Betty White to host ‘Saturday Night Live’

New York — The Internet has gotten its way: Betty White will host “Saturday Night Live.”

NBC said Thursday that the 88-year-old actress will host the show May 8. “SNL” executive producer Lorne Michaels says he can’t think of a better way to spend Mother’s Day weekend than with White.

The announcement followed a campaign on Facebook urging the sketch show to make White a host. The group attracted nearly half-a-million supporters.

White, whose starring roles include “The Golden Girls,” was given a lifetime achievement award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in January.

HBO brings WWII veterans to memorial

Washington — Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Elizabeth Dole welcomed 250 veterans to the World War II memorial Thursday to honor their service and introduce a TV miniseries on the battles of the Pacific.

HBO and a nonprofit group brought the veterans to Washington to mark the premiere of a 10-part series called “The Pacific.” It begins Sunday and focuses on the lives of U.S. Marines fighting the Japanese after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The project follows the “Band of Brothers” series in 2001, which focused on the war in Europe.

“We did it because all of you are the greatest stories ever told,” Spielberg told the veterans. Such movies and TV series are critical, he said, because “with each passing generation, more and more people are forgetting about World War II.”

Ray Charles musical set for Broadway

New York — A musical celebrating Ray Charles is headed for Broadway this fall.

“Unchain My Heart” will open Nov. 7 with preview performances beginning Oct. 8.

Producer Stuart Benjamin said Thursday the show would feature a book by Suzan-Lori Parks and direction by Sheldon Epps. Casting will be announced.

Benjamin worked with the late singer for 15 years and produced “Ray,” the hit movie about his life starring Jamie Foxx. Parks won a Pulitzer Prize for her play “Topdog/Underdog.”