Instead being third billed behind Betty White? I mean, wasn't the house Blanche's? Was it simply because Bea and Betty were considered genuine household names while Rue was at the time, really just an established actress with many credits?

Instead being third billed behind Betty White? I mean, wasn't the house Blanche's? Was it simply because Bea and Betty were considered genuine household names while Rue was at the time, really just an established actress with many credits?

No offense, TMC, but the circumstances of the characters in a show don't determine which actor's name gets top billing. It was Blanche's house.....not Rue McClanahan's, if you get what I mean.

To me, the billing was understandable: Having just come off of Maude, Bea Arthur was currently very popular, and I have no doubt she insisted she get top billing. (With full understanding this is just an assumption I could never prove.)

Betty would obviously go next, since she was already a veteran of television, and very well-known, and well-liked. Rue was on Mama's Family, so people knew her too. Estelle Getty was a well-respected, veteran theater actress, but probably the least known/experienced to TV audiences.

Rue was on Mama's Family, so people knew her too.

People also knew her from Maude.

Betty was probably the bigger TV star being on more shows. However Betty never had her own show. Bea had her own show so in TV world that could have made her the bigger star. Betty was a bigger TV star than Rue so maybe this was their thought process. Bea also was the last to join having been reluctant. They probably went to great lengths to make her join making her feel like the bigger star.
It was so unconventional to have actors who were on big TV shows in different characters join to make another TV show in new characters. It worked but it was a risk.

Betty was probably the bigger TV star being on more shows. However Betty never had her own show. Bea had her own show so in TV world that could have made her the bigger star. Betty was a bigger TV star than Rue so maybe this was their thought process. Bea also was the last to join having been reluctant. They probably went to great lengths to make her join making her feel like the bigger star.
It was so unconventional to have actors who were on big TV shows in different characters join to make another TV show in new characters. It worked but it was a risk.


Betty had her show in the 1950's plus she starred in the short lived Betty White Show in 1977.

In honor of Saturday's Preakness, the billing horse race was between two stars Bea Arthur and Betty White, simply put Rue McClanahan was off the board. Betty White was a big name, she starred in two series in the 50's, hosted her own talk show, was offered the hostess position on the Today Show. In the 60's she was regularly seen on game shows, made appearances on the Tonight Show, was the hostess on NBC of the Thanksgiving Day Parade. In the 70's she won two Emmy's for her work on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, was the lead in another series, won a Daytime Emmy in 1983. Bea Arthur got the nod because she was the star of Maude, but Betty White was a close second.

Betty had her show in the 1950's plus she starred in the short lived Betty White Show in 1977.
You are correct. I am sorry. I will say hail mary's until Madonna has a hit movie ;)

Bea and Betty were both bigger, more well-known stars and I think the billing for this show was just right.

No. They were billed in order achievements in show business and audience popularity. The billing was spot on.

I always thought the star's agents would negotiate for billing order in the credits. Some stars insisted that they be billed last for whatever reason.

Yes, I feel they were billed as follows:

1. Bea- The show was written as her being the main character. She was like the leader of the group, the more stern of the 4, the one in charge. Plus, she had been on Maude.

2. Betty- Betty had been in many shows. Never had a show of her own where she was the main focus.

3. Rue- Lots of shows but same as Betty, just lesser known and less credits.

4. Estelle- She was pretty much a newbie yet she was special in her own way as that character she created.



When the show shifted to The Golden Palace, they bumped Betty to first billed, then Rue next in line. I feel by this time, that show was equally both their show, but again, Betty had been in TV longer.

2. Betty- Betty had been in many shows. Never had a show of her own where she was the main focus.


You didn't consider her to be the main focus in Life with Elizabeth, Date with the Angels or The Betty White Show?