The most anticipated Saturday Night Live in years is in progress. Betty White is hosting. She is amazing! No, she is beyond amazing because she’s funny with expert timing and needs no pass or lowered bar just because she’s 88½.
First of all she’s hysterically filthy. Every sexually oriented joke of the show has been steered her way. She did the lesbian line. She talked about tacos. She mentioned her boyfriend both used and was a Trojan. She dropped the “F bomb” (though it was bleeped). She appeared on a bit about an NPR baking show:
My muffin hasn’t had a cherry since 1939″
Through the first forty five minutes she seemed to be in every bit (maybe I missed something). That’s a lot of work. It wasn’t until Jay-Z’s first appearance that she briefly disappeared.
Though she starred on a sitcom in TV’s early days Betty White really didn’t break out until 1973 and the Mary Tyler Moore Show. She was already in her 50s!
When you look back at Sue Ann Nivens, Rose on the Golden Girls, Catherine Piper on The Practice and Boston Legal or any of her 100% ad lib game show appearances what stands out is both her timing and incredible ability to play against type. That’s evident tonight. They’re her most endearing qualities. She can say anything and get away with it.
Timing is a skill you might expect to dull with age. It has not for Betty White.
I cannot say enough up her, about tonight’s SNL, about the Snickers commercial that spawned the Facebook group that brought us this show.
God bless you Betty White. You are the real deal and it’s been my privilege to watch you put on this clinic.