LOS ANGELES -- Betty White, best known for playing Sue Ann Nivens on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and a transplanted Minnesotan on "The Golden Girls," was the belle of the ball this weekend as TV critics honored her with a lifetime achievement award at their annual ceremonies.
"You can't get rid of me," said White, 87, who recently received her 18th Emmy nomination for a guest appearance on "My Name Is Earl" and rave reviews for her R-rated turn in "The Proposal." "I just won't go away."
White confessed that critics didn't always love her; she shared memories of one of her early reviews from a writer who "couldn't stand me."
"I cried for three solid days," she said. "I still have the darn thing."
Other guests included Noah Wyle, who accepted a special award for "ER"; "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner, who admitted he almost flunked a college course because it was scheduled opposite "Jeopardy!"; "The Big Bang Theory" creator Chuck Lorre, who said he wanted to speak from the heart, but couldn't because it died during his tour of duty on "Roseanne," and host Chelsea Handler, who riffed on Sarah Palin, boyfriend-boss E! president Ted Harbert and audience member Jon Hamm.
