Bette

This show represents everything that is wrong with some sit-coms. It appears that television executives, unable to come up with an original idea, constantly fall back on "celebrities" such as Midler, as the end of their career. Since they are at the end of their career, they are more willing to do the lowly sit-com (see: Gena Davis). Unfortunately, the shows most often have the supporting characters orbiting around the star, Midler, feeding her opportunities to drop her "funny" lines. If the supporting characters do have a joke, it is only meant as a set-up to Midler "sassier" line. With these sit-coms, Midler and Davis, the lead actor appears to have distaste for the genre of situation-comedy, and judging from the writing, the writers have the same distaste. Moreover, the t.v. execs must have a lowly opinion of the genre to assume that an ex-movie actress automatically equals television gold. This is only validated when Emmy judges, seeing the ex-movie star (Midler) doing the lowly sit-com, assumes she must be so much more talented than other actresses on other sit-coms who did not have the same movie career (Heaton, Louis-Dryfus, etc.) Seinfeld offers the best cure for this disease, when the huge comedy star (Seinfeld) had a show, but rather than having all the actors orbiting around him, he gave them the funniest lines. The result: perhaps the television show ever. Hopefully people have learned, and such tragedies as "Bette" will never be allowed to happen again.

I, at first, thought a TV series with Bette Midler would be a great idea. I'm a big fan of hers and she has shown some great comedic talent in her movies. Unfortunately this was horrid! This show is infamous for all the behind the camera battles. From what was reported, Midler was a control freak and drove everybody crazy. Kevin Dunn (who played her husband) went head to head with her a few times--he was fired and replaced with Robert Hays. The scripts were (to be kind) unfunny and even Midler was bad! She's over the top all the time and runs around and screeches out every line. The entire cast basically seemed afraid to try and stop her--Dunn did and look what happened to him. The only one who comes through is Joanna Gleason who plays it quiet and calm--a welcome reprieve from Midler's dramatics.

This show didn't last long--I don't even think it played out a full season. It's mostly been forgotten and should stay that way. Even Midler has bad mouthed this!

This series has at times reminded me of I Love Lucy... but with that dash of originality... otherwise known as Bette Midler...

True, it's not one of those series to last for many years (The Simpsons, Law & Order, Murphy Brown) but it very well put together and written. Of course, it won't last, but at least we got to see something of the same arena as Lucille Ball's unforgettable character.

"Bette" may not leave behind a legacy and may not last that long... but it just proves that The Divine Miss M is not only the Queen of movies, music, comedy... but also, television.

I'm really impressed with all of the great new shows this season and this one is at the top of my list. I've been a fan of Bette Midlers for a long time and right now shes at her best. I've watched it since the beginning and haven't missed an episode. Its really really funny. I hope it does not get cancelled!

Oh my gosh, I loved this show, I am so sad it is cancelled, that was my Wednesday nights, watching Bette, I didn't miss one episode, not one, and I couldn't be disturbed while watching it, I am just so disappointed that it's gone, especially after it won a People's Choice Award and a TV Guide Channel award! I wish it would continue to be on and I just want to know why it was cancelled, I mean the cast was great!!!