Bette Midler’s candid reflections on her early 2000s sitcom, “Bette,” shed light on the challenges she faced behind the scenes, including her regrets regarding a pivotal decision involving a young Lindsay Lohan.
In a recent appearance on David Duchovny’s Fail Better podcast, the 78-year-old actress humorously referred to the show’s title as “generic,” hinting at her dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the production. Despite her involvement as both a star and executive producer, Bette felt constrained and unable to exert full control over the series, which she believes had the potential to succeed if not for certain obstacles, such as Lindsay Lohan’s departure after the pilot episode.
During the podcast, Bette revealed that casting Lindsay as her on-screen daughter was a pivotal choice. However, Lindsay’s decision to leave the show created chaos and left Bette feeling abandoned by the studio.
“Lindsay Lohan was cast as my daughter,” Bette recounted. “Well, after the pilot, Lindsay Lohan decided she didn’t want to do it, or she had other fish to fry.”
Expressing her frustration at the lack of support from the studio, Bette admitted to contemplating legal action against Lindsay for breaching her contract. In hindsight, she regrets not taking a more assertive stance and advocating for her rights as a producer.
“If I had been in my right mind, or if I had known that my part of my duties were to stand up and say, ‘This absolutely will not do, I’m going to sue,’ then I would have done that,” Bette confessed. “But I seem to have been cosseted in some way that I couldn’t get to the writer’s room. I couldn’t speak to the showrunner. I couldn’t make myself clear.”
Despite these challenges, Bette’s disappointment extended beyond Lindsay’s departure. The show faced various setbacks, ultimately leading to its premature cancellation before all episodes could air. Reflecting on this turn of events, Bette expressed relief at the show’s end, admitting she lacked the motivation to continue.
“I said, ‘Oh, isn’t that fantastic?’” Bette recalled upon learning of the show’s cancellation. “I mean, we were on the 18th episode out of 22, and I was so thrilled not to have to continue because I could not gather myself enough to make it work.”
Interestingly, Lindsay’s recent throwback photo from the set of “Bette” serves as a poignant reminder of the show’s troubled production. Despite the challenges they faced, the bond between Bette and Lindsay endures, showcasing the resilience of their friendship amidst the trials of showbiz.
