Tower City turns up the heat as 'Hot in Cleveland' cast receives keys to the city

"This show is a love letter to our region," Baiju Shah of Global Cleveland remarked to the anxious crowd inside Tower City Center, waiting to catch a glimpse of the Hot in Cleveland cast.

Mayor Frank Jackson presented Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick and the much-loved Betty White with keys to the city today. Shah bestowed the title of Honorary Global Clevelander upon them.

"You guys are all co-stars of this show," Malick told the crowd after receiving her key. White smiled as she praised Cleveland for having one of the "best zoos" she's ever seen.

"Betty" chants echoed throughout Tower City, turning the event into a pep rally for the 89-year-old actress. Signs read "Thank you for being a friend" and "Who needs LeBron when Cleveland has Betty?" -- contrasting White's poise, charm and gratitude with, well, you know.

Leeves said she's always had a "strange warm and fuzzy feeling about Cleveland," though she'd never visited Ohio before. "It's the best kept secret in America," she said.

The event was part of a two-day celebration of Hot in Cleveland, which has painted a positive picture of the city in its two years on the air. Last night the four women toured the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's Women Who Rock exhibit and attended a special viewing of the show's season premiere.

One source said the four women were off to spend the day around the city filming scenes for the show. Bertinelli will be staying in town an extra day with husband Tom Vitale, a native of Cuyahoga Falls. She'll be throwing the ceremonial first pitch before Friday night's Tribe game.

To read our January cover story about Hot in Cleveland, including Colleen Smitek's interviews with White, Bertinelli, Leeves and Malick on the set in Los Angeles, click here.