OK, so I was reading this morning about some group or another tangling with a whaling vessel in Antarctica. The group’s boat was damaged, and another of the group’s boats, the Bob Barker, was sent to rescue the crew.
Turns out the Bob Barker donated $5 million to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and that’s why the boat’s named after him. Yeah, he’s got the animal rights thing going, some of which I find admirable and other of which I find ridiculous. Gotcha.
So then I went to find out more about this group, and started reading about Bob Barker’s big feud with Betty White. (Bo, you mean Sue Ann on Mary Tyler Moore? Mrs. Allen Ludden? Rose on The Golden Girls? That one? Sweet, funny, 88-year-old Betty White?) Yeah, her.
It seems Bob Barker wanted to move an elephant from the Los Angeles Zoo to an open sanctuary, while Betty White (who is also active in animal welfare issues) wanted to increase the size of the existing enclosure. White won the “battle,” as it were, and apparently Barker then labeled her his “sworn enemy.” (!)
Consequently, Bob Barker threatened to boycott the 2009 Game Show Awards (where he was to receive a lifetime achievement award) if White (who was to deliver a tribute to Mark Goodson) also attended. White agreed (graciously and largely, in my opinion) to record her remarks so that Barker could receive his award.
(More here, and all of this happened months ago, but like I said it was this morning’s news that alerted me to it.)
I have written very favorably of Bob Barker, almost since this blog’s inception. I think he’s the best game show host ever by a wide margin, and a pretty cool guy. But, umm…yeah. This is too much. When Betty White is your “sworn enemy” over a zoo’s elephant exhibit, then well, that’s more than a skosh wonky. Come on, Bob.
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I’m so glad that these people have nothing more important to cloud their little patches of sunshine.
/sarcasm
Yeah, kemtee, I getcha. Spaying/neutering, responsible conservation of species, &c. I can get behind, but calling someone a “sworn enemy” over the “fate” of a single elephant?
I saw a William Shatner roast (too easy, right?) late one night on Comedy Central. Betty White is one of the most profane people I’ve ever listened to. She was hysterically funny, but I almost blushed at some of her jokes — and that’s saying a lot. Maybe that’s Crazy Bob’s problem with her. Or maybe he’s a narcissistic Hollywood personality who’s too used to people bowing to his every whim….
Me: Yeah, I’d probably do Betty White.
Bo: Heh, she’s 88. Can I have 4 22-year olds instead?
BOB BARKER FEARS MT. CODY!
Split the difference and go two 44’s.
I love Betty White! Not Bob Barker. I didn’t like the way he treated her and I never care for him. I don’t like his point of view on Animal Rights. Betty was right to save the Billy the Elephant at LA Zoo. I am proud of Betty.
Well this was a waste of time from such a bias writer. You write enough about the man but his issue with someone he actually knows and you don’t is what triggers you? Where is the bit about him going to DC to discuss the release of elephants from circuses? He had actually dedicated his life to animal rights after his wife passed and takes helping them seriously. For all we know, Betty heard about him wanting this elephant released but ya want to side with someone who believes the space should just be expanded? Oh please! Good of him to call her his sworn enemy because while she may also be labeled a human rights activist, their views on what is in the animal’s best interest are drastically different!
Thank you! I have no idea why ppl can’t look at Betty White objectively! She basically screwed Billy over! ?