Betty White joins Twitter -- and gets her flirt on

Betty White has joined Twitter, and why not? All the kids are doing it.

"Hello Twitter!," she wrote Tuesday afternoon. "And they said it would never happen. Oh wait, that was me."

Her debut on the micro-blogging site coincides with the premiere of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers," her new hidden-camera show on NBC that will have senior citizens pranking the younger generation. Which suddenly makes us wonder if the whole Twitter thing is actually a ... wait a sec ... whew. The account's verified, @BettyMWhite.

White then proceeded to flirt with Ryan Seacrest, whose longtime Fox ratings magnet "American Idol" is up against "Rockers" at 8 p.m.

"Hey @RyanSeacrest -- my new show airs tomorrow and I hear we're in the same time slot. I've always dreamed of sharing a night with you..."

Naughty Betty. But it's working: With only three tweets, the "Hot in Cleveland" actress is at more than 135,000 followers and counting in less than 24 hours. 

Let's hope the feed grows to include more than clever show promotion, and lots of that wicked White voice.

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— Christie D'Zurilla
twitter.com/dzurillaville
Christie D'Zurilla on Google+

Photo: Betty White at "The Lorax" premiere in Universal City on Feb. 19. Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Hugh Jackman, Carol Burnett to toast Betty White's 90th birthday

Betty White, everyone's biggest senior sweetheart, is commanding plenty of star power for her upcoming 90th birthday special — including current Broadway force Hugh Jackman and legendary funny lady Carol Burnett.

On Jan. 16, NBC plans to air "Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl," with celebrity testimonials, musical performances and a look at White's long career.

Jackman and Burnett are slated to stop by, says TV Guide, as well Mary Tyler Moore and Ed Asner, White's costars from the classic "Mary Tyler Moore Show." NBC family member Amy Poehler will pop in, as will Joel McHale — White's costar for her stint on the network's "Community."

The special won't be all nostalgia, as it reportedly boasts a first look at White's new hidden-camera comedy project targeting the elderly, "Off Their Rockers."

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— Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Betty White in June 2011. Credit: Christopher Polk / Getty Images  

Betty White voted America's 'most trusted' celebrity

Betty White has been voted America's favorite and most trusted celebrity, a new poll indicates.

White, the former "Golden Girls" funnywoman who is currently starring in TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland," beat out Paris Hilton and Charlie Sheen as the person "whose endorsement of a company would be most likely to drive business," according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll of 2,012 Americans.

And she didn't have to go to the Marine Corps birthday ball to do it.

The 89-year-old animal lover won an Emmy last year for her "Saturday Night Live" hosting gig, has appeared on "Community" and in Snickers commercials and was named Associated Press entertainer of the year last December. Perhaps that trustworthy face of hers could help do some damage this fall on her "Punk'd"-style prank show "Betty White's Off Their Rockers"?

The other most favorable celebrities behind White are Denzel Washington, Sandra Bullock, Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman (who tied for seventh place with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge), Will Smith and Johnny Depp.

Topping the not-so-hot list are: Paris Hilton, Charlie Sheen, Britney Spears (who ties for third with Kanye West), Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiger Woods, Kim Kardashian, Mel Gibson, Donald Trump and LeBron James.

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-- Nardine Saad
Twitter.com/NardineSaad

Photo: Betty White in June 2011. Credit: Christopher Polk / Getty Images

Scarlett Johansson declines Marine Corps Ball invite, sends bubbly

Scarlett Johansson is the latest Hollywood type to be invited to the Marine Corps Ball, this time to the Nov. 10 event in Albany, Ga.

Perhaps rebounding from that whirlwind Sean Penn thing, or maybe even the Ryan Reynolds thing, Johansson declined. She cited a "prior commitment,"  but the Ministry suspects something else was to blame: a high-concept video.

Original inviter Sgt. Scott Moore, who asked Mila Kunis to his Nov. 18 event on a bet, stood in front of a camera in Afghanistan and simply asked.

Cpl. Kelsey de Santis, who's ball-bound with Justin Timberlake on Nov. 12, had a few burly fellow Marines as background, but essentially stood in front of a camera in Quantico, Va., and simply asked.

Then things went south -- quite literally, to video shoots in Texas and Georgia. Betty White declined the invitation of Sgt. Ray Lewis, whose video included various calisthenics and a costume change. Now "Avengers" actress Johansson says no to Sgt. Dustin L. Williams, whose video included various calisthenics and a picture of Johansson toasting with bubbly.

Coincidence? We blame the emphasis on editing and story line!

Of course, Kunis and Timberlake might have be influenced by the fact that their invites came in the course of their high-profile promotional campaign for "Friends With Benefits," but we don't want to go there. Miley Cyrus, meanwhile, got invites both simple and more sophisticated, but may have been overwhelmed by the multiple requests.

White and Johansson both declined graciously -- with the latter promising to send a case of Champagne to help Williams and his pals celebrate the Marine Corps' birthday, and "Terminator" actress Linda Hamilton posting her own video offering to step into White's party shoes.

Back in Georgia, Williams seemed prepped for whatever answer came, telling Zap2It via e-mail earlier this week, "With her current career I would imagine Scarlett Johansson is a busy woman.... Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

He said that a yes, however, would have boosted the morale of the Marines as a whole.

 

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-- Christie D'Zurilla
twitter.com/dzurillaville

Photo: Scarlett Johansson in 2010's "Iron Man 2." Credit: Francois Duhamel / Marvel Entertainment

Morgan Freeman honored with AFI Life Achievement Award

Morgan Freeman accepted the American Film Institute's 39th Life Achievement Award on a Sony Studios sound stage in Culver City on Thursday night, basking in 3 1/2 hours of film clips and tributes from Clint Eastwood, Tim Robbins, Forest Whitaker, Garth Brooks, Betty White and more.

"I'm proud to be an actor, although for this one night, you've made me feel like a star," Freeman said.

The AFI celebration included clips of Freeman's legendary films and early performances interspersed with recorded segments of Freeman and other actors and filmmakers reflecting on his career. And yes, his singing and dancing on public TV's '70s kids show "The Electric Company" was included.

Freeman blew Robbins a kiss when "The Shawshank Redemption" star said, "It was an honor being locked up with you, Morgan."

Also on hand at the star-studded event, to name a few (and only a few): Helen Mirren, Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, Cuba Gooding Jr., Cary Elwes, Djimon Honsou, Kimora Lee Simmons and film critic Leonard Maltin. Click the pics to see more photos from the AFI red carpet.

"This is easy to take but hard to believe. Where I come from in Mississippi, they call this walking in high cotton," he said. "For me, heaven has always been about acting in the movies."

Last year's winner was Mike Nichols. The AFI ceremony will air as a special on TV Land on June 19.

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-- Christie D'Zurilla

Top photo: Clint Eastwood, left, Sidney Poitier and Morgan Freeman at the AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Freeman in Culver City on June 9, 2011. Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images.

Right photo: Betty White at the event honoring Morgan Freeman. Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images.

Slash to receive award at L.A. Zoo's annual Beastly Ball

Rock icon Slash is set to receive a leadership award from the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Assn. at its 41st Annual Beastly Ball this June, the group said Wednesday.

The Guns N' Roses guitarist will be given the inaugural Tom F. Mankiewicz Leadership Award, which recognizes his longtime contributions to establishing environmental welfare programs. He's also a trustee on GLAZA's board and has supported the L.A. Zoo and zoos around the world.

The charity ball is June 18 at the Los Angeles Zoo.

Funny lady and GLAZA chairwoman Betty White hosted last year's event, which helped raise $1.226 million for the zoo's exhibits and various plant and animal species conservation projects, capital projects, and education and community outreach programs. She took over for her predecessor Mankiewicz after he died in August 2010.

Mankiewicz was a television writer and director ("Superman," "Diamonds Are Forever," "Hart to Hart") who advocated initiatives to promote opportunity for and interaction among the world's diverse communities.

"Tom championed the cause of saving and protecting wildlife and the environment through education and on-the-ground conservation," GLAZA President Connie Morgan said in a statement.

"The biggest compliment for me is that it's Tom's award," Slash said. "I really adored that man. I miss him very much, and that aspect is very special and resonates deeply. Additionally, I profoundly appreciate the implications of the award itself. It's a fantastic honor."

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-- Nardine Saad
twitter.com/NardineSaad

Photo: Slash with a boa constrictor snake. Credit: Genie Vasels

Betty White to host senior NBC comedy 'Betty White's Off Their Rockers'

Sweet little Betty White and her friends of a certain age are out to get those insolent kiddies of America on her new NBC show, "Betty White's Off Their Rockers."

The comedy involves the universal battle of old versus new. It's coming to television thanks to White, who will host and serve as executive producer of the hidden-camera prank show, according to our sister blog Show Tracker.

"People have been telling me that I'm 'Off My Rocker' for years," the 89-year-old said in a statement. "Now I can prove it."

The prank show, which we would rather call "Punk'd With a Walker," is based on an award-winning Flemish series called "Benidorm Bastards."

The funnywoman became America's sweetheart thanks to interest in her series "The Golden Girls" (which originally aired on NBC) and gigs with "Saturday Night Live," which earned her a seventh Emmy; "Community"; a Snickers Super Bowl commercial and her current TV Land series "Hot in Cleveland." She was also named the Associated Press' entertainer of the year last December.

Oh, Betty, we love you. But please, don't play any tricks on us.

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— Nardine Saad
Twitter.com / NardineSaad

Photo: Golden girl Betty White at the Shangri-La Hotel in Santa Monica last year. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times.

Oscars: At Elton John's Academy Awards party, Chris Colfer is this year's Betty White

Hey you there in your sweatpants, eating Chinese food and watching the Academy Awards: Elton John is doing the same thing. Well, almost the same thing.

The Ministry is posted up at Sir Elton's annual Oscars viewing party, a chic soiree at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, and we're doing the math on the bold-faced names in attendance.

Every year, Elton and partner David Furnish populate their table -- clearly No. 1, but technically table No. 43 -- with a face that has defined the year's entertainment zeitgeist. In 2010, it was Betty White; this time, it's Chris Colfer. What a feather in the "Glee" star's Golden Globe-winning cap.

Table No. 35 is where the boys are -- hot young single guys including Matthew Morrison, Chace Crawford, JC Chasez and Sean Pyfrom of "Desperate Housewives."

Fabulous couples are sprinkled throughout as well, such as a stunning Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy, and a super sweet Dave Annable and Odette Yustman.

Also watching the awards with Elton: Steven Tyler, John Waters, Hayden Panettiere and Cheyenne Jackson.

Stay with The Ministry for updates on big winners and the best parties.

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-- Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Elton John, right, and David Furnish arrive at their 2011 Elton John Academy Awards viewing party in West Hollywood on Feb. 27, 2011. Credit: Dan Steinberg / Associated Press

Betty White chosen as AP's entertainer of the year

Betty White was named entertainer of the year by the Associated Press on Monday and took the news in typical Betty White fashion.

"It's ridiculous," the 88-year-old actress said of the honor. "They haven't caught on to me, and I hope they never do."

White won with 20 of 102 votes cast, two votes ahead of the cast of "Glee." Conan O'Brien, James Cameron and the iPad tied for third with 13 votes each, and Jon Stewart came in next with 12.

In 2010, White added to her resume a Snickers commercial, a Screen Actors Guild award, a "Saturday Night Live" hosting appearance, a new sitcom and status as the unofficial, low-key, go-to gal on "Proposal" costar Sandra Bullock's divorce — even though she never really told anyone anything about it. And the list goes on. Seriously, the Ministry had about a bajillion Betty White articles this year. There was even a tiny little death hoax, because some people have no class.

Sandra Bullock, Sarah Palin, Justin Bieber among Barbara Walters' 'Most Fascinating People' [Updated]

As dependable as Santa's naughty and nice lists, the annual release of names on Barbara Walters' "Most Fascinating People" list reminds us that the holidays are here.

This year, Walters curates a list of the 10 people (only eight will be revealed prior to the broadcast) who captivated our attention in 2010 -- including scandal survivor Sandra Bullock, teen sensation Justin Bieber, polarizing politico Sarah Palin and princess-to-be Kate Middleton. 

The sit-down is significant for Bullock, who has turned up publicly only for a couple of awards, a "Today" interview pegged to charitable work, and her mildly candid People spread about adopting baby Louis. Read: Expect the juice to flow.

Palin, an alumna of the 2009 list, makes the cut again, while heartthrob Beiber hits it for the first time. Betty White, LeBron James, Jennifer Lopez and the cast of "Jersey Shore" (yes, you read that correctly) will also appear.

Walters will reveal the ninth name, in addition to the identity of her "most fascinating" person, when the show airs Dec. 9. 

Can you guess which luminary will fill the empty spot? Lady Gaga again? Final-season Oprah Winfrey? Mel Gibson? Perhaps a repeat performance from the recently-more-fascinating Brett Favre?

Tell us in the comments section below. 

[For the record, 11:56 a.m.: Justin Bieber's last name was misspelled in an earlier version of this post. As for initially calling Kate Middleton "Katie," well, that's just our little pet name. Thanks to commenter @Emmy for the catch.]

-- Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly 

Photo: Sandra Bullock at the 2010 People's Choice Awards. Credit: Getty Images

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