The Betty White Show | |
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John Hillerman and Betty White, 1977
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Created by |
Ed. Weinberger Stan Daniels |
Developed by | David Lloyd |
Directed by |
James Burrows Harvey Medlinsky Noam Pitlik Doug Rogers |
Starring |
Betty White John Hillerman Georgia Engel |
Composer(s) | Dick DeBenedictis |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 14 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) |
Stan Daniels Ed. Weinberger |
Producer(s) |
Bob Ellison Dale McRaven |
Camera setup | Multi-camera |
Running time | 22–24 minutes |
Production company(s) | MTM Enterprises |
Distributor |
20th Television (1997-present) |
Release | |
Original network | CBS |
Audio format | Monaural |
Original release | September 12, 1977 | – January 2, 1978
The Betty White Show is an American sitcom which aired on CBS from September 12, 1977, to January 2, 1978. Fourteen episodes were broadcast. The series was produced by MTM Enterprises. Note: This program should not be confused with two earlier television programs that had the same title—a daytime talk show that ran on NBC February 8, 1954 – December 31, 1954, and a prime-time comedy variety show that ran on ABC February 5, 1958 – April 30, 1958.
Joyce Whitman (Betty White), a middle-aged actress, lands the lead in a fictitious police series, Undercover Woman (a parody of Angie Dickinson's Police Woman). Joyce is thrilled with the show, but less pleased to learn that the director is her ex-husband, John Elliot (John Hillerman), whom she unfondly refers to as "old pickle puss". He responds in kind, supplying his star with an oversized male double named Hugo (Charles Cyphers), a sexy, much younger onscreen sidekick (Caren Kaye), and dialogue not nearly as sharp as her tongue. Also on hand are Joyce's best friend, Mitzi Maloney (Georgia Engel), co-star actor Fletcher Huff (Barney Phillips) and network penny-pincher Doug Porterfield (Alex Henteloff).
The series was scheduled opposite ABC's Monday Night Football and The NBC Monday Movie and failed to generate viewers. The show was canceled after fourteen episodes.
The Betty White Show was briefly rerun on Nick at Nite and TV Land in the 1990s.