Sue Ann Nivens
Encyclopedia
Sue Ann Nivens was a fictional character on the long-running situation comedy, The Mary Tyler Moore Show
. She was played by television perennial Betty White
.
. Her program delivered advice to housewives on cooking and decorating. She chose unusual and sometimes ludicrous themes for some episodes, such as "What's all this fuss about famine?" and "A salute to fruit". Nivens was a perfectionist
; she once confessed she would rather flush her Veal Prince Orloff
down a toilet than serve it reheated. She was also full of helpful hints for all occasions and always ready to make lemons into lemonade; she once suggested buying colorful, happy goldfish
as companions for the infirm and then, when the goldfish died, using them as fertilizer
for houseplants.
Although Sue Ann presented an image of a sweet, perfect wife and homemaker on-screen, she was actually sardonic, man-obsessed, and very competitive, with a messed-up home life off-screen. Always with her trademark dimpled smile, she was cruel and snide toward people she did not like or considered a threat.
), gave Sue Ann a ride home. Phyllis subsequently realized Lars and Sue Ann were having an affair because Lars came home with cleaner clothes than when he left. Mary was forced to mediate between Phyllis and Sue Ann to end the affair.
Eventually, Sue Ann and Mary became somewhat friendly, or perhaps were friendly adversaries. She often called Mary "Dear, sweet, naive Mary"; and she, along with Georgette Franklin, helped to fill the void when Phyllis and Rhoda left the show for their own spin-off shows. Nonetheless, Sue Ann's relationship with Mary could be competitive, as Mary, who was younger and more attractive, more easily drew the attention of men than Sue Ann could.
As the series concluded, Sue Ann's show was canceled because of low ratings. She worked for a time in the newsroom, but, in the final episode, she was fired, as was almost everyone at WJM.
as a sometimes cloying, gentle, innocent or seemingly demure woman who would occasionally say shockingly risque things the meaning of which she was unaware, White was able to distinguish herself as an actress from her body of work.
On The Golden Girls
, debuting eight years later, White was originally cast as man-hungry Blanche
; and Rue McClanahan
, the befuddled Vivian
on Maude
, was cast as naive Rose
. The two actresses realized how similar their new roles were to their previous ones and, at the suggestion of veteran comedy director Jay Sandrich
, approached the producers about switching roles. The producers agreed, and the show went on to great success.
Allowing White and McClanahan to swap roles was what made Bea Arthur decide to take part in The Golden Girls. McClanahan recalled in an interview, "Bea told me, 'Rue, I don't want to do a show where Maude and Vivian meet Sue Ann Nivens', to which I said, 'No, Bea. I'm going to play Nivens and Betty White is going to play Vivian.'" Bea Arthur was then said to reply, "Interesting!"
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns that aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977...
. She was played by television perennial Betty White
Betty White
Betty White Ludden , better known as Betty White, is an American actress, comedienne, singer, author, and former game show personality. With a career spanning seven decades since 1939, she is best known to modern audiences for her television roles as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and...
.
The Happy Homemaker (and homewrecker)
Sue Ann Nivens was the relentlessly perky star of The Happy Homemaker on Mary Richards' fictional WJM-TV in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Her program delivered advice to housewives on cooking and decorating. She chose unusual and sometimes ludicrous themes for some episodes, such as "What's all this fuss about famine?" and "A salute to fruit". Nivens was a perfectionist
Perfectionism (psychology)
Perfectionism, in psychology, is a belief that a state of completeness and flawlessness can and should be attained. In its pathological form, perfectionism is a belief that work or output that is anything less than perfect is unacceptable...
; she once confessed she would rather flush her Veal Prince Orloff
Veal Orloff
Veal Prince Orloff, Veal Prince Orlov, Veal Orloff, or Veal Orlov is a 19th century dish of Franco-Russian cuisine. Created by an Urbain Dubois in the employ of Prince Orloff, former Russian ambassador to France. This dish consists of a braised loin of veal, thinly sliced, filled with a thin...
down a toilet than serve it reheated. She was also full of helpful hints for all occasions and always ready to make lemons into lemonade; she once suggested buying colorful, happy goldfish
Goldfish
The goldfish is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It was one of the earliest fish to be domesticated, and is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish....
as companions for the infirm and then, when the goldfish died, using them as fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
for houseplants.
Although Sue Ann presented an image of a sweet, perfect wife and homemaker on-screen, she was actually sardonic, man-obsessed, and very competitive, with a messed-up home life off-screen. Always with her trademark dimpled smile, she was cruel and snide toward people she did not like or considered a threat.
With Mary and Phyllis
Sue Ann's debut on The Mary Tyler Moore Show was as a guest at one of Mary Richards' famously disastrous parties. At the conclusion of the party, Lars Lindstrom (the never-seen husband of Mary's friend and landlady, Phyllis LindstromPhyllis Lindstrom
Phyllis Lindstrom is a fictional character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off, Phyllis, portrayed by Cloris Leachman.-The Mary Tyler Moore Show:...
), gave Sue Ann a ride home. Phyllis subsequently realized Lars and Sue Ann were having an affair because Lars came home with cleaner clothes than when he left. Mary was forced to mediate between Phyllis and Sue Ann to end the affair.
Eventually, Sue Ann and Mary became somewhat friendly, or perhaps were friendly adversaries. She often called Mary "Dear, sweet, naive Mary"; and she, along with Georgette Franklin, helped to fill the void when Phyllis and Rhoda left the show for their own spin-off shows. Nonetheless, Sue Ann's relationship with Mary could be competitive, as Mary, who was younger and more attractive, more easily drew the attention of men than Sue Ann could.
With others
- Sue Ann also often sparred with news writer Murray SlaughterMurray SlaughterMurray Slaughter was a fictional character in the situation comedy The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He was played by actor Gavin MacLeod.- Character :Murray Slaughter was the news writer at fictional television station WJM-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
, making veiled remarks about his baldness. - She was "very close" to WJM's children's television show host Chuckles the ClownChuckles the ClownChuckles the Clown is a fictional character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show . His character is best known for his off-camera death in the episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust."...
, baking the first custard pie he ever sat in. - The one man she most wanted to bed was Lou GrantLou Grant (fictional character)Lou Grant is a fictional character played by Edward Asner in two television series produced by MTM Enterprises for CBS. The first was Mary Tyler Moore , in which the character was the news director at the fictional television station WJM-TV...
. After being turned down on numerous occasions, she finally succeeded in a sixth-season episode ("Once I Had A Secret Love"); Lou went to great lengths to try to ensure that the rest of the WJM staff didn't find out about this. - Sue Ann also had a younger sister, Lila (Pat Priest), with whom she had a severe case of sibling rivalry. Lila caused Sue Ann a lot of grief, especially when Lila made overtures to take over Sue Ann's show.
As the series concluded, Sue Ann's show was canceled because of low ratings. She worked for a time in the newsroom, but, in the final episode, she was fired, as was almost everyone at WJM.
Impact on Betty White
Sue Ann Nivens exhibited a new dimension to White's talent. Often typecastTypecasting (acting)
In TV, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups...
as a sometimes cloying, gentle, innocent or seemingly demure woman who would occasionally say shockingly risque things the meaning of which she was unaware, White was able to distinguish herself as an actress from her body of work.
On The Golden Girls
The Golden Girls
The Golden Girls is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris, which originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. Starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, the show centers on four older women sharing a home in Miami, Florida...
, debuting eight years later, White was originally cast as man-hungry Blanche
Blanche Devereaux
Blanche Elizabeth Devereaux is one of the four main fictional characters on the 1985-1992 NBC sitcom The Golden Girls, and its CBS spin-off The Golden Palace. In the pilot episode her last name was given as Hollingsworth, but this was somewhat "corrected" in later episodes by making this her...
; and Rue McClanahan
Rue McClanahan
Rue McClanahan was an American actress, best known for her roles on television as Vivian Harmon on Maude, Fran Crowley on Mama's Family, and Blanche Devereaux on The Golden Girls, for which she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in 1987.-Early life:McClanahan was born Eddie Rue...
, the befuddled Vivian
Vivian Harmon
Vivian Harmon previously Cavender; is a fictional character from the television show, Maude.-Character traits:...
on Maude
Maude (TV series)
Maude was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS network from September 12, 1972 until April 22, 1978.Maude starred Beatrice Arthur as Maude Findlay, an outspoken, middle-aged, politically liberal woman living in suburban Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York with...
, was cast as naive Rose
Rose Nylund
Rose Nylund was born May 1930 in St. Olaf, Minnesota. She is a fictional character featured on the popular 1980s situation comedy The Golden Girls, and its spin-off The Golden Palace. She was portrayed by Betty White for 8 years and 208 episodes.Rose was comically portrayed as naïve and simple,...
. The two actresses realized how similar their new roles were to their previous ones and, at the suggestion of veteran comedy director Jay Sandrich
Jay Sandrich
Jay Henry Sandrich is an American television director.He began his career as an Assistant Director on I Love Lucy. Sandrich has directed and/or produced episodes of The Bill Dana Show, Get Smart, 2/3 of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Soap, first 3 seasons of The Cosby Show, and The Odd Couple...
, approached the producers about switching roles. The producers agreed, and the show went on to great success.
Allowing White and McClanahan to swap roles was what made Bea Arthur decide to take part in The Golden Girls. McClanahan recalled in an interview, "Bea told me, 'Rue, I don't want to do a show where Maude and Vivian meet Sue Ann Nivens', to which I said, 'No, Bea. I'm going to play Nivens and Betty White is going to play Vivian.'" Bea Arthur was then said to reply, "Interesting!"