Why do you think it took until Season 3 for Bea Arthur to win an Emmy?

[TMC]

Both Betty White and Rue McClanahan won before her even though she was arguably the bigger star.

Was it a question of not submitting episodes showing her best work and if so, do the actresses get final say on their submissions?

And how come Betty was nominated for all seven seasons while Bea and Rue weren't again after Season 4?

[bandonurse]

Well, of course this is all very speculative at best. But from my perspective, Bea's attitude and "likeability" in Hollywood might have had something to do with it.

In Betty's book, she describes only Estelle Getty coming over and congratulating her the day after her first Emmy win. Bea's "fame" wouldn't have been the only thing that would prompt the Emmy judges to vote for her. Two great actresses who play their roles as well as humanly possible...one lovable and sweet, the other, notsomuch….

They are only human after all.

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by TMC

Both Betty White and Rue McClanahan won before her even though she was arguably the bigger star.

Was it a question of not submitting episodes showing her best work and if so, do the actresses get final say on their submissions?

And how come Betty was nominated for all seven seasons while Bea and Rue weren't again after Season 4?

Well I think there is no question that Betty White was the more popular star inside the Hollywood circles. That said, she was playing an entirely different character than she had played on The Mary Tyler Moore Show so that may have been a factor in her selection. The same holds true for Rue, who was playing a much more over the top character than she had played on Maude. Bea on the other hand was essentially playing a character very similar to the Maude character. I think the Dorothy character made the show what it was, but Betty White is very talented so if she had been given that role I think she would have played it a little differently but she could have pulled it off.