Summary 10 years in the making, the PBS special takes a look at the nearly 70 year long career of Betty White with clips, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews from costars and friends such as Pamela Adlon, Valerie Bertinelli, Carol Burnett, Georgia Engel, Tina Fey, Valerie Harper, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Gavin MacLeod, Carl Reiner, Ryan Reynol...

Documentary

Betty White: First Lady of Television

Name: Betty White: First Lady of Television
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2018-08-21
Rating: 75
Cast: Betty White, Valerie Bertinelli, Sandra Bullock, Tim Conway, Tyne Daly

Season 1 Premiere: Aug 21, 2018

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 4 Critic Reviews

User Score Available after 4 ratings

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Documentary

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Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 4 Critic Reviews

75% Positive
3 Reviews

25% Mixed
1 Review

0% Negative
0 Reviews

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Mixed Reviews
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Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 4 Critic Reviews

75% Positive
3 Reviews

25% Mixed
1 Review

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Boston Herald

Aug 21, 2018

The documentary, filmed over several years, takes a nonlinear approach to White’s career and skips over things like her first two marriages. Just go with it--it’s worth the ride and ultimately leaves you wanting a week’s worth of clips.

By Mark A. Perigard FULL REVIEW

The Hollywood Reporter

Aug 21, 2018

Although expectedly hagiographic, the documentary goes down as light and as welcome as a slice of chiffon cake.

By Robyn Bahr FULL REVIEW

Wall Street Journal

Aug 16, 2018

“First Lady of Television”--something literally true, almost--does a good job of recapturing the disarray of an infant medium. ... But more fun is watching the actress’s metamorphoses and incarnations: the coyly sexy TV host of the ’50s; the “Password” contestant of the ’60s (with her husband, Allen Ludden ); “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” in the ’70s, and “The Golden Girls” in the ’80s and ’90s (with plenty of other appearances in between).

By John Anderson FULL REVIEW

TV Guide Magazine

Aug 16, 2018

A sweet but slight biographical tribute. [20 Aug - 2 Sep 2018, p.11]

By Matt Roush FULL REVIEW

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Production Company:

Boettcher/Trinklein Productions

Initial Release Date: Aug 21, 2018

Number of seasons: 0 Seasons

Genres:

Documentary

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Betty White: First Lady of Television

Top Cast

Betty White

Self

Valerie Bertinelli

Self

Sandra Bullock

Self

Tim Conway

Self

Tyne Daly

Self

Michael Dee

Self - Retired General Curator, Los Angeles Zoo

Arthur Duncan

Self - Dancer

Nelson Eddy

Self

Lisa Edelstein

Self

Georgia Engel

Self

Tony Fantozzi

Self - Betty's Agent 1965 - 1997

Tina Fey

Self

Michelle Forbes

Self

Sharon Gless

Self

Merv Griffin

Self

Valerie Harper

Self

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Self

Al Jarvis

Self

Linda Lavin

Self

Allen Ludden

Self

Critic Reviews

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Critic Reviews

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User Reviews

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Awards

Awards

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