Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 6 p.m. on KPBS TV / On demand now with KPBS Passport!
—A celebration of one of America’s most beloved stars with Ryan Reynolds, Valerie Bertinelli, Tina Fey, Carl Reiner and more—
Filmed over the course of 10 years by the team behind the acclaimed PIONEERS OF TELEVISION series, “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.
“Betty White has created some of the most memorable characters in television history,” said Jerry Liwanag, Vice President of Fundraising Programming, PBS. “This new special reveals that she’s been a groundbreaking pioneer since her earliest days in the fledgling medium – both in front of and behind the camera. Her talent and creativity are timeless, transcending generations and cementing her legacy with each passing decade. She’s truly one of a kind.”
"The goal of the film from the beginning was to highlight the universal appeal that is Betty White...to showcase Betty's life in front of and behind the curtain,” said co-director Steven J. Boettcher.
“Betty White: First Lady Of Television” traces Betty’s remarkable career, from her early days in radio to her first TV series as co-host of a live, five-and-a-half-hour, six-day-a-week variety show. She produced and starred in the pioneering sitcom LIFE WITH ELIZABETH and was a popular TV personality throughout the 50s and 60s.
A rabid game player in real life, Betty was a much sought-after game show contestant. It was during an appearance on PASSWORD where she first met the man who would become her husband and the love of her life, Allen Ludden. The 1970s saw Betty win two Emmys for her role as the man-hungry “Happy Homemaker” on THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW.” Betty earned another Emmy in the mid-80s for her role as Rose on THE GOLDEN GIRLS. She made history when she hosted SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE in 2010 at the age of 88 – and won yet another Emmy.
Although she continues to attain roles and accolades, Betty’s true love is animals; she has been a passionate animal advocate throughout her career.
Watch On Your Schedule:
This film is on demand now with KPBS Passport, a benefit for members supporting KPBS at $60 or more yearly, using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.
With the PBS Video App, you can watch your favorite and local station shows. Download it for free on your favorite device. The app allows you to catch up on recent episodes and discover award-winning shows.Credits:
A film by Steven J. Boettcher and Michael J. Trinklein. Directed and produced by Boettcher, with Stephanie Theisen as editor.
