If celebrities ever want insight on how to handle themselves with the media, they should look to 88-year-old Betty White. She’s been in the business longer than most of the people in this industry have been alive. Yet, the legendary comedienne/actress remains lovely, gracious, kind and hilariously self deprecating. It’s no wonder she is still as in demand today as she was during her “Golden Girls” heyday.
She’ll be hosting “Saturday Night Live” on May 8, but why is she scared? Plus, lots of fun tidbits about “Glee” straight from the stars. It’s all in today’s Dish!
Betty’s Bold Admission
“I’m scared!” That’s what Betty White told me yesterday about her upcoming hosting gig on “SNL.” “It’s very New York and I’m anything but New York,” Betty explained. “I kind of feel like a fish out of water, but we’ll just go and put one foot in front of the other!”
She initially told her agent “no” when he was approached with the idea after “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels found out about a grassroots Facebook campaign stumping for Betty. “I’m busy out here and all that. He said, ‘You have to do the show.’ Well, my agent says you have to do something [and I say,] ‘Yes sir, OK! I’ll do it.’”
Betty will get some help from some former cast members who have agreed to return for the special Mother’s Day episode, including Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon. “I’m thrilled that they’re having Tina Fey, Amy and Ana, but uh, it’s still… you’re not in a comfortable situation, and I understand it’s all cue cards. Well, I can’t work from cue cards. I have to memorize.”
Now this I can’t wait to see because, as many of us dedicated “SNL” watchers know, most of the celebrities rely heavily on those cue cards and we chuckle as we watch their eyes follow along during a sketch. It’s not an option for Betty. “I’ve always worked that way. Also, in order to read cue cards I have to put my glasses on,” she explained.
Betty will officially be the oldest person to ever host the long running sketch show. When I brought this up to her she joked, “I’m the oldest person to ever do anything!”
In other Betty TV news, the actress will co-star in a new sitcom for TV Land called “Hot in Cleveland” with Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick and Jane Leeves premiering June 16. The show is about three 40 and 50-something women who ditch their lives in Los Angeles to try and find love in Cleveland. I watched the pilot and absolutely fell in love with this show! It reminded me of Betty’s old show, “Golden Girls.”
Gleek Out!
Tonight the wait is over. “Glee” finally returns with its back nine episodes. I grilled the cast at a premiere party last night for some spoilers. Here is what I learned…
As Chris Colfer already revealed to me a couple of weeks ago, his character Kurt will mastermind a love match between he and Finn’s (Cory Monteith) parents (who have both lost their spouses). The actor who plays Kurt’s father, Mike O’Malley, spilled the beans that this relationship will last at least through the end of the season.
Some photos came out on the Internet of Mark Salling yesterday dressed as a member of KISS. This is for the Lady Gaga-inspired episode which they are currently shooting. The episode is about theatrics and the girls and guys will compete to show their most theatrical sides.
Find out what Lea Michele had to say about shooting her Gaga scenes HERE.
Patrick Gallagher, who plays football coach Ken Tanaka, will take his breakup with fiancee Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays) very hard. He turns to food as comfort and had to film scenes in a fat suit!
The McKinley high school blogger, Jacob Ben Israel, played by Josh Sussman, tells me he will become very powerful this season.
Molly Shannon guest stars in several episodes as a new teacher who runs the badminton club. She apparently has quite a past which includes alcohol, drugs and daliances with students!
Kevin McHale’s Artie has a major storyline coming up where we will get to learn way more about his life in a wheelchair and things will heat up between he and love interest Tina.
And one spoiler for tonight’s episode, which is just hours away. So, I won’t feel too bad for telling you this — teacher Will’s love affair with Emma is not the fairytale it seems. He’s not the standup guy we all think he is! “Oh come on,” Matthew exclaimed at the party. “He left his crazy wife and you know, everyone thought he was gonna be with Emma but Emma’s got some crazy going on herself. I think he kind of realized he went from one crazy to another crazy. So he’s finding his way through the waters.”
Check out my interviews from the party HERE.
Tomorrow, my interviews with former “American Idol” contestants as they partner up with “Idol Gives Back” to help Feeding America.
Want to see photos today? Follow me on Twitter! twitter.com/dishofsalt.
Copyright © 2024 by NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be republished, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.