January 17th, 2012
Betty White kicked off her 90th birthday celebration with the world watching - or, at least,
the 14 million who tuned in to NBC at 8 p.m.
The celebrated "Golden Girl" officially enters her ninth decade today, and NBC threw her a birthday party during primetime Monday that featured guest appearances from other funny folks like Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett and White's former co-star, Mary Tyler Moore, in a 90-minute special. Even President Obama sent in a video message - asking White to prove she's 90 by providing a long-form birth certificate (at least he can joke about that now?).
Meanwhile, "Chuck" actor Zachary Levi proclaimed his love for White with a marriage proposal, and got a kiss in return.
The A.V. Club describes the special as "an extended lifetime achievement presentation mixed with a fair amount of roasting." It wasn't as cutting as the kind you'll find on Comedy Central - one example included Amy Poehler making a wisecrack on White's age, saying that she considers the actress to be a pioneer - because 90 years ago she arrived in California via stage coach.
White told those gathered, "I've been the luckiest broad on two feet to have all the jobs that I've had." Indeed, the 90-year-old star is not slowing down at all. Her new program, "Betty White's Off Their Rockers," debuted last night on NBC following her birthday special. The hidden camera series features the senior citizen set pulling pranks on the unsuspecting.