95 YEARS OF TELEVISION - A look at Betty White's eighty year career

There is one woman who has been on television constantly, appearing in new offerings every single decade starting in the 1930s.

Betty White, who is currently, ninety-nine years old at the time of this writing, has done more for television comedy, not only was she the first woman producer of her own show, but she also had a starring role in at least have a dozen popular TV shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls, Boston Legal and Hot in Cleveland. Unlike most television stars who were there for the birth of television, Betty White has staying power, managing to continually impress with every decade. Dubbed America’s sweetheart in a recent documentary on her life, Betty has led an eighty-year career on the small screen. The most interesting thing about Betty’s career, even the longest running show, Meet the Press, hasn’t been on TV as long as she has. Let’s look at some of her triumphs on the small screen.

1930s - The Debut

Just out of school, Betty and her classmates appeared on an experimental television show called The Merry Widow in 1939, singing with her friends.

1940s - The War Years

Unfortunately, World War II took up a lot of Betty’s time, but when the war ended in 1945, she continued to work in the entertainment industry, taking on parts in key radio shows at the time, even offered her own show, The Betty White Show. However, the forties ended with Betty back on television, she co-hosted a television variety show, Hollywood on Television from 1949 to 1953.

1950s - First Female Producer

As more and more people were accepting television into their homes, Betty White continued to make an influence, appearing in her own sitcom Life with Elizabeth, which she also produced from 1953-1955. She followed this up with her second, The Betty White Show, this time on TV in 1954, though cancelled eight months later. Starting in 1955, she started her appearance on game show circuits, first with What’s My Line?  (1955-56), and To Tell the Truth in 1958. She followed this up with a leading role in Date with the Angels (1957-58) and becoming a recurring star on the Tonight with Jack Paar from 1958 to 1962 and continued making appearances when Johnny Carson took over.

1960s - The Game Show Circuit

Betty White continued on the game show circuit, as a regular panelist on Password for its original run 1961-1975, as well as its spin offs over the decades. She also participated in Match Game, starting in 1963, Chain Letter in 1966 and Liar’s Club in 1969. She was a recurring performer on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. At the close of the decade, she started her tradition of appearing as a guest star in popular television shows, this time in Petticoat Junction.

1970s - Sue Ann Niven Years

This was the decade that truly made Betty White a household name, starring as the man hungry Sue Ann Niven in The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1973-1977). In 1975, Betty was offered to host the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which she continued to preside over for the next ten years. She was given another opportunity to have her own show in 1978, her fourth to be titled The Betty White Show. (The third time in 1958). She continued to participate in game shows, as well as making notable contributions to hit television shows including, The Odd Couple (1972), The Carol Burnett Show (1975), and The Sonny and Cher Show (1976-77) 

1980s - Rose Nyland Years

Betty continued to play in the game show circuit adding the $25,000 Pyramid starting in 1982, and Trivia Trap (1984), to her list of appearances, and winning an Emmy for her turn as host in Just Men! (1983). Because she originated the role on The Carol Burnett Show, she was offered to continue playing it on Mama’s Family (1983-86). Like she did in the last two decades, Betty could be found in guest roles on popular shows like The Love Boat (1980), Fame (1983), Hotel (1984), St. Elsewhere and Who’s the Boss (1985), before taking on her next major starting role as the dimwitted, and ditzy, yet funny Saint Olaf raised Rose Nyland on The Golden Girls (1985-1992). She played the role in three other sitcoms, including Empty Nest (1989-1992) and Nurses (1991)

1990s - Guest Starring in...

The Golden Girls ended in 1992, but Betty played Rose one last time in The Golden Palace, a lackluster sequel (1992-1993). The 1990s allowed Betty to partake in some popular films on the big screen, but she peppered the small screen with numerous guest starring roles: Diagnosis: Murder (1994), Suddenly Susan and The John Larroquette Show (1996), ending the decade with a guest stint on Ally McBeal, lending her voice to King of the Hill, and the lead role in Ladies Man.

2000s - The Boston Legal Years

Now in her late seventies, we would think Betty White would slowdown or retire, however, she still had a few more surprises for us, including adding her voice the long list of guest stars on The Simpsons as well as making appearances on popular TV shows like, The Ellen Show (2001), Yes, Dear (2002), The Practice, My Wife and Kids and Malcolm in the Middle (2004), Family Guy (2006), Ugly Betty (2007), 30 Rock (2009). During this decade she had a recurring role on The Bold and Beautiful (2006-2009), which was her third Soap Opera, and a main role in Boston Legal (2005-2008).

2010s - Oldest SNL Host

In this last decade, Betty continued to impress, not only was she the oldest host of Saturday Night Live in 2010 at the age eighty-eight, appearing in almost every sketch, which is a gruelling task, but she gave us 128 episodes in the leading role as Elka Ostovsky in Hot in Cleveland (2010-2015). She hosted two television shows near the close of the decade as well. Betty White’s Smartest Animals in America and Betty White’s Off Their Rockers, where elderly people play pranks on the youngsters. She made appearances on such shows as Community and The Middle (2010), Bones, (2015-2017), and Crowded (2016). Her last outing was voicing a character on the Disney+ series, Forky Asks A Question.

Lastly in Betty White’s eighty year, she has 9 showbiz awards, nominated for 33 awards in total. She was honored for her roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Golden Girls, The John Larroquette Show, Suddenly Susan, Ally McBeal, Yes, Dear, The Practice, My Name is Earl, Saturday Night Live, Hot in Cleveland, Betty White’s Off Their Rockers, Just Men! and Life with Elizabeth. She also won, People’s Choice Awards’ TV Icon in 2015, star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995, The Female Star of the Year in 1986, Disney Legend status, The Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award fro Excellence in Comedy, and the Emmy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.

The only question that remains, what is she going to do next?