Betty White: "The Golden Girls"

You put two gay men together in a house during a pandemic, and eventually someone is going to suggest "Betty White: The Documentary."

This is not a great film. A sterling work of reportage would look for gaps in the subject's story; the subject would narrate one version of events, and the skeptical director would tease out a buried version of events, and the gap between truth and the subject's self-perception would be revealing and exciting, in some way. (See the Joan Rivers documentary.)

"Betty White" is just hagiography; it's a love letter to Betty White. And that, too, is fine.

Here's what I especially enjoyed:

*Though all four women eventually won Emmy Awards for "The Golden Girls," White won first, and she won in the show's debut year. (She was subsequently nominated in every other year, as well.)

*One day, Blanche asks Rose what her initial "Blanche impression" was. "Well," says Rose, "I thought you were a slut, and you wore too much makeup. Honey, was I wrong!! You *don't* wear too much makeup!"

*White embraced her TV destiny. She said, "If you're a film star, you're somewhat distant from your audience. By being on TV, I'm in everyone's home, once a week. I'm right there next to you, in your living room, again and again and again." (No shock--and, OK, this is maybe hagiography--White clearly is really sharp and really ambitious. Even now, she apparently likes to have a full professional calendar.)

And that's what I recommend today; you'll find it on Netflix. Comfort food. I liked revisiting my Blanche/Rose childhood.....

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