Betty White leaving her 'SNL' host fate in Lorne Michaels' hands

The ball is in your court, Lorne Michaels.

I just got off the phone with the legendary Betty White, and despite her busy schedule the actress hasn't missed the  Facebook push to name her as a host of "Saturday Night Live."

"I don’t know where that came from," White said. "That came out of left field. I understand they’ve had all of these hits."

So is the 88-year-old up to the task of holding court at 30 Rock?

"That would be up to Lorne Michaels."

White said she'd have to think on who her dream musical guest would be, because the showbiz veteran has plenty on her plate.

She's in Las Vegas accepting a lifetime achievement award from the Morris Animal Foundation and Proctor & Gamble's pet division Iams/Eukanuba. White has been affiliated with the group for 43 years, but don't call her an activist.

"I’m not into any of the political side, I’m all health and welfare."

Speaking of health and welfare, White's "Golden Girls" gal pal Rue McClanahan, who had bypass surgery in November, suffered a minor stroke in mid-January. "Ruesie had a little health problem," White said, "but she's back home in New York and feeling better. I’m delighted and thrilled to report that."

Next up, White will promote her female revenge flick "You Again," costarring Sigourney Weaver, Kristen Chenoweth, Kristen Bell and Jamie Lee Curtis.

"Poor Victor Garber was caught in the middle of us," White said of the girls club. "We danced around the whole time."

Keep dancing, Betty. "You Again" is slated for release in September.

-- Matt Donnelly

Photo: Betty White at January's TV Academy Hall of Fame Induction. Credit: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images.

Related dispatches from the Ministry of Gossip:

Why should Betty White host SNL? PREACH IT! takes the question to the people

Betty White rocks the room at the SAG Awards -- and she's just getting warmed up

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Comments

[Robert Richard]

Betty White said she didn't know where this movement came from. Well the answer is simple. It came from love and respect for a great entertainer. I grew up watching her on the Mary Tyler Moore Show and Password and later on the Golden Girls. I am one of the 300,000+ who joined the movement on FaceBook and can't wait to see Betty on SNL.

[ladyofargonne]

Betty White has consistently been more funny than SNL in years. She has earned this honor. Lorne Michaels should make a decision quickly. Betty is not a young woman and Michaels could end up looking more like an old fuddy duddy than anyone is their 80s.

[Jeff]

Michaels might be agreeable to hiring Betty White. After all, if it weren't for the one year Jean Doumanian was exec prod of the show...well, she sacked Don Pardo, the show's announcer from the beginning and brought in Mel Brandt during that time. If not for Dick Ebersol and Lorne Michaels, Pardo never would have returned to the position. (P.S.: Pardo officially retired from NBC after 60 years of service in 2004. Michaels continued to use him since, putting him up at the Plaza Hotel for a long weekend, and he would return to Arizona the day after the show. Pardo, 91, also had a lifetime contract with NBC...the only other person who had that arrangement was Bob Hope. Pardo got a chance to act in one sketch on "SNL" several years ago, giving a knee to the midsection...okay, maybe a little lower...to guest host Johnny Knoxville of "Jack*ss".)

[Lisa]

@ladyofargonne -- Only idiot celebrities (including the current resident of the White House) think that it's an "honor" to make a complete jackass out of yourself on SNL! Don't do it, Betty! Don't do it!