I know it’s April Fool’s Day and for that reason this story is suspect. I heard a blurb about it on the teevee news first, which gave it a little more credence, although they probably got it from the same source where I found it. According to Deadline News, NBC has ordered a new reality show with Betty White where older people pull pranks on young whippersnappers (without being schooled at the end and bitching that they would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for those meddling kids.) It’s based on a show from Belgium called Benidorm Bastards, and I checked and it exists and everything so this could be true – or at least they did their homework before making it up.

NBC has picked up Betty White’s Off Their Rockers, a new hidden-camera comedy show hosted and executive produced by Betty White. The series of 12 half-hour episodes will be produced by Chris Coelen’s Kinetic Content.

‪Known throughout Europe as Benidorm Bastards, Betty White’s Off Their Rockers follows a band of seven senior citizens who make it their mission to play pranks on unsuspecting younger people. “Betty White is a comedic genius who escalates hilarity in any situation,” said Paul Telegdy, NBC’s EVP Alternative Programming. “Viewers will thoroughly enjoy watching her pull one over on the unsuspecting youth of America.”

‪Said White, “People have been telling me that I’m ‘Off My Rocker’ for years — now I can prove it.”

‪The deal reunites White with NBC, where The Golden Girls ran successfully for seven seasons. More recently, White’s hosting gig on NBC’s Saturday Night Live earned her an Emmy. White remains one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood. Having just turned 89, she continues to star on TV Land’s Hot in Cleveland, which has been picked up for a third season. In addition, her new book If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t) will be released May 3. The original series by Shelter in Belgium, Benidorm, swept the 2010 Rose d’Or Awards, winning the Best Comedy Award as well as the Golden Rose for Best Program of the entire competition. In addition, the show won Best Comedy Format at the 2010 FRAPA Format Awards. The NBC version, packed by APA, will be executive produced by White, Coelen, Kinetic’s Matilda Zoltowski and Shelter’s Tim Van Aelst.

[From Deadline]

Many people say that Betty White is overexposed at 89. (I still have to look up her age every time I report on her because I assume she’s only 82 or 83 even though I should know by now!) To me she’s still so awesome and funny and I look forward to seeing her on television for years to come. She’s quick witted and entertaining and that’s why she continues to get so many opportunities.

This show sounds kind of dumb, though, and like a rip off of other shows in the US that have come before it. I hope they put a fresh spin on it and make it funny and inventive.

Here’s a clip reel from Benidorm Bastards. Most of the pranks were dumb, but a few cracked me up. It has some f bombs, particularly an old dude reciting Rage Against the Machine that made me laugh. (:40) I also loved the old people looking like they just finished a threesome in the park (4:40) and the three grandpas in the subway jamming out to rap music (5:50). Some struck me as potentially offensive, like a guy calling another guy the anti-gay f-word and framing a young couple for it (2:50) and a guy who dumps a lady in a wheelchair on a trash pile because she was berating him. (3:30) The American version will surely tread more lightly.

Betty White is shown at the Genesis Awards below on 3/19/11. Credit: WENN.com. She’s shown on 3/30/11 in the header. Credit: PRPhotos