Why we can’t get enough of Betty White

Update: Hot In Cleveland is no longer on Showmax. Find your next binge in the full series catalogue here.

At 95, Betty White is the queen of sitcom TV and she’s showing no signs of slowing down. Not sure what we’re going on about? Internet streaming service Showmax’s catalogue features all six seasons of Betty’s show Hot In Cleveland (2010-2015) and the actress is an absolute hoot as witty landlord Elka Ostrovsky. Betty’s been dropping one-liners and talking trash for ages, and more often than not, her crack-up quotes have spilled over into her personal life.

Here’s why Betty White and her character Elka in Hot in Cleveland are the best on the box.

Crack-up quote: “You’re too old and creaky to be robbing the cradle.”

From: Season 1, episode 2

IRL (In Real Life): Betty’s been married three times but refused to take another hubby after her last one passed away in 1981. “Once you’ve had the best, you really don’t need the rest,” says the actress. But just like her character Elka, that doesn’t mean she’s not kept her eyes on some of the hotties doing the rounds. “It’s quite interesting what some of these young gentlemen do – they have muscles on their muscles,” teases Betty.

Crack-up quote: “I’m a novelty. I’m genuinely cool.”

From: Season 4, episode 3

IRL: She’s not joking – she really is genuinely cool. She originally agreed to film only the pilot of Hot In Cleveland as a favour to a friend – she was already 88 at the time but, as she laughs, she’s still alive and kicking, “So why not earn a little pocket money and keep going?” When the show was officially picked up in late 2009, the network bosses begged her to continue and the legend that is Betty White rolled on – she appeared in all six seasons, stealing the thunder from her much younger co-stars – Valerie Bertinelli (Melanie), Jane Leeves (Joy) and Wendie Malick (Victoria).

Crack-up quote: “If the guy’s a cutie, you’ve gotta tap that booty”

From: Season 2, episode 20

IRL: With a career a mile long, you’d think that Betty’s favourite scene would be from her other iconic show The Golden Girls (1985-1992) – but you’d be wrong! It happened in Hot In Cleveland’s season 6, episode 3, when she got to smooch fellow small-screen icon Robert Wagner (Anthony DiNozzo Sr in crime show NCIS, 2003-current). “When Jim (Robert Wagner) kissed me, I didn’t find that too bad. I like that because they don’t often write in a kiss for me.”

“In 1976, I had my eyelids done. I scolded myself forever, but now I’m glad I did it.”

Crack-up quote: “Don’t put yourself down, dear – that’s my job.”

From: Season 4, episode 18

IRL: Betty’s been around the block and she knows how to make it in the tough entertainment business. She admits that her co-stars, both film and TV, have always asked her for advice and she’s kept it simple: show up on time and come prepared. “Learn your lines. Don’t ever think you can wing it, because you really can’t.”

Crack-up quote: “I got a spray tan. I look like an Oompa Loompa!”

From: Season 2, episode 21

IRL: While most of Hollywood refuses to admit to a nip here, a tuck there and a lift or two when age sets in (even if it’s painfully obvious), Betty’s the opposite. She’s never made a secret of her plastic surgery and says, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature! But in 1976 I had my eyelids done. I scolded myself forever, but now I’m glad I did it.”

Sources: Chron.com, dailyentertainment.com, Hollywoodreporter.com, imdb.com, parade.com, perezhilton.com, rd.com, usatoday.com, youtube.com

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