Sliced bread: the best thing since Betty White

By Averie Howell

Art by Sarah Moon

New Year’s Eve, 2021 caused national devastation when Betty White, age 99, died six days after suffering a stroke.

As both an actress and a comedian, White was best known for her role as Rose Nylund on the hit show, “The Golden Girls” and Sue Ann Nivens on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” She was the recipient of many awards, including a Grammy and six Emmys. In 1983, White became the first woman to win a Daytime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Game Show Host for her NBC show “Just Men!” 

Fan of White herself, Zoe McMullen (10), says, “She inspired so many people–especially older generations–to follow their dreams.”

Having been born six years before sliced bread was invented, White passed just two and a half weeks before her 100th birthday on Jan. 17. 

Over her almost eight-decade-long acting career, White appeared in over 100 movies and TV shows. In 2014, she was awarded the Guinness World Record for Longest TV Career for a Female Entertainer. 

Before passing, White announced that her 100th birthday would be celebrated by the release of the film “Betty White: 100 Years Young - A Birthday Celebration,” which will still be released and shown only in theaters on Jan. 17. The show will highlight her career with special guests like Carol Burnett, Ryan Reynolds, Lin Manuel-Miranda, Morgan Freeman, Jimmy Kimmel, James Corden and more.

The depth of our country’s grief for the icon depicts the true impact that she had. Despite the almost 80-year age difference between the TV star and most SMS students, most of us have grown up watching her on our TV screens. She is sort of a universal corner of comfort for a lot of people, and the depth of our country’s grievance for the icon depicts the true impact that she had. 

Bianca Dishmon (10) says, “Betty White was a real icon, and I like how the film will feature a lot of the people that were impactful on her life, like Ryan Reynolds. She and Ryan had such a cute friendship.”

While the passing of a national treasure is incredibly disappointing, we should all strive to achieve the same kind of life that White lived by following some of her wise words:

“Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself keep you feeling young.”