Was Sue Ann Nivens a better and funnier Betty White character...

[TMC]

than Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls? To most of the general public, Rose is probably the more iconic of the two, but Sue Ann felt like a brilliant subversion of Betty's homespun public image. She in real life, played up Sue Ann Nivens' cheerful, home-and-hearth loving persona—a sharp contrast to the character's backbiting, sexually voracious true nature.

[PracTz]

Oh, I TOTALLY agree! Sue Ann was much more fun but had just enough hidden vulnerability and likability to keep her from being hated (unlike Miss White's 'Mama's Family' character of Ellen Harper Jackson who had ZERO redeeming qualities).

[Willbo]

I loved Sue Ann. Betty was great in that role.

[stevea]

^Ditto!

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Willbo

I loved Sue Ann. Betty was great in that role.

I wonder if Betty White actually had with all due respect, "sex appeal" would the character have worked as well. The whole joke is that Betty White and Sue Ann herself, were too wholesome-looking for that (i.e., wide blue eyes, dimpled smile). And on-screen, Sue Ann presented an image of a sweet, perfect wife/homemaker, when in reality, she was a big nympho.

[Chocolate Moose]

Definitely my favorite role of hers!!!

[TMC]

I sometimes forget that Betty White was on Who's the Boss? during its first season. This was just before she started doing The Golden Girls. She played who I would imagine what Sue Ann Nivens would be if she were a nosy TV reporter.

[king of comedy]

I'll take Sue Ann Nivens over Rose. I can't stand Rose's stories from St. Olaf.

[Yong Fang]

Two different characters. Sue Ann was a b.tch. She just was and I think Betty White would agree with my assumption. Rose was a much nicer, gentler, sweet and arguably not near as intelligent as Sue Ann was, and not devious like Sue Ann was. Sue Ann would throw anyone under the bus for her to get ahead or out of trouble. Rose wouldn’t be in that trouble in the first place.

Not to troll but Betty White was never a favorite of mine. I think she was the weak character on The Golden Girls. I however think she worked much better as Sue Ann Niven because this was closer to her personality. The lady was slightly profane. Didn’t matter that she was 80, 85, 90 plus years old, she wasn’t a sweet grandmother ever and was never old fashioned. I just never cared for her style.

But to me the Sue Ann Niven character is about the closest thing to her in real life.

[GameShowFan]

I can respect your opinion about Rose being the weakest GG character. That said a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and if Betty White was the weakest link on GG or MTM, I'll take that chain 100 times out of 100! That's akin to having Henry Aaron as a bench warmer on an all time MLB baseball team!

[king of comedy]

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

Two different characters. Sue Ann was a b.tch. She just was and I think Betty White would agree with my assumption. Rose was a much nicer, gentler, sweet and arguably not near as intelligent as Sue Ann was, and not devious like Sue Ann was. Sue Ann would throw anyone under the bus for her to get ahead or out of trouble. Rose wouldn’t be in that trouble in the first place.

Not to troll but Betty White was never a favorite of mine. I think she was the weak character on The Golden Girls. I however think she worked much better as Sue Ann Niven because this was closer to her personality. The lady was slightly profane. Didn’t matter that she was 80, 85, 90 plus years old, she wasn’t a sweet grandmother ever and was never old fashioned. I just never cared for her style.

But to me the Sue Ann Niven character is about the closest thing to her in real life.

Thank you! She was never the sweet grandmother type. That's what made her one of a kind. I forgot to mentioned that I loved her in Hot in Cleveland in the Estelle Getty role. She was hysterical and it was her last great role. If you get a chance, buy Hot in Cleveland or stream it. Her character was Sophia for the next generation.