What Cloris Leachman really thinks of Betty White: “She’s a darling woman and I admire her very much”

I had some fun the other day with a funny quote Cloris Leachman gave us the other day at TCA Press Tour when she was asked what she thought about Betty White’s current “it girl” status: “I’m so sick of Betty White,” Cloris cracked. “Never liked her.”

Well, after the session for Cloris’s new Fox comedy Raising Hope (she plays the great-grandmother), I asked her what she really thought of her fellow alum from Mary Tyler Moore Show.

“She’s a darling woman and I admire her very much,” Cloris said. “I think she’s terrific.”

Both actresses have roles in the upcoming big screen comedy You Again.

“They told me that they rewrote the ending so I could be in it,” said the Oscar winner for The Last Picture Show. “I did just did my scene with her. But I know Sigourney Weiner  – Sigourney Weaver – and Jamie Lee Curtis are in it.”

Would Miss Leachman, 84, also be interested in hosting Saturday Night Live as Miss White, 88, did a few months ago?

“I doubt it. I mean,” she said then added: “I would if they asked me but nobody has asked me in many, many years.”

Maybe someone could start a Facebook campaign? I asked Cloris if she was on Facebook.

“I could be but I wouldn’t know because I don’t use that stuff. But I think I might be. How do you get on in? Seriously how do you?”

I explained a little bit about signing on then she lost interest!

Someone else then asked Cloris if she would she be a judge on American Idol: “I’m not a good judge. I want everybody to win and it’s terrible when they don’t.”

So why does this nine-time Emmy winner [22 nominations overall!] still work so hard?

“Because it’s not work. It isn’t work. It’s the most fun in the world. I wish everybody could have as much fun as I do.”

No doubt about that!