Betty White To Open 'Monday Night Football'

ESPN has tapped Betty White to open its special holiday edition of "Monday Night Football."

According to a press release, White will open the Mon., Dec. 26 edition of the ESPN football series, which is also the season finale.

The network said it was looking for a grandmother type and the star of TV Land's "Hot In Cleveland" fit the bill. The opening segment of the Falcons-Saints game is appropriately titled "A White Christmas."

Up next for America's favorite grandma? Her 90th birthday. NBC is celebrating the "Golden Girls" veteran with her own televised birthday party, "Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl," and a sneak peek at her new hidden camera show, "Betty White's Off Their Rockers." Guests for White's birthday party include Joel McHale, Mary Tyler Moore, Amy Poehler and her "Hot In Cleveland" co-stars. The birthday festivities kick off Mon., Jan. 16, 8 p.m. EST on NBC.

White has a simple birthday wish. "Just to keep things going as they're going now," she said. "It's one of the highest spots of my life."

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Comments

[rosiesgal29]

01:19 PM on 12/23/2011

proof that getting older isnt always bad Go Betty Go

[brisedemer]

12:56 PM on 12/23/2011

I love Betty White! They should have booked her for the Super Bowl. She's more entertaining, better looking ( and certainly more inspiring ) than Madonna.

[birdogmike]

12:35 PM on 12/23/2011

DAMN!! ESPN has really lost it! Betty White is a great actress and she deserves her time in the spotlight,but on M.N.F.!!! You must be kidding, what does she have to offer football, Maybe some jokes about the QB being under center for the snap, Or maybe Illegal hands > Ok I get it she is heading to her 90'th birthday, BUT WHAT DOES SHE HAVE TO DO WITH FOOTBALL?? Just face it ESPN, When you lost HANK you lost an ICON FOR M.N.F.!! Just suck it up and make amends an either find a respectable replacement or GET HANK BACK!!! STOP MAKING A FOOL out of yourself and M.N.F.To all the Betty White FAns ask yourself when you think about M.N.F. who is the last person you would accosiate with it?? It surely couldn't be BETTY!!

[PersonalityPlus]

12:24 PM on 12/23/2011

Shes one STRONG Woman! An animal activist, Witty as all heck, The kind of person you can admire and just adore! You go girl! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[hman570]

12:17 PM on 12/23/2011

Just love her, you go girl and keep yourslef young!! Merry Christmas Betty and long life.

[WILLIEMOJORISIN]

11:46 AM on 12/23/2011

Go Betty go Betty ,it's your birthday it's your birthday!

[Fred King]

11:45 AM on 12/23/2011

Betty White opening the Holiday MNF programming? By doing what? Tossing the first ball? Or tossing the nearest quarterback! ;-)) (I love BW...she's hotter than ever...attaboygirl!!)

[daksmom]

11:19 AM on 12/23/2011

And Joel McHale and Amy Pohler are on her birthday show why? Wht aren't some of her MTM Show co-stars, or Carol Burnett Show co-stars on the show? Or even her best friend, the lady who played Daphne's mom on Fraser? Regardless, I hope she has a wonderful party, and I hope her life continues to be healthy and prosperous.

[natal plum]

11:16 AM on 12/23/2011

I guess the biggest question is why?

[G Mantalks]

10:35 AM on 12/23/2011

I love Betty White but please this is football bring back Hank so we can be excited about the show again

[lakat]

11:21 AM on 12/23/2011

LOL...really?

[G Mantalks]

11:45 AM on 12/23/2011

LOL .....yes really!

[musicproducerbh]

12:04 PM on 12/23/2011

Yes REALLY...

[susieq0408]

10:14 AM on 12/23/2011

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE me some Betty White!!! She is absolutely amazing!!! I hope she has a fabulous 90th Birthday as well as a 100th!

[Louie Rey]

10:10 AM on 12/23/2011

She's been great on every show that she's performed on. Sue Niven on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and Rose on "The Golden Girls" and now "Hot In Cleveland." Interesting that a woman that has promoted a promiscuous past was so dedicated and truly in love with just one man, Allen Ludden. She still mourns him. A terrific lady. Happy 90th!

[daksmom]

11:09 AM on 12/23/2011

She was truly in love with Allen, wasn't she? Do you notice that every time she talks about him, her eyes well up in tears, and the tone of her voice changes? She seems like such a nice, humble lady. Allen's buried in Wisconsin. Makes you wonder if she will be alongside him/

[anniee214]

11:21 AM on 12/23/2011

Yeah--I know. And I'm betting she'll lie alongside him one day--hopefully far in the future. She's a classy broad! (Don't criticize me--she calls herself that and it's a compliment!)

[Louie Rey]

11:26 AM on 12/23/2011

I'm sure she will be. Her love for him is pretty special. I mean, how long has it been? And she still refers to him whenever she gets a chance. Let's hope we get to "keep" her a little longer.

[Aliesha Morgan Howell]

09:58 AM on 12/23/2011

what a funny woman. such a vibrant personality. god bless her.

[fitzbeerman]

09:41 AM on 12/23/2011

The Reverend Al called. He is going to sue the game for being racist. He says you can't call it, A White Christmas, LOL.

[anniee214]

11:21 AM on 12/23/2011

Thanks for the true laugh out loud! I needed it this morning! F&F

[lakat]

11:23 AM on 12/23/2011

If you can't say something mean about a black person, it just wouldn't be Christmas in America, would it! You people just don't get it. Just keep on sucking on the propaganda teat, don't question anything.

[fitzbeerman]

11:58 AM on 12/23/2011

What was mean about it? He had a fit about scientists saying the words Black Holes. I mean really get a life, Al.

[amd2857]

09:21 AM on 12/23/2011

God Bless Betty White a wonderful person inside and out. She is an icon of all times, Happy Birthday and many more to come.