Let me tell you a story about an unforgettable moment in television history. Picture this: Mary Tyler Moore recalls reading the script for her show, where the character of Sue Ann Nivens was described as a "man-eating b-tch" with the sweetness of Betty White. The producers were struggling to find the right actress for the part, auditioning everyone they could think of. But Mary had a brilliant idea—why not cast Betty White herself?
A Friendship That Made the Casting Process Unique
Now, here's the twist. Mary Tyler Moore and Betty White were already close friends. They had both married their respective husbands—Grant Tinker and Allen Ludden—under the same judge, and the couples often double-dated. Naturally, the showrunners were concerned. What if Betty didn’t nail the audition? Would it create awkwardness between the two friends? Mary had a simple solution: “If she’s awful, don’t use her.”
Betty White's Audition Was Anything But Awful
Of course, Betty wasn’t awful—far from it. She was so brilliant that the character of Sue Ann went from being a one-time guest star to becoming a beloved member of Minneapolis’ WJM-TV family. The sitcom was already in its fourth season when Betty came aboard. By then, Valerie Harper had spun off to her own series, "Rhoda." Sue Ann was exactly the spice the show needed to keep audiences hooked.
Read also:Melanie Griffiths Inspiring Journey To Fitness And Fun
But first, Mary had to tease her friend. Betty called Mary right after she was cast, and Mary pretended to object, saying, “Oh, no you don’t. I may not butt into the show often, but I do have veto power!”
A Celebration of Sue Ann's Return
After filming her first episode, Betty learned that producers were already working on another script featuring Sue Ann. The next morning, Mary and Grant showed up at Betty’s door with beautiful flowers in a souflé dish used on the show. They were thrilled that Sue Ann would be coming back. The four of them celebrated with an impromptu and festive brunch.
Mary Richards and Sue Ann Nivens: A Perfect Pairing
The relationship between Mary’s character, local news producer Mary Richards, and Sue Ann was as warm as it could be. Betty credited Mary with making Sue Ann’s addition to the show so successful. “No matter how funny the part is, if a guest character is someone the lead character doesn’t like, the audience can often get protective and not respond well to the newcomer,” Betty explained. “It was thanks to Mary’s choice as an actress that Sue Ann worked. Rather than disliking her, Mary Richards found Sue Ann laughable, so the audience could relax and laugh with her.”
And laugh they did, for the sitcom’s final three seasons. The producers knew Betty could push the envelope, playing the Happy Homemaker—a nod to Xaviera Hollander’s scandalous 1972 best-seller "The Happy Hooker." Sue Ann seduced Lars, the husband of Mary’s landlady Phyllis Lindstrom (Cloris Leachman), as well as Mary’s crusty newsroom boss, Lou Grant (Ed Asner). After their one-night stand, Sue Ann returned Lou’s socks, washed and folded, naturally.
