When I grow up, I want to be Betty White.
She totally rocked on Saturday Night Live this past weekend. Usually I can barely stay awake to watch the opening skit or two on SNL-- it starts at 11:30pm, but I propped myself up in bed and was wide-eyed and laughing out loud throughout the entire show.
No, it wasn't because they got an 88 1/2 year old white-haired granny to use the F-word (which, of course, was bleeped out). And no it wasn't because she was racier than I ever expected. Betty White rocked because you could see in her eyes just how pumped up she was to be doing a comedy show, in front of a live audience, and getting a fabulous response!
Not only did she do an actual monologue that was pretty darn funny, and significantly more than many other hosts perform, Betty White was in every single skit performed on the show! She was running and moving and performing and changing wigs and making people laugh non-stop for a full hour. I was exhausted just watching her.
If you missed it, here are the monologue and my fave two skits--
Monologue....
The Muffin Lady....
And with Tina Fey as a US Census Taker....
About 28 years ago, my then 16 year old brother, came to visit me in New York. We got up at 4:30 in the morning and drove 45 minutes into New Your City-- To stand in line outside the NBC studios where SNL is taped-- And waited three hours for a chance to get "stand-by" tickets to see the show live that night at 11:30pm.
We scored two ticket and prayed that, after spending the entire day and evening in Manhattan, we'd actually get INSIDE the studio to see the show.
This was back in the day when Eddie Murphy was a SNL cast member-- Yep, it was that long ago. Johnny Cash was the host and a weird looking guy named Elton John was the musical guest.
My brother and I were the last two audience members allowed into the studio for taping! And let me tell you, despite being exhausted from the long day, it was one of the top ten most memorable events of my life. My kid brother had a B.L.A.S.T. and that made it all worth it.
In hindsight, I would have gotten up again at dawn to stand in line outside NBC in hopes of scoring tickets to see Betty White in all her glory. She had perfect comedic timing, a spring in her step and a twinkle in her eye that lite up her face.
At 88 years young, she is a blueprint of the kind of person I'd like to be at 88-- Still up for a challenge, unafraid to stand toe-to-toe with women more than half my age, able to poke fun at myself, and able to tell a good, albeit slightly dirty, joke.
Rock on Betty White!
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins
Posts
Good old Betty.. she is an inspiration to all of us! I love her.
ReplyDeleteI love her she was awesome on Boston Legal! I can't view it here weird how NBC/ABC/CBS they all know where I'm living! That is one thing once we move back I can't wait to watch is SNL.
ReplyDeleteShe is a rock star!! :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteI want to be Betty White too, she is such an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the question you posed over at my place, the book "Breaking Bread in L'Aquila" was released in the US on April 6th and it is available at bookstores and online HERE
Ciao and again thanks for supporting this noble cause,
Eleonora xx
She's really something! Thanks for sharing the clips!
ReplyDeletevery cool. i do want to have that spunk when i get there...when i grow up i wanna be a hound dog though...
ReplyDeleteLove the way you tell a story.
ReplyDeleteAnd love me some Betty *Bleepin'* White!
I thought she was great too! Her timing is perfect.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Colleen
I have always liked Betty White. When I watched TV I liked Golden Girls. What a great memory for you and your brother to get up so early and hightail it into the city and stand in line for hours hoping to get in to SNL. You are right about Betty's timing. She is a master. Thanks for putting the videos here.
ReplyDeleteLoved the videos and you are so right. Her timing is perfect! She has always made me laugh. Dr. John and I just love her! She is a wonderful lady!!
ReplyDeleteHugs
SueAnn
I LOVE Bety White!!! I can't get the videos to play but I will try to look them up online. Thanks for sharing! And what a memory to actually get to be a part of the audience of SNL!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way as you do. I"d love to know her secret: how do you not succumb to the aches and pains and fatigue and fogginess of old age?
ReplyDeleteDo you know if there are any recent interviews with her? I'd love to hear how she does it.
She really rocked it! I plan on having that energy then too.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you added that - I missed SNL and I had heard Betty was great. Very fun.
ReplyDeleteMan oh man, she was brilliant! So brilliant even Larry laughed out loud. And this morning, I watched her sketches again on hulu. Did you know there were three unaired sketches? You can watch them on hulu if you do a "Betty White SNL" search. My favorites were the Lawrence Welk skit, NPR Muffin skit, the Gingey skit, and the scared straight skit. Wait... that was just about all of them! She was tremendous and wouldn't it be cool if she lived long enough to beat out Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin as most prolific guest host?
ReplyDeleteAnd aren't YOU special to have been at an actual SNL taping! I hear it's all done by lottery now.
Can I touch you?
omg, I hear ya on staying up!. i turned it off knowing SHE would be on!. omg...i hope i have her energy and her mouth when i am her age.. especially her mouth...
ReplyDeletedid u notice she got funnier after her hubby passed? he would be so proud of her!.
ReplyDeleteShe looked SO good. I always adored her--since her MTM days.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting those. I missed most of the show because I was asleep! (I had taken pain killers for my stiff neck) I'm so glad to have had the chance to see these skits! Betty White is awesome. And how great that you actually saw SNL back then!
ReplyDeleteShe is the new IT girl. Again! Love her.
ReplyDeleteBetty White is a national treasure. I would love to see her chosen to be one of the Kennedy Center honorees. She's so deserving in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteI remember watching her on our little black and white TV in her first show "Life With Elizabeth," and I've always loved her.
And by the way, 60 is the new 40. At 50, you're still a puppy. ;)
You and I are on the same page. I watched it live, taped it and watched again yesterday after a large Mother's Day brunch. Then, I found the dress rehearsal skits that didn't make the final cut. i posted one this morning: http://womenofcertainage.blogspot.com/2010/05/betty-white-always-funny.html
ReplyDeleteYep, I loved Betty White before but after Saturday night, I too want to be her when I grow up. Back in the day when the World's Fair was in New York my Aunt and Uncle took us to see password and a much younger Betty White.
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific day girl!
I absolutely adore Betty White or is that Blarfengard Blarfengard? Every appearance of hers I've seen has left me loving this woman more. She's such a gem. Unfortunately I missed her SNL appearance so thank you SO much for posting a few of the scenes.
ReplyDeleteThat's such a cool story of your brother and you. :)
I've always loved Betty White ever since her days on the MTM show. Oh Sue Ann. (I'm pretty sure that was her character's name). She is hilarious. A class act.
ReplyDeleteSNL was a huge part of my teenage years. :)
Some people have told me I'll never grow up! Thanks for the clips, Joanna - I hadn't heard of Betty White before.
ReplyDeleteI saw a tiny bit of it this morning on The Today Show. Impressive.
ReplyDeleteEddie Murphy was recently on David Letterman talking about meeting Johnny Cash on SNL! And you were there.
ReplyDeleteOMG!!! I LOVE LOV LOVE HER!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI secretly love watching the golden girls, now and back when it was on prime time!!
OMG and the MUFFIN!!!
I was rolling!!!
Happy week Lady!
Cheers!
I haven't heard what the ratings for that show were, but when we got together on Mother's Day my kids-ages 45 to 51 were all talking about it and me too! I remember watching Betty's "Life With Elizabeth" show back in the 50's and I loved her then.
ReplyDeleteShe absolutely aced it.....I laughed so hard. I pray I have half her energy when I am 88 as she does.......:-) Hugs
ReplyDeleteI just want to BE 88 someday.
ReplyDeleteCasey
I have always liked her!! I hope I look and feel like her when I get her age!!
ReplyDeleteI have always liked her too :).
ReplyDeleteLucky you getting in to see SNL. What a memorable occasion for you.
ReplyDeleteI missed the show but the videos were great. She is something still going strong at her age.
I want to be a muffin lady.
ReplyDeleteI did not get to see her on SNL so thank you for posting the videos. She is hilarious and I hope I look as good and is as active as she is at her age.
ReplyDeleteI hope I can be as vital as she is at her age!
ReplyDeleteShe is fab and reminds me of my wee Scottish Granny who is equally Fabbarooney :0)
ReplyDeleteBetty White is the bee's knees! What a the very best role model for all of us -- isn't she? Thanks for the reminder.... I am sorry I missed the show but appreciate the clips!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the SNL clips, Joanna. I am completely unable to stay up and I forgot to record it! The Tina Fey skit was hilarious!
ReplyDeleteI am a substitute tennis player on Friday mornings with a 4some of 80 year old (& older) doubles players. These women have played together for years!!! They are an inspiration to me too. Over the years I have subbed with them, one has passed on and a few are ill and even with chemo treatments they still show up and hit the ball! Can't run but can certainly place the ball. At almost 58 years old I am the "baby" of this bunch!
OH and PS I also remember Betty White in the old black & white TV game show days when she was on Password with her late hubby, Allen Ludden.
ReplyDeleteI wanna be me in a younger body when I grow up. I love my life now, but my body gives me a few problems.
ReplyDeleteI had a problem turning 50, but turning 60 was just OK. I think it's how you look at it.
Ahe really is fantastic! And what a great experience - getting to view SNL LIVE!! FUN! :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks like your readers love us some Betty. I agree with everyone and with you about wanting to grow up to be her.
ReplyDeleteYeah, she was totally awesome! I loved it! I've consider trying to get stand-by since I live in Connecticut, but have yet to attempt. Kind of hard to figure out a way when you've got kids to deal with, but I hope I get tickets one day. I put my name in the lottery every year hoping I'll get into SNL. They are the hardest tickets to score in television, they say.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved her, she plays the ditzy characters so well.
ReplyDeleteShe's sharper at her age than I am at 42.
I hear they're trying to get her on the next season of Dancing with the Starts... I say, go for it! Couldn't be any worse than Cloris Leachman.
wasn't she just the best !!!
ReplyDeletegosh, i hope i'm all together like that at even 68 :)
and as far as graduation goes....i have one that is supposed to be graduating, but he has f&%^#ed up his last quarter and might not make it....
but when my daughter was leaving for college 4 years ago, we told her to love life....everyday, be thankful for where you're at what you're able to do :)
That was the best SNL episode in years. So cool that you actually got to see a taping. Hubs and I go to NYC every year but have never camped out for tickets before.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved her. I think she is one of my most favorites!
ReplyDeleteThe muffin skit is hilarious! :-D
ReplyDeletebetty white is amazing. hard to top her.
ReplyDeleteHow funny was she!! We loved it. That is such an awesome memory with you and brother making it into SNL. The two of you will be talking about that when you're 88 1/2.
ReplyDeleteAs for your question: I don't want to grow up.