‘Betty White: First Lady of Television’ Clip Brings in Ryan Reynolds, Tina Fey, and More

PBS has an upcoming special that centers on the legendary comedian. Called “Betty White: First Lady of Television,” it will look at 80-year career of the prolific actress.

The network released a clip late last week, and it features interviews with White herself, along with A-listers like Ryan Reynolds and Tina Fey, among others.

The new PBS clip focuses specifically on a more recent milestone for White: the first time she hosted “Saturday Night Live.” We get an look at what it was like for her, and you may be surprised to learn that she had a serious case of stage fright before the live show. Even pros get nervous before a huge performance like that.

Some of the other stars who provide insight are Valerie Bertinelli, Georgia Engel, Valerie Harper, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Gavin MacLeod, Carl Reiner, Tom Sullivan, and Alex Trebek.

“Betty White: First Lady of Television” is almost here. The special airs Tuesday, Aug. 21 on PBS. Be sure to check your local listings.

Betty White has been a household name since the 1950s — from her early work on a five-and-a-half-hours-a-day, six-days-a-week live variety show and her first sitcom Life with Elizabeth, to subsequent supporting and starring roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls, among many others. But she reached full pop icon status after her unexpected and racy turn on Comedy Central’s Roast of William Shatner, those Snickers commercials, and, in the crowning achievement, her gig as host of Saturday Night Live in May 2010.

In a new PBS special, Betty White: First Lady of Television, White’s agent Jeff Witjas recounts how he pushed White to do some projects that people wouldn’t have expected of her, including that roast. The popular NBC sketch comedy series wasn’t even on their radar, though, until a fan started a Facebook petition, and SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels took notice.

“I can’t believe Betty did SNL and at that age,” says Ryan Reynolds, who played her grandson in The Proposal. “And not only did SNL at that age but took the ball and knocked it so far out of the park.”

RELATED: Saturday Night Live recap: Betty White was funny, vulgar, and totally charming

Audiences took notice, as did the television academy; she won her fifth primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her work. (White has 21 total primetime nominations, plus a Daytime Emmy Award, another daytime nomination, and a Lifetime Achievement honor.)

(Excerpts) Read More at: Moviefone.com and EW.com