 
01:19

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