Althouse: Goodbye to Betty White.

December 31, 2021

Goodbye to Betty White.

67 comments:

Ignorance is Bliss said...: 2021 seems intent on providing every last bit of suckage it can possibly muster.; 12/31/21, 2:17 PM
Baceseras said...: Startling to be reminded so starkly that however miserable the past year may have now and then seemed it couldn't have been all bad when there was still Betty White.

I'll think of her sitting on the dock at the end of Lake Placid...; 12/31/21, 2:25 PM
Gahrie said...: She was a great dame, a classy lady and a funny woman. I'll miss her. R.I.P.; 12/31/21, 2:26 PM
Carol said...: What a great career she had. It felt like I'd seen her all my life and come to find out I had, because she got her start in local LA TV and was on all the time.

Some people just got it.; 12/31/21, 2:33 PM
Amexpat said...: Back in the late 60s BW lived a few miles from my family in the northern suburbs of NYC. It was an area with a lot of woods and we let our male dog come and go as he pleased.

One day we got a call from BW, she had a female dog in heat and our dog had smashed through a glass door to get to her dog. My parents offered to pay for her broken door, but BW merrily declined saying that our dog was just doing what was natural for him to do. She had only called to let us know that our dog had cuts on his face from breaking the glass and needed to go to the vet.; 12/31/21, 2:35 PM
BUMBLE BEE said...: Watched her all along. A fixture on the game shows, and a razor wit. R.I.P. Betty.; 12/31/21, 2:36 PM
Big Mike said...: So good to see an actress embrace the reality that she got old — as do all of us unless we are very unlucky. Wish she had made it to a full century, though. She missed it by only 18 days.; 12/31/21, 2:40 PM
Breezy said...: Always with that mischievous fun-loving look in her eye…. RIP; 12/31/21, 2:43 PM
rhhardin said...: (Fussing around looking for Sandra Bullock's breasts) "It's like an Easter egg hunt."; 12/31/21, 2:47 PM
MadisonMan said...: She was one of my favorite Password players. (Carol Burnett and Peter Lawford were also up there as favorites). Betty was born before my Dad. She's earned a good rest.; 12/31/21, 2:47 PM
cfs said...: Died before her time.

What did Betty White have on Hillary Clinton?; 12/31/21, 2:51 PM
Joe Smith said...: Best comment I've seen so far was something like, 'She made it to 99 and everyone seemed to like her. Not bad.'; 12/31/21, 2:52 PM
NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...: She would have turned 100 next month.; 12/31/21, 3:06 PM
NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...: Amexpat said...

One day we got a call from BW, she had a female dog in heat and our dog had smashed through a glass door to get to her dog. My parents offered to pay for her broken door, but BW merrily declined saying that our dog was just doing what was natural for him to do.

Rumor has it that Allen Ludden was known to do the same thing on occasion.

(In before Lazlo!); 12/31/21, 3:10 PM
rehajm said...: I’m sorry to hear.; 12/31/21, 3:14 PM
Bilwick said...: A few years ago one of the Christian stations here, which augments the religious stuff with "family friendly" shows from the l950s, ran episodes of her two sitcoms from the early Fifties. The first thing I noticed was that ol' Betty had a heckuva body back in the day. I was thinking it a shame she didn't become a Playboy Playmate. Then those nude photos of her from circa 1949 appeared on line, and confirmed my suspicion she was quite the hottie under those clothes. Allen Ludden was one lucky guy.; 12/31/21, 3:15 PM
BG said...: She made getting old look fun. RIP, Betty.

I wonder if she'll be laid to rest next to Allen Ludden? (Or maybe her ashes?) His gravestone has just his name on it. Ludden Lake (Mineral Point, WI) was named after his great-uncle. (AL took his step-father's last name when his mother remarried.); 12/31/21, 3:16 PM
rcocean said...: She was great as Sue Ann Nivens "The Happy Homemaker".

https://youtu.be/CJ33tYWBADE; 12/31/21, 3:22 PM
rcocean said...: I loved that clip from password. Amazing that she was what 40 at the time? At the time, those gameshows were discussed as the ultimate in vulgar pap. Now, they look sophicated and intelligent!

A very good actress, and an very attractive personality. Glad she lived to be 99.; 12/31/21, 3:24 PM
rcocean said...: As I watched Shelley Berman, I kept thinking this guy's a Comedian? Then I read his wikipedia page. Yep, he wasn't much of a comedian.; 12/31/21, 3:26 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Reddit is asking who’s going to inherit the title of most beloved personality.

Keanu Reeves and Dolly Parton were neck to neck.; 12/31/21, 3:31 PM
David Begley said...: Allen Ludden had to propose to her twice before she accepted.; 12/31/21, 3:34 PM
Jeff Weimer said...: Keanu and Dolly neck and neck?

IDK, I think Dolly has that one in a walk.; 12/31/21, 3:42 PM
Howard said...: The first TV Cougar. She had a great run.; 12/31/21, 3:49 PM
Leland said...: I'm impressed. 99 years of age, not fighting a known terminal illness for years, cognizant and mobile to the last, well loved, and then to die of natural causes. We all have our time and that's a good way to go out.; 12/31/21, 3:49 PM
Jaq said...: :^(; 12/31/21, 4:21 PM
Narayanan said...: remarkable resemblance to Maggie Thatcher esp hair nose chin and close age wise

surprised she was not asked to play the role in movie.; 12/31/21, 4:28 PM
tcrosse said...: I fell in love with her on Life With Elizabeth, back in the days of steam television. At the end of each episode, Jack Narz would ask "Elizabeth, aren't you ashamed?" and she would smile that smile and shake her head.; 12/31/21, 5:03 PM
Jay Vogt said...: Lost Cloris Leachman earlier this year too.

. . . .that was a couple of classy broads.; 12/31/21, 5:04 PM
Yancey Ward said...: 2021 can go fuck itself.; 12/31/21, 5:30 PM
Sally327 said...: Betty White couldn't have a career if she were starting out today. Too white. Too hetero (I think?!). Too middle class, too American made. What does she know about the struggle?

But I don't know, maybe I am wrong about that. Maybe real talent and fortitude, like she had, it would find a way even in today's environment.

I wonder who she's visiting first, after Allen, assuming there's this entertainment heaven where people like Mary Tyler Moore and Rue McClanahan are hanging out reminiscing about the old days and acting out funny bits from their shows.; 12/31/21, 5:57 PM
mikee said...: She triumphed in her scene in "Lake Placid," where she's feeding a whole live cow to the giant crocodile, and doing so as if this was a normal farm chore. Or at least like the final post-credit scene of that movie, where she's tossing tidbits to a passel of baby crocs at the end of her dock, mischievously.; 12/31/21, 6:00 PM
gspencer said...: When Betty started with the Golden Girls in 1985, she was just shy of 64. That's hardly being in the golden years. And she was gifted with a youthful glow which lasted into her 90s.

GG was a fun show and we sure could use something like it today. The lefties' version of the GG is the View to which I say, no thanks.

Ted Knight is waiting to reconnect.; 12/31/21, 6:00 PM
dreams said...: I can remember watching a young pretty Betty White on TV when I was a kid.; 12/31/21, 7:05 PM
Josephbleau said...: It's great to remember when stars had personality and intelligence, and were attractive. They were people you really liked, unlike today's stars. Aksually, there are a few with the same old deal, Murray. Ackroyd, Martin, Hellen Hunt, and the early DeGeneris. And the cancelled Kielor.; 12/31/21, 7:24 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Ooops

Link👉🏽 https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/rt2ubz/the_cover_of_people_magazine/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf; 12/31/21, 7:51 PM
john said...: Shelly Berman cheats.; 12/31/21, 7:58 PM
William said...: She had a long life and had no visible scars at the end. There are many successful lives, but the accomplishments are not usually accompanied by all that much happiness. It's good to see someone have a happy, successful life. It helps to keep us all in the game. I'm hoping for her kind of life next incarnation....Mary Taylor Moore was not Mary Taylor Moore, but she was Betty White.; 12/31/21, 8:23 PM
Tina Trent said...: Happy New Year, friends. I lost the last of my near family this year. To go to Alhouse and find the same people squabbling over the same minutiae: priceless. I wish you all a figgy pudding and a happy new year.; 12/31/21, 8:27 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: RIP Betty White. She was great - the whole time!

******************
Happy New Year.; 12/31/21, 8:45 PM
rcocean said...: "I lost the last of my near family this year."

Either say plainly what happened = or shut up. By not doing so, you just sound like a passive agressive fake.; 12/31/21, 8:47 PM
rcocean said...: Hello Happy NEw Year,

I just want to say, although I feel superior to everyone here, all you "little people" have brightened my life.

Thanks - hope you keep me amused.; 12/31/21, 8:49 PM
Rollo said...: Shelley Berman: my recollection is that he may have been droll and going for a heartfelt "awww" sometimes, rather than a laugh. Also, didn't Bob Newhart steal his telephone act? I think Shelley may have felt that way.; 12/31/21, 9:19 PM
DanTheMan said...: >>I just want to say, although I feel superior to everyone here, all you "little people" have brightened my life.

Thanks, Ocean. Now be a good sport and have the maid bring in some more tea, please.; 12/31/21, 9:38 PM
Narr said...: RIP 2021, and Betty White. I knew she existed but to me she was famous for being famous--the biographical knowledge on display has increased my own understanding 10 times or more.

For all the crap, on net my '21 was pretty good, and I wish others could say the same.

To everyone at Prof. Althouse's all night windmill--

Happy New Year Y'all!; 12/31/21, 9:43 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Tweet: You got to admit, having an entire mag devoted to your 100 birthday hit the racks and then dying before that birthday is excellent comic timing.; 12/31/21, 9:45 PM
jpg said...: She had a smart little part in one of my favorite political thrillers, Advise and Consent, in 1962, playing a Senator from Kansas.; 12/31/21, 9:46 PM
The Godfather said...: Betty is the last one to join "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" stars in that eternal TV studio. Gives us old farts something to look forward to.; 12/31/21, 9:56 PM
Rollo said...: Cloris Leachman always seemed to be the same age, probably because for me she came on the scene as MTM's older friend and as Jeff Bridges "Old! Old! Old!" girlfiend. It was similar with Carl Reiner who was bald early and DVD's TV boss and Meathead's dad. He seemed to be about 50 for 50 years.

Betty was sort of the same. She was around my whole life, like Bill Shatner, but she wasn't working all the time like he was. Maybe she took the time to enjoy life.

Time marches on. Happy 2022.; 12/31/21, 10:01 PM
Another old lawyer said...: Saw another list that added Denzel Washington to Reeves and Parton. That seems right.; 12/31/21, 10:41 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Happy New 2022 🥳; 12/31/21, 11:00 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Times Square looks like a living dead convention.; 12/31/21, 11:03 PM
gspencer said...: "He seemed to be about 50 for 50 years."

On the score of looking-old-for-a-long-time nobody can beat Abe Vigoda.

In the end even Father Time wouldn't let him off the hook. Not even for old times sake.; 12/31/21, 11:23 PM
effinayright said...: The only thing I remember Shelley Berman doing was a piece on an album about waking up horribly hung over, and dropping two Alka Seltzers into a glass of water next to his bed:

"Oh my God!!! DON'T... FIZZ!"; 1/1/22, 3:08 AM
effinayright said...: Jay Vogt said...
Lost Cloris Leachman earlier this year too.

. . . .that was a couple of classy broads.

**********************

Yessssss!!! He vas my...BOYFRIEND!!!"

I nearly got a hernia laughing.; 1/1/22, 3:11 AM
Robert Cook said...: The headlines proclaiming her death “at 99” are bullshit. A person three weeks from her 100th Birthday is indisputably 100 years old more than she is 99 years old.; 1/1/22, 6:43 AM
michaele said...: Betty White ,in her later years, always made me think that being cute, smart and good humored ages well.; 1/1/22, 7:36 AM
Meade said...: I prefer the headlines proclaim my death “at 99” rather than “at 100.” 99 is far more memorable and visually pleasing.; 1/1/22, 8:04 AM
dreams said...: When I die, I hope it's just after my birthday rather than just before. Whatever, I won't know.; 1/1/22, 8:13 AM
farmgirl said...: I hate goodbyes.
This thread says it all- &may the Angels be her guide.; 1/1/22, 8:20 AM
farmgirl said...: Didn’t George Burns die at 99, as well?; 1/1/22, 8:21 AM
dreams said...: George Burns, died at 100, just barely.; 1/1/22, 8:31 AM
Narr said...: My Oma made it to 94, the record for any relatives of mine AFAIK.

The only relevance is that she died on January 1, 1984. RIP, Oma.; 1/1/22, 11:02 AM
Paul said...: 1963... back in the days. Man I was 8 years old back then.

Clean decent shows. MTM show... yea. I don't care if she was liberal or conservative... she always had class and integrity.; 1/1/22, 11:59 AM
Paul From Minneapolis said...: "Oh, Lou - press your advantage!"; 1/1/22, 1:53 PM
Doug said...: And her Snickers commercial. Now THAT'S damn funny.; 1/1/22, 2:13 PM
Tina Trent said...: Rcocean: it was my little brother. I felt I was trying to provide him some privacy. He kicked an excruciating disease in the ass for 53 years. He lived in hospitals. The last weeks were the sort of suffering that give you nightmares. Lacking kidney function and with a spine and liver full of tumors, they gave him ... Tylenol.

He still wanted to live. That's a man.

I don't know how old you are, but even a mother couldn't love you. I wouldn't mind serving time in prison to kick your ass. As I use my real name, even a dolt like you could find me.

Watch out for the dogs though, you shitbag.; 1/3/22, 8:18 AM