Bette Online

Bette Online

Bette is a wildly successful singer with numerous hits, adoring fans, and showbiz friends who often drop by. Keeping her grounded is her professor husband Roy, best friend Connie, and her thirteen-year-old daughter Rose.

The show was not the monstrous success that CBS had hoped for, but it was a modest hit. Unfortunately, Bette Midler went on David Letterman at the beginning of January 2001 and complained about how difficult the whole sitcom experience had been, which erupted into a minor Hollywood scandal. At the last minute, CBS yanked an episode that was supposed to air before the Grammys, then they abruptly flipped the schedule, premiering the brand new series Some of My Best Friends (2001) in Bette's time slot before quickly canceling both shows. Midler cried foul and claimed she was going to pen a tell-all book about the various behind-the-scenes horrors she endured, but it never came to fruition.

Lindsay Lohan played Bette's daughter in the pilot. When filming the show was switched to Los Angeles, the New York-based Lohan dropped out of the project.

In one episode, Bette is redoing a room and calls out for "Dave," who is never seen. In real life, Bette's personal architect/designer is named David.

In real life, Bette Midler lost an Oscar for "The Rose" in 1980 to Sally Field, who took home the statuette for her performance as the title character in "Norma Rae." Throughout the series, Bette joked about a rivalry, and Field was asked to guest-star, but she declined.

After Kevin Dunn quit the show, Bette Midler pitched the idea of having a different actor portray Roy each week, with stars ranging from Fred Willard to Chris Rock. CBS executives vetoed her suggestion and Robert Hays was ultimately given the part, which he only got to play in two episodes before the series was abruptly canceled.