Public Media from Michigan State University

Betty White: First Lady of Television | Special

Composite of Betty White recently and in the early 1950s.
Courtesy of Pioneers of Television Archives

Sun. Aug. 19, 8pm on WKAR-HD 23.1 |  Celebrate the beloved star’s 80th anniversary in show business with this warm look at her life and career! Watch and call for special offers or GIVE NOW HERE.

Betty White: First Lady of Television|is a warm look at the life and career of the beloved television and film legend who celebrates 80 years in show business this year — officially the longest career in the history of TV. Lauded for her roles as the bawdy Sue Ann on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, the innocent Rose on The Golden Girls and her more recent role as the worldly Elka on Hot in Cleveland, Betty White is also an industry pioneer. She was the first woman to produce a national TV show, the first woman to star in a sitcom, the first producer to hire a female director and the first woman to receive an Emmy nomination.

Granted exclusive access to Betty and her team, the producers were able to capture the magic of her performances at various venues, along with more personal moments at home and interacting with close friends — one of whom is a 900-pound grizzly bear. The film is packed with hilarious clips from her long career and comments from friends and co-stars, including Valerie Bertinelli, Georgia Engel, Tina Fey, Valerie Harper, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Gavin MacLeod, Carl Reiner, Ryan Reynolds, Tom Sullivan, Alex Trebek and many more.

Watch and call for special offers or GIVE NOW HERE.

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