Well, we’re back annnnnnnd that’s about the best we can say for ourselves. During our brief hiatus the world really went to hell, didn’t it? Behind the scenes it hasn’t been too great for us either but we knew we needed to get back in the studio and release a new episode for all of you who have been patiently waiting. All nine of you. In this episode, we look at Bette’s 1988 HBO Special The Mondo Beyondo Show and 1988’s animated Disney non-classic Oliver & Company. They were certainly things to watch! You’ll also hear talk about the Oscars, a few 70s sitcoms, a possibly controversial opinion regarding Demi Moore, some unnecessary talk about the later Scream movies, and you'll find out what Oliver & Company has in common wtih Severance! This one was fraught with audio issues and has more ADR than usual. See if you can figure out where Bradley dubbed Sean! Justice for Sheryl Lee Ralph! Don’t forget to rate and review wherever you get your podcasts! SHOW NOTES Maria “Money Honey” Bartiromo and Laura “White Frankenstein’s Monster” Ingraham Are Going to Make the Kennedy Center “Hot” Better Things starring Oscar Winner Mikey Madison and Pamela “Used to be on The Facts of Life” Adlon (née Segall) Philip McKeon Whoopi Goldberg straddled the line between comedy and performance art. This one is a personal favorite. The Yes/No People became Stomp The Kipper Kids A kipper is also a kind of herring A Different Twist The TV Guide article we’d like to find the rest of without having to buy an old TV Guide. The Alice in Wonderland from the previous article
Calling all Pub Subs! We are back with Bette's latest theatrical release and... well, you'll see. We’re spoiling this move (and the series Weeds) so be warned! You'll also hear talk of A Chorus Line, Bradley's big birthday at the end of September, and how Bette wishes she'd sued Lindsay Lohan at the turn of the last century. Sean will talk about his recent travels and Bradley will give you bad accents AND bad math. We watched this movie so you don’t have to! Go watch Weeds instead! SHOW NOTES 'night, Mother An interview with ‘On Bette Midler’ author Kevin Winkler (Dallas Voice) Bette and Hoda Bette should have sued Lindsay Lohan (Variety) Bette’s Tuna Salad (Parade Magazine) Bootleg Betty Preserved the text of the original Tuna Salad article from Good Housekeeping No reunion with Goldie and Diane (People Magazine) How Bad is “The Fabulous Four”? Bette Midler Left the Country to Avoid Reviews (Showbiz411) Bette Midler - The entertainer and activist reveals her travel routine (airmail.news) Hollywood Reporter Interview (not Indiewire, as said in the episode) Kathy Bates May or May Not Be Retiring After 'Matlock' Deadline Review KAOS - Official Trailer Gods Behaving Badly (book) Gods Behaving Badly (film)
Note: This was recorded on June 30th, so it was after the debate (which we wisely cut all mention of) and before anything that has transpired in our political hellscape since then. On with the show! No matter what day it is, it's time to put on your Tuesd'y panties as we travel from Jupiter Hollow, WV to NYC where we will raise some hell and kick some snooty New York aye-ass! In this episode, we discuss a reappearance by Bettecetera fave Barry Primus, revisit West Virginia Hot Dogs, and dig deep into a film that in another universe might have starred Barbra Streisand and Goldie Hawn. We also talk about adults doing children's voices, the merits of Metacritic vs Rotten Tomatoes, and we even create a little speculative fiction about the origins of pay-per-view. See you again soon and make sure you leave us a 5-star rating (and maybe a review) if you haven't yet. And don't forget - Bette's new movie, The Fabulous Four, opens on July 26th! SHOW NOTES Martin Mull, scene-stealing actor from 'Roseanne', 'Arrested Development', dies at 80 Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walter)'s reactions to Gene Parmesan I Am: Celine Dion trailer The Ugliest House in America The Mole Instant Hotel (hosted by Juliet Ashworth) is unfortunately not streaming anywhere stateside at the moment Interet Archive (our beloved) has actually archived many of the MTV News articles that were on the now-defunct MTV News site Deborah Rush Nicolas Coster played Mr. Shelton We are considering starting a GoFundMe to go see Audra in Gypsy The History of the West Virginia Hot Dog Jesus is Coming. Look Busy! The Sadie Shelton Gif Edward Herrmann The Little British Gay was played by Daniel Gerroll Lucy Webb Not Necessarily the News Deceptions (starring Stefanie Powers) part 1 (Also on Prime and Freevee) Pauline Kael's review (archived on Letterboxd by Not Pauline Kael)
It took some fits and starts and couple of meltdowns by our editor (Bradley) but the Outrageous Fortune spectacular is finally here! In this episode, Bradley and Sean dig deep into the well-known lack of camaraderie between Bette and Shelley Long while working on the picture, and the facts might surprise you! We also talk about how the character of Stanislav Korzenowski might be a play on the Konstantin Stanislavski and Bradley spends much of the episode confusing the two names not noticing. Finally, we even make a connection to Avril Lavinge’s 2002 hit Sk8r Boi! If you haven’t already don’t forget to leave us a 5-start rating and/or review wherever you get your podcasts! SHOW NOTES Here are the original TikTok videos Bradley did about the feud in 2021 Konstantin Stanislavski Bette's tweet about the campus protests The Hamlet soliloquy that gave us the phrase "Outrageous Fortune" “Despite the way things turned out [with the AIDS crisis],” Midler told the Houston Voice, “I’m still proud of those days [when I got my start singing at the gay bathhouses]. I feel like I was at the forefront of the gay liberation movement, and I hope I did my part to help it move forward. So, I kind of wear the label of ‘Bathhouse Betty’ with pride.” The eternally handsome Christopher (sometimes just Chris) McDonald The AV Club interview with Bronson Pinchot The Washington Post article that cracks the feud wide open Avril Lavinge's "Sk8r Boi" Jerry Zaks, who cameos as the smoke shop proprietor, has a long career directing for the stage and screen, including directing Bette's 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly! Another famous on-set feud
New Bettecetera achievement unlocked! This is our second attempt at an episode about the hilarious 1986 comedy classic Ruthless People, as the first one was not up to our exacting standards! We've never done a re-record before, but trust us, you're glad we did. In this episode, we shout out our sisters, get in the the obligatory Barbra reference, read Bette's latest tweets, and you'll also find out what Sean doesn't f--k with. Plus, you'll find out who is the nice one and who is the smart one! If you haven't yet, please give us a five star rating (and maybe a review?) wherever you get your podcasts. SHOW NOTES The Mixed Reviews The Ransom of Red Chief Angie Opening Credits Shelley Kelly Kelly You Might Know Her From The Magic Show Anita Morris (1943-1994) Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV To Lose Weight, Inject Yourself With Urine?? Kresge's/K-Mart
We hope you're ready to let us pepper your ragoût with a special episode that opens and closes with talk of Bette but spends the middle talking about the 2003 Best Picture Chicago. We have survived editing mishaps and background animal noise (Rosie's jangling tags and rapid panting are special guest stars throughout!) to bring this to you, so please join us on a journey that starts with some listener mail and more of Bette's bad tweets, then we'll time travel to the 1970s to imagine a version of Chicago starring Bette and Cher. After that we'll visit the 2000s to reminisce about dual layer dvds. We'll bring you back to today, but not before a brief sojourn to the 2010s for a conspiracy involving Meryl Streep. SHOW NOTES Reminder - Angela Bassett did the thing! Angela's Honorary Oscar Miss Otis Regrets New York Restoration Project Divanation - RIP The Greatest Night in Pop Chita Rivera (1933-2024) The Shriner's Ballet from Bye Bye Birdie Not Starring dot com Texas Guinan Bette and Cher looking like Roxie and Velma Barbara Harris Liza in Chicago on Broadway All That Jazz (1979) The 1926 silent movie version of Chicago, until recently thought to be lost. It has a slighlty different ending from the stage version Roxie Hart (1942) Deidre Goodwin on You Might Know Her From Big Jim Colosimo The trailer for the movie musical with the faux "Keep your paws off my lawyer" line Women got the right to vote in 1920 Highlights from the 1992 Long Beach production starring Bebe Neuwirth and Juliet Prowse Lipstick on Roxie's teeth and other flubs Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon doing the Hot Honey Rag on The Mike Douglas Show The Revival Choreography Sara Ramirez The bonkers "Donna Murphy did Meryl Streep's singing in Into the Woods" theory Donna Murphy herself debunking it Use JustWatch to find where Chicago (and anything else!) is streaming
We're back and BETTE-R than ever! Bradley and Sean returned from their hiatus and they're ready to talk about their lives, including which one of them had Covid, whose car was dying at the time of recording (and is now dead - RIP). They eventually get around to talking about Bette Midler's first picture for Touchstone, Down and Out in Beverly Hills. Plus there's a letter from Bettecetera's Number 1 Fan Nathan, and there's even a brand new theme song. Have a Merry Christmas if you celebrate, and a happy year to all! SHOW NOTES Upppbeat.io "It’s just going to take one thing, one thing, Nay, and you know, if you’re in a hit film … then everything changes" Blooudhaus Do I Sound Gay? Fan Page for the Late, Great Mike the Dog (aka Matisse)
Our long awaited season finale is finally here! Join us as we take a detour from Bette’s career to check in with her daughter Sophie von Haselberg and her recent feature film Give Me Pity! After this episode we’re taking a short hiatus, but don’t worry! We will be back very soon! If you haven't already, please make sure to leave us a review and/or a 5-star rating wherever you get your podcasts. SHOW NOTES Cannons Sitting in Bars with Cake Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Megan Mullally Start Shooting Latest “Golden Girls” Type Movie R.I.P., Houston Dyer Give Me Pity - Official Trailer Makin’ It (Shout out to my brother Rodney, whose rendition of the Makin' It theme song is featured in this episode) Grace Zabriskie (also here)
We are just using "flop" collioqually, calm down! We are the real flops! This episode is a mess, but in true Bettecetera fashion, we've double downed on it and it's now an integral part of our schtick. Come for the terrible Penny Marshall imperssion, stay for the refrain of Sean's cat in the background! SHOW NOTES The Saga of Baby Divine Celebrity "Read" Posters of the 80s and 90s Freckleface Strawberry The Indefatigable Stepp Sisters De Tour (Boston 1983) "No Frills" TV special Art or Bust Bootleg Betty Bette Midler Greeting Cards! 1st MTV Video Music Awards Bette Midler shares pic from her 1984 wedding that had been lost for decades Mud WILL Be Flung Tonight "Beast of Burden" video 20/20 Interview (ft Aaron Russo) Bluesky is under fire for allowing usernames with racial slurs Tracy Nelson is alive and well, but has survived three(3!) different cancers!
If you're already feeling like you've been jinxed, wait until you watch this movie! Come for the Bette banter, stay for the talk of West Virginia hot dogs, Rip Torn vs Rip Taylor, and the Barbi Twins! SHOW NOTES West Virginia did indeed succeed from Virginia We're probably 5 or so episiodes away from this movie, but here's the Jupiter Hollow song from Big Business! Bette sings the wig song she and Sophie made up (from the BCC Chat Show Wogan, with guest host Joanna Lumley) Wiseguy Ken Wahl Rip Taylor The Barbi Twins
Bettecetera is back and in honor of the nervous breakdown Bette had in the early 80s, Sean and Bradley are currently nervous breakdowns personified! (Do people still have nervous breakdowns? Are they called something else these days?) While this episode’s main focus is on Bette’s 1980 Concert film, Divine Madness, and her 1980 Barbara Walters interview, your Bettecetera Boys also discuss their obsession with Yellowjackets (including pondering the proper pronunciation of Christina Ricci’s surname), whether or not we remember Smash properly, deleted scenes from The Goonies, and we start the whole thing with a brand new number! We somehow forgot to mention the Sophie Tucker section of the show (whoops but whatever) as well her electrifying performance of “Stay With Me”(shame on us)! SHOW NOTES The Internet Archive Brouhaha 'Smash' Musical Adaptation Headed to Broadway Barbara Walters Interview (1980) The Infamous Mercury Sable Commercial Divine Madness Deleted Scenes Shiver Me Timbers Rainbow Sleeves My Mother's Eyes
With deepest apologies for the delay, Bettecetera is back with our first Quickie! We'll have a full-length episode next month, but we wanted to pop into your feeds to say hello and to share a new segment called Bettesterpiece Theatre! SHOW NOTES Bette talks to Variety
Bettecetera is back and ready to party like it's 1979 standing in for 1969. Bradley and Sean discuss Bette's first picture, The Rose, a loose retelling of the life of Janis Joplin This episode was chaotic and stressful, but we think we've managed to finesse it into something delightful for your lisetning pleasure. SHOW NOTES Check out the incredible artwork of Norn Cutson, the artist behind the new Bettecetera logo Sarah Jessica Parker IS The Rose! Bette Midler by lol Ace Collins at our beloved archive dot org! The Rose - a novelization by Leonore Fleischer Akvavit/Aquavit The Highland Fling (R.I.P.) Bette as The Rose in concert (audio) - 1978
Bradley and Sean are back and they have already broken their format! To coincide with the holiday season, this episode focuses of Bette's 2006 Holiday Album, Cool Yule. This episode goes sideways halfway through and we've left that in for your enjoyment! Have a happy holiday season and a happy new year and we'll be back next month with The Rose! SHOW NOTES Rosie (aka Miss Rose, aka Jingle Bella) Bette Midler - Cool Yule Barbra Streisand - A Christmas Album Aimee Mann - One More Drifter in the Snow Vanessa Williams - Star Bright Aldi Chocolate Croissant Live at Last - Uncut (archive.org) Emmanuel Lewis - Still Alive! Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas A Diva's Christmas Carol The Best Christmas Pageant Ever It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie The Muppet Christmas Carol Woman strikes Lindsay Lohan live on Instagram during ‘attempted kidnapping’ Pilk! Sean's Twitter Bradley's Twitter BetteCetera's Twitter
In our premiere, we cover the years 1945-1978 in the long and storied life of the Divine Miss M herself, Bette Midler. Sean is stunned to discover that Bette Midler is from Hawaii, Bradley and Sean both confess to buying unlicensed fan merch and get hung up on house painting, Bradley debunks his own personal conspiracy theory before going full circle on it, and Sean shares his love of Superstar and show notes. SHOW NOTES Bette Midler: Outrageously Divine by Mark Bego Bette Midler: Still Divine by Mark Bego The Divine Bette Midler by James Spada Streisand: Her Life by James Spada Bradley's TikTok recreation of his favorite anecdote from the above book. Hawaii (she's in the second row on the left!) 2nd Hawaii Clip Bette performing "Matchmaker" from Fiddler on the Roof on the 1968 Tonys Broadcast The Thorn Bette at the Continental Baths Barry Manilow - She's a Star (it was on his THIRD album!) Easier Said Than Done - The Essex "Miss Karen" presents Bette her Best New Artist Grammy Rolling Stone - The Gold Lamé Dream of Bette Midler Remember My Forgotten Man (The David Frost Show) The controversial Strangers in the Night Marihauna Ol’ Red Hair is Back The Bette Midler Show (Live at Last) Monty! The Mixed Reviews Podcast