Betty White. How do you describe a woman who didn’t just breathe life into a character on The Golden Girls, but became America’s Golden Girl herself? She was wise beyond measure, kinder than she was hilarious, and the true embodiment of finding joy and beauty in the little things.
She was also sharp as a whip, and her unique brand of sarcasm and honesty meant that no one did an interview like White. There was a beauty in the knowledge that, in a chat with White, something unique would always come out of it. There would be a moment or a response that put a spotlight on a societal issue and hit it home in a way that opened eyes and ears everywhere. One of these interviews is hitting home now more than ever.
White was asked about the death of sitcoms in a world driven so heavily by reality television in a chat with DVD Talk, and while the conversation is more than a decade and a half old, it’s an important statement in a time when a writers’ strike is once again making many media conglomerates think about reality television in a wide-scale capacity.
“Don’t get me started on reality TV because I don’t want to use language I shouldn’t use. I think the problem with sitcom, this whole youth wave that washed over – people say, well they – well, older actresses can’t, you know, can’t get jobs because they… Well, we get jobs, we work all the time. It’s the writers who have an age block. So many of the producers and network thinks, ‘Oh, you need young writers because they know what the audience wants.’ Well they have no frame of reference. So they write about today’s jokes which by next week are, ‘What was that all about?’ Nobody understands it. So I think again it goes right back to the writing. The lack of good sitcoms is because we need seasoned good writers and it’s a tough call.”
White pointed out that it wasn’t just reality television that is an issue, but that the idea that follows it of “older actresses” not fitting the bill, which is a sham. People like White, who worked until the global pandemic (and would have given us the Lifetime Christmas movie of our dreams if not for it), and many other iconic actresses still find joy in working, but their talent gets lost in a reality TV-driven world.
Think about shows like The Bachelor or Bachelorette; there have been rumblings of a Golden Bachelor for years, and only now is the idea truly coming to fruition. Across a slew of reality shows, so few highlight anyone beyond a specific age bracket, which lends time for their stories to be lost. Older actors and actresses are more than just a side story or an afterthought; they’re irreplaceable for many reasons.
As the writers’ strike moves forward, it’s essential to pay attention to White’s words; there is nothing that can replace a good writer. There are no forward moves without a talented, thoughtful, and aware team of storytellers behind television and film projects, and there has to be a box torn open to ensure all voices are heard. It can’t all be about the hot young story, the “it” moments in pop culture; there is an inherent wisdom that only comes from those who have lived this life both in the trenches and the spotlight, those who have created magic out of nothing and turned it into something beautiful.
The world needs more Betty Whites, and sure — there’s an audience for reality television, we watch it too, but you don’t get up from your seat or turn the television off after reality TV with the same feeling you do having watched the magic of a heartfelt story unfolding in front of you. For that to be possible, we must give writers the credit they deserve and the dues they’re owed.
Reality television is a beloved and necessary part of the entertainment sphere, but we should never lose sight of where the heart lies and who is willing to stand up and tell the story. We love a good dramatic moment, and we secretly or not so secretly love rooting for our favorite romantic hopefuls and pitching a fit when the drama happens, but we love even more ending our day with reruns of Golden Girls, Grace and Frankie, or Assisted Living — lest we forget the life stories and the humor we can learn from heartfelt comedies like those.
