Okay.. here we go.
This is the OLDER news archive. But no old Bette News is Bad news.. right? Flip through the news and see what you've missed.
The oldest stuff is on the bottom and works it's way up.
Don't forget to to check out the NEW NEWS page, to get more up to date stuff.
-CC
NEW NEWS...

Bette! Moving to Mondays?
There's alot of talk going around that Bette, Ms. M's sitcom on CBS will be moving to Monday nights in the new year. Unconfirmed as of yet, so keep checking back. Until then, CHECK out Bette! on Wed nights on CBS, if for some reason you haven't yet!


A FWC SEQUEL? Will The Trio Be Back???!!!
Well according to many news sources, Paramount and producer Scott Rudin are in early negotiations with Bette, Goldie and Diane to bring them aboard for a sequel to FWC.
There apparently is already a script (could this be the "Avon Ladies of the Amazon" script???) and Paul Rudnick (who wrote "In & Out") is re writing it, and the director is to be named in the close future.
All the sources say that they are trying to get the production to begin in March, just after "Bette!" is finished for it's first season for CBS.
As we have all heard in the past, and is verified by the latest stories all three of them are eager to work together again, however the contract negotiations are still underway. Since Olivia Goldsmith DIDN'T write a sequel to her novel it will be interesting to see what they come up with for these three ladies to work with. Will it be a worldwide run organization of revenge? oooo the anticipation... we can only wait...


What DO Women Want?
Find out this week, the new Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt movie starts this week in theatres.
Mel Gibson, after an incident, finds himself able to hear women's thoughts and thereby knowing "what women want." He runs to a shrink for help and who is it? None other then the Divine Miss M, who critics say steals the scene she is in.
Unfortunately only a brief glimpse of Miss M, but it's included in a movie that looks great!


BETTE MIDLER UP FOR PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Bette is nominated for the following People's Choice Awards:
1. Favorite Female Performer in a New Television Series
2. "Bette" for Favorite New Comedy Series

The People's Choice Awards will be broadcast on CBS on January 7. The top vote-getters in all 18 categories will be announced January 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. Be sure to tape this one, how great for her to get the nominations, it is after all People's Choice! PLEASE show your support, let's send all positive energy that the people's choice will also be the Bette fan's choice. She deserves the recognition for all she's done.

More Movies Released
FINALLY we can go to the video store and purchase a few new ones for our collections. "Get Bruce" the hiliarious documentry about Bruce Villanch was released Dec 5 for widescale sales. Jan 9th is the scheduled release for Drowning Mona, and Jan 23th will bring out the release of "Isn't She Great", Ms. M's portrayal of novelist Jackie Susann. These titles have been avail on DVD for purchase for months but now they're avail on VHS
Previously these films were only avail for rental. And the only purchase option was to find previously viewed tapes at your local store. (whereas NONE of that goes back to the actors involved) Here ya get new sealed copies and support Ms. M at the same time.
BETTE MIDLER SIGHTINGS
Don't miss these fantastic sightings this week!
Monday, Nov 27th Miss M will be appearing on Late Night with David Letterman, and she's joining the ladies from "The View" on Tues, Nov, 28 morning.
Get those VCR's rolling!!

Hulaween SUCCESS
From all I talked to who were lucky enough to be able to attend Hulaween VI I hear it was alot of fun, and a great success. Ms. M and NYRP once again threw a bash to remember!

BETTE Battled with Regis...
Bette, premiered on Wed night on CBS as you all know and was up against ABC's "Who Wants To Be Millionaire?". "Final numbers are in, and Bette Midler's self-titled CBS sitcom got off to a record-smashing start Wednesday night. The show's premiere scored the network's best comedy ratings for the night in more than five years. Although ABC's Who Wants to be a Millionaire bested Bette in total viewers, the sitcom came out on top in all key demos."
But can I say I'm surprised? Not really, Regis is on 4 times a week, I personally find the lines "I'm coming for ya Gidget" and "I look like the last 20 min of For The Boys" MUCH more entertaining then Millionaire's endless supply of questions, life lines and Regis and his ties. What will I be watching every Wed Night on CBS? BETTE of COURSE and THAT Regis IS MY FINAL ANSWER!! Isn't it YOURS?

Last Minute Changes to BETTE cd
It's HERE!! The Title is "BETTE" It's out on the shelves on as of Tues in North America at least. DON'T MISS IT. Already she's climbing high on amazon's bestseller list... woohooo goooo Miss M. It appears in the last moments, changes were made to the track listings of the new cd. The track listings are as follows:
The TRACK LISTING
1. Thats How Heartaches Are Made
2. In These Shoes
3. God Give Me Strength
4. Just My Imagination
5. Love TKO
6. Moses
7. Nobody Else But You... (Theme song for BETTE)
8. Color Of Roses
9. Bless You Child
10. When Your Life Was Low
11. Shining Star
The songs are all GREAT there's lots of new sounds on this cd. A great variety of styles showcasing Miss M's vocal talents.
And you can order it now online and it'll be on it's way to your doorstep.
Canada USA

DIVINELY OFFICIAL WWW NEW OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Yes, that's right folks there is a new official website up there, FINALLY worthy of the Divine Miss M. Accompanying the website is a chat room and a message board, and a staff THAT LISTENS AND ANSWERS. So far a big round of applause to SONY.... They've got someone reading our concerns/complaints/suggestions about the new digs, and they not only answer within a short frame of time, but they promise to fix it ASAP.
Bravo SONY and Columbia Tristar...
You MUST check out the new site, trivia, multimedia and it's all about BETTE!
NEW SITE

DIVINE PROMOTION BEGINS Week of Oct 9
Okay folks, here we go, VCR time again.
Ms. M begins promoting her cd and sitcom starting this week.
For now I have information that she will be on Rosie on WED Oct. 11th
(and we all know how much fun it is to see Bette and Rosie together.)
And then she will be appearing on Jay Leno on Oct 10th.
DON'T MISS IT. We all know she will be SINGING ...

As well she is to be on the CBS EARLY SHOW for a two part interview on Tues and Wed (10 and 11) WOOHOO the week is here!!!

Magazines..
As I've said before.. I'm not going to keep up with ALL the magazine appearances however here are a few worth mentioning
For those that haven't already found them. Ms. M appeared on the cover of the Canadian TV guide the week of Sept 2-8, and is on the US TV guide cover (with Geena Davis, Micheal Richards and John Goodman) for the week of Oct 2-8 ( I believe). As well she is on the cover of Good Housekeeping for the month of Oct, with a GREAT article inside.

New ALBUM NOW Oct 10th, 2000
Straight from AGP, new album release date is Oct 10th. SMART MOVE!! Now it comes out the day before the premiere of the hottest new sitcom to hit Television. BETTE!...
Show premiere and new cd all in one week? Talk about great news for a Divine Fan!


New ALBUM Oct 17th, 2000
Okay once again the album release date has been changed to the 17th, this straight from AGP. We can hope for earlier but I'm afraid we might just have to wait.
However, three different places have listed the tracks for the new cd. (sadly, Mary is not on the list)

1: That's How Heartaches Are Made
2: In These Shoes
3: God Give Me Strength
4: Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
5: Love TKO
6: Moses
7: Round Midnight
8: Shining Star
9: Woman's Gotta Have It
10: Something Your Heart Has Been Telling Me
11: When Your Life Was Low
12: Color Of Roses
13: Bless You Child

Look in the "Heard it Before" section of this site for more information on the tracks.


BETTE! on CBS Oct 11th, 2000
Okay.. folks.. yet again another scheduling change. From AGP the official premiere of "Bette" will be on Oct 11th, 8pm on CBS. As well the release date for the album is now Oct 17th. Sooo Update your calendars!


BETTE! on CBS Oct 4, 2000
Originally the show was to begin on Sept. 20, hoever it appears now that the airdate will be on Oct 4th, 8pm on CBS. Can you believe it? At last we get a weekly dose of the Divine, right in our living rooms. HOW COOL, HOW SWEET, HOW DIVINE!!!
Once again there has been a change in the casting, actress Lindsay Lohan decided to remain in NY rather then travel to LA away from her family to tape the sitcom for the season, so rumors have it that the part of Bette's daughter "Rose" has been cast with Marina Milota.
I've talked to many people that have had a chance to attend a taping and nothing but laughter and amazing reviews. Critics agree, that "BETTE!" is the most likely to be a smash of the fall line up. WATCH out Regis... Who want's to be a millionare? NOPE.. I want to Watch BETTE! and THAT Dear Regis IS my final answer.


The DIVINE MISS M CONCERT for GORE! Sept 14, 2000
Bette is performing at a fundraiser for Al Gore with a whole BUNCH of other performers. THe group includes Bon Jovi, Jimmy Buffett, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Sheryl Crow, Henley, Frey and Schmidt (from the Eagles) and Macy Gray at Radio City on Sept. 14, 2000.
Tickets are avail. online at http://www.democrats.org/radiocity
Prices for tickets are as follows: $125, $250, $500 and $1000.
Tickets are NOT tax deductable.

SPECIALS ON TV
A TV magazine listed this info... "This fall both VH1 and MTV will broadcast Bette Midler specials before her CBS series, "Bette", debuts on October 4." SO be on the lookout and have those VCRs ready, as of now that's all the information I have about the specials.

New ALBUM????Sept 26/ Oct 3rd??
Okay.. there are alot of rumors flying around as to the fact that Ms. M's new album will be released on Sept 26th or Oct. 3rd. The rumored name is to be "Random Acts of Diviness."
I reserve judgement until I see AGP post somethign official on the Fan Club board. Contact with AGP brings the news that the album isn't finished (as of August 1st) final track selection hasn't been finished as of yet, and that leaves but a month to set the cd into production and distribute not to mention all the promotional stuff, while at the same time, Ms. M's getting down to business with her new sitcom, promo for that, and of course the annual Hulaween ball at the end of Oct. So... all I can say is that I'm waiting to believe the Sept 26 or the October 3 release date until I see it from AGP.
Release dates sent out to record stores are SUBJECT to change all the time. (note: LOOK at the "Beating the Heat" cd, it's been changed at least 4 times since it was announced)

Beatin' the Heat
The new album by Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, along with Tom Wairs, Elvis Costello, Rickie Lee Jones, and Brian Setzer, on which the DIVINE one sings a track is yet again pushed back for release. Track #6 on this album is called "Strike While It's Hot!" and features Bette Midler on vocals. The album is called "Beatin' the Heat,"and the release date has been moved again, this time to August 29th. Click here to order from Amazon.com

Fantasia 2000 Nov 14, 2000
Fantasia 2000 will be released to DVD and video on Nov. 14, 2000. Don't miss the chance to own a GREAT film, filled with amazing music and animation as well as getting to see a glimpse of Ms M introducing one of the segments.
This, like the original is a work of ART. Click here to order from Amazon.com on VHS and Click here for DVD

The DIVINE MISS M IN CONCERT!!! June 20, 2000
"Bette Midler: A Benefit Concert for Multiple Sclerosis" Here's a link to the New Jersey Performing Arts site that has it listed.... Here The event is at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center - there are tickets available for $100 on the 4th tier, and then more expensive ones are available also.
Many members of the "Official Bette Midler Fan Club" on Yahoo will be up there on the fourth tier cheering on Ms. M and enjoying the show!
If you're in the area, don't miss it!


Don't miss it...
Your first chance to hear a track from the upcoming album from Ms. M...
She's appearing on the Soundtrack for "Sex in the City", singing "Love TKO" which will be on her new album as well. Release date for the "Sex in the City Album" is June 6, 2000.
AS WELL
Ms. M is appearing on the new album by Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, along with Tom Wairs, Elvis Costello, Rickie Lee Jones, and Brian Setzer. The album is called "Beatin' the Heat," and is set for release on July 18, 2000.



Alright folks.. more release dates for ya..
July 18th Isn't She Great released to DVD and VHS
(to the video stores... prices for sale of these are 17.99 DVD and 90.99 and up for VHS..WAIT a couple months till they are released for mass sale)
July 25th Drowning Mona released to DVD and VHS...
(same as above)
THE TAPING A HUGE success....(however) James Naughton was replaced with Kevin Dunn, EVERYONE I've heard from who was there, said it's a sure fire hit ESPECIALLY with DIVINE fans like all of you.
News sources have called it a "sure fire hit" and a "Slam Dunk" way to go Ms. DIVINE!!!!!
The latest..
Casting for the pilot...to tape in LA, date still unsure...
(as posted by AGP)
BETTE - Herself (of course)
ROY - Her husband - JAMES NAUGHTON (Ally McBeal's father on "ALLY McBEAL")
ROSE - Her daughter - LINDSAY LOHAN ("The Parent Trap")
CONNIE - Her best friend and business partner - JOANNA GLEASON ("Oh Baby")
OSCAR - Her accompanist - JAMES DREYFUS ("Notting Hill")
NEW ALBUM...
As talked about below Ms. M chatted with a HUGE showing of her fans, (Official Transcript) and told us that the new album HAS BEEN COMPLETED... no news yet as for the date of release. BUT... the song "Mary" was included on the album... IT will be AMAZING, no doubt about it.
MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES..
Ms. M has been working on the film "What Women Want" as well, there are two other movies that are being produced by AGP in the works, the Meddlers and Finders Keepers, STILL no news about either as of yet.
NEW SITCOM!! Ms. M's long-anticipated CBS sitcom is one step closer to becoming a reality...it will be a half hour sitcom, Ms. Midler will be "playing a well-known celeb "who looks remarkably like Bette Midler," according to a release from the studio. The show is in contention for a fall 2000 bow but could also go midseason. Midler settled on the concept for "Bette" after reviewing series outlines from several scribes. " -source Reuters/Variety
Should BE GREAT!.. imagine getting to see ms. M EVERY WEEK on tv doing the comedy? what could be better?
Thurs Mar 9 Ms. Midler Chats on Yahoo!!!!
7pm ET/4pm PT. Click here for more info

February 19th & 20, 2000 Entertainers
Miss M is scheduled to appear on this one hour show on both these days (same SHOW/episode) Check your local listings for this one. It's on on the 19th at 2:48 am and the 20th at 2:35 am on the ABC affiliate in my area (PST)

February 9th, 2000 CNN's Showbiz Today
I think she's on here talking about Drowning Mona, however I DO know she's scheduled to be on it.

February 9th, 2000 The Ainsley Harriott Show
the Divine Miss M will be on this show, I'm not sure if she's promotoing Isn't She Great, or just on for an interview. The Show's host is an interesting character, but I think that Bette will be hilarious on it.

Feb. 29, 2000 Get Bruce VHS release
In this movie starring Bruce Villanch there are many celeb interviews, Bette is included. Did you know that Bruce is the one that introduced Bette to the wonderful world of Sophie Tucker ??? (I'll neva forget it you know) where would we be without SOPH????
(be warned it is around $100 to buy it, price will go down within a few months but pressure you're local video store to get some copies for you to rent!!)

Mar. 3, 2000 DROWNING MONA PREMIERE
Opening night for the film. Staring Bette as Mona Darling. Also starring are Danny Devito, Neve Campbell and Jamie Lee Curtis. An awesome cast, I've heard stirrings of possible best supporting actress possibilities for Miss M... can't WAIT to see it...

Wed. Jan 19, 2000 Biography (A&E network)
This is the biography of Jacqueline Susann, author of such fiction as "Valley of The Dolls." Will give great background for Isn't She Great, as Bette plays Jacqueline Susann in the movie. Possible Bette sighting? who knows.

Wed. Jan 25, 2000 Good Morning America
Bette will be appearing on GMA for an interview for "Isn't She Great" today

Thurs. Jan 27, 2000 Good Morning America
Second half of Miss M's interview

Thurs. Jan 27, 2000 The View
Today is the day Bette's interview appears on the View. Promoting Isn't She Great.

Fri. Jan 28, 2000 ISN'T SHE GREAT PREMIERE
Opening night of Isn't She Great, starring Bette as Jacqueline Susann. Also starring Nathan Lange, David Hyde Pierce, and Stockard Channing, Cynthia Swann Griffin,and Sarah Jessica Parker. Take a gang of friends.. see a great new movie and show Bette by the box office #'s that we all know she IS DIVINE!!
    Other Bette News


    New Casting Call Great news!! According to The Dotted Line...Hollywood's Latest Casting Calls on E!online.....
    "Bette Midler may give Mel Gibson a taste of "What Women Want". The diva is in final negotiations to play a psychiatrist in the story of a chauvinist (Gibson) who, after an accident, acquires the ability to hear what women are thinking. Helen Hunt costars in the Nancy Myers-helmed pic which starts shooting this month".
    Fantasia 2000 Bette is not playing a character in this re release of Disney's Fantasia, however in selected IMAX theatres you can catch the Divine Miss M, doing one of the celebrity spots introducing a clip
    Bon Voyage There have been numerous reports that Bette is signed and will INDEED have her own sitcom coming out this fall. This will air on CBS. Unsure yet as to the title or the plot, however, the latest RUMOR is Bette will play a travel agency owner, who used to sing and dance in her earlier life, who is now goign through a mid life crisis. She's about to get a divorce, she sells her agency to an uptight coporate exec who's recently been fired, and they need to work together. However, they are complete and total opposites, and of course, they become attracted to one another. FINALLY television, we can see Bette every week what can be better?
    Tour There is talk of Miss M's tour going back on the road for the Spring/Summer. Keep an eye out for Delores and crew to roll into your neighborhood on their electric powered mermaid mobiles.
    Movies As IF Miss M doesn't stay busy enough... there is now info out that there will be 2 more movies in the works. One is Called "The Meddlers" and the other called "Finders Keepers" as I find out more, I will post it in here.