Here's what happened:
* The Story: The story goes that Bette Davis was a guest on a variety show, and Mickey Rooney, who was also performing, came to visit her backstage. Davis, not recognizing him, said, "Well, honey, what do you want?" Rooney replied, "You don't know me? I'm Mickey Rooney!" Davis then shouted, "I've been in show business for 30 years, honey, and I know everybody in show business! You're no Mickey Rooney!"
* Where it Really Happened: This story is commonly associated with the Ed Sullivan Show, but it is likely apocryphal. While it's possible it happened on another show, there's no concrete evidence proving the actual event.
* Why it's Remembered: The story became a popular anecdote about the "feisty" nature of Bette Davis and the "unassuming" nature of Mickey Rooney. It's a great story that highlights the contrast between their personalities.
The Smothers Brothers Show: This show was famous for its comedic and often political sketches, but it didn't feature an incident involving Bette Davis and Mickey Rooney. It's possible that the story is misremembered or confused with another television show.