Today's cuppa: Stash Christmas Morning tea (not just for Christmas morning anymore)
Tonight on CBS, "Million Dollar Password" and host Regis Philbin welcome back the first lady of "Password," former "Golden Girls" star Betty White -- and I mean that literally, since she was married to the late Allen Ludden, host of the original version of "Password," which aired on CBS daytime (and occasionally in primetime) from 1961 to 1967.
Her celebrity partner in this episode is comedian, comedy writer and TV personality Adam Carolla, seen most recently on "Dancing With the Stars."
Back in early August, I attended the Los Angeles taping for tonight's episode and took some pictures, a few of which are below. Included among them is a shot of a black-and-white clip of the original "Password," featuring frequent contestant White and Ludden. Then I grabbed a few minutes after the taping to talk to White and Carolla. But first, the pix (click on images for larger version):
White is shown at right working with a female contestant, but there was also a young man -- sadly, I didn't get a good picture of him, but his back is in the wide shot below -- who said that he had long dreamed of appearing on the show with White and had been a fan for years.
"Bless his heart!" said White afterward. "He was so sweet."
He wasn't the only White fan in the room. When she came out, people in the audience stood up (the CBS publicist commented that was the first time that had ever happened). Some shouted out things like "Betty, you rock!" or started singing "Thank You for Being a Friend," the "Golden Girls" theme song.
"Were they?" said White. "With all the noise, you can't hear it up there. Believe me, it's much appreciated."
Asked what it's like to play on-camera, White says, "When the money amount gets up high, panic sets in, let's face it. You get so worried about not making the money for your partner that you can't think of a word."
White did darn well from what I saw. Said Carolla, "She's sharp. If I'm even alive at her age, I'll be happy."
He also acknowledged the nerves, saying, "It's like, define nervous versus adrenaline. I guess adrenaline helps you fend off a bear attacking you, and nervous is bad, because it makes you ruin your date.
"I guess the question is, do you do worse in this situation, or do you excel in it? I'm probably about even."
Since White was married to the original "Password" host, I wondered if she'd take a run at Philbin.
"Marry Regis?" White said. "Well, I asked him the last time I did the show, and he turned me off. So I thought I'd try again today, but I don't think he's interested."
Of course, there is the issue of Philbin already being married.
"It's either that," White quipped, "or I think he's tired of the commuting, because I won't move to New York, so he has to come out here. It won't work."
Asked what she thought upon seeing the clip featuring her and Ludden, White said, "Oh, that was such fun, and to see my fella, it got me by the throat, it really did."
But that doesn't mean White disapproves of Philbin.
"I think he does a wonderful job," White said. "It's different, but I think he's marvelous. The whole show is so different. Ten cameras on a game show! But that's how the world has turned and changed."
Although White did lose Ludden, she has kept in touch with Bob Stewart, who created "Password" and other game shows for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions. Among his other creations are "To Tell the Truth," "The Price Is Right" and the "Pyramid" franchise, starting in 1973 with "The $10,000 Pyramid."
"We've stayed friends through the years," White said. "We have a silly poker club. It's just a silly, giggly poker club that we have. So I'm playing poker with him next week. That should be fun."
As to whether she's a good poker player, White said, "No, but I have an awful lot of fun with that, too."
She also still enjoys "Password" as much as ever, saying, "It's such a good game, and it's such fun to play. Let's say you're flipping your dial -- you just can't go by it. You have to participate. You can't just look at it and not play."
The only disadvantage of being in the studio is I couldn't do what you all do at home -- shout out answers at the contestants. But I'll get my chance tonight. and I plan to take it. And if you miss the episode, it will be made available to watch online at CBS.com.
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