Hello, everyone. As you all know (to the bitter heartbreak of us all), Betty White has passed away earlier today at the age of 99 - just 18 days shy of her 100th birthday. Personally, I'm shocked, stunned and saddened. She will one of my all-time favorites in the world of acting and entertainment and her works are some of my all-time favorites in television history.
Here is my history of watching the works of Betty White.
Of course, like many kids of the time, I first watched her shine in her iconic Emmy-winning role of sweet-but-scatterbrained Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls during reruns of the equally-Emmy-winning series on Lifetime throughout the late 90s and early aughts. Since then, it changed networks (Hallmark Channel and TV Land among them), but I always watched because it was a damn near perfect sitcom, in part because of her charismatic, vivacious, magnetic and multilayered performance and her 1000-watt smile and disposition supported by an equally-talented cast (Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty).
Throughout the years since, I would see her pop up on other sitcoms, talk shows,, news programs and game shows - whether new or old. She was just as sweet, charming, funny and electric as she was on The Golden Girls. Password (the original hosted by her late husband Allen Ludden), Match Game, To Tell the Truth, I've Got a Secret and Just Men! (of which she hosted and received a Daytime Emmy) are just some of the shows she's appeared on and excelled with her contestant partners and on her on own wits and skills.
Speaking of TV Land, her next sitcom -- Hot in Cleveland (on which she stars as offbeat, snarky but up-with-the-times caretaker Elka Ovstrosky) also became a fan favorite of mine, also in part because of her. Her performance as a half-bitter, half-caring, always drunken smart-ass was both hilarious and memorable and is unforgettable. Her hosting gig on Saturday Night Live is also iconic and unforgettable (and I bet the cast and former cast members who guessed will also never forget it) and led to another well-deserved Emmy. And all it took was a successful campaign on Facebook after her surprisingly awesome appearance in a Snickers commercial.
She is also remembered for her roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show as Sue Ann Nivens - a local cooking TV show host who is sweet and kind when the cameras are on, and salty, snarky and man-hungry when they're off; and Life with Elizabeth as Elizabeth - a housewife whose zany antics turn her marriage and home life upside down. On the latter, White co-created and produced on the series - the first woman actor in television history to do so, and receiving an Emmy nomination for her work. That is something that should be recognized as a major section of television history.
Betty is also an avid animal rights activist, giving as much of her time to her fights to give our four-footed, furry friends as she does entertaining us on-screen. Her work with multiple organizations to give animals a better, sheltered and loving life has been documented throughout her life and career, and her efforts in such have been successful throughout the country, with many animal shelters opening up, animals being adopted and praise from magazines and millions for the love and care she's never stopped giving to the friends who needed it the most -- including several cats and dogs she's adopted over the years.
Over the years, I've had the privilege of watching the work of Betty White more and more with each series she starred in, and is always transfixed and amazed by her immense talents and endless charm.
She is one of the biggest, best, brightest, beautiful, brilliant and bombastic talents the world has ever seen. She will be missed, and her life and career will definitely live on for the rest of time and will stand the test of time. Thank you, Ms. White for all of your God-given talents, abilities and love. We are all forever grateful to have you as a vessel for the greatest pieces of American (and even worldwide) entertainment.