Not suing Lindsay Lohan was a 'mistake,' says Bette Midler
Veteran actor Bette Midler recently revealed her regrets about her 2000 semi-autobiographical sitcom Bette, describing it as a "big, big mistake." The show aired for only 16 episodes on CBS in the US. She also had some things to say about Lindsay Lohan who played her daughter Rose in the pilot episode. Midler shared these reflections during an appearance on the podcast Fail Better, hosted by actor David Duchovny.
This is why Midler contemplated legal action against Lohan
One of the key regrets Midler discussed was her decision not to sue Lohan, who didn't return after the pilot episode. "Lindsay Lohan was cast as my daughter in the pilot. Well, after the pilot, Lindsay Lohan decided she didn't want to do it. Or she had other fish to fry. So, (she) left the building. And I said, well, now what do you do?" She hinted that Lohan's abrupt exit might have contributed to the downfall of Bette.
Midler admitted missteps as executive producer
Midler, who also served as an executive producer on Bette, admitted to making some mistakes. She confessed to not fully understanding the dynamics and structure of producing a sitcom. "I didn't realize what the pace was, and I didn't understand what the hierarchy was, and no one bothered to tell me," she revealed. The 78-year-old also regretted not asserting herself more due to fear of being perceived as a show-off.
Sitcom 'part of the media I simply did not understand'
Despite her extensive background in films, live events, variety television shows, and talk shows, Midler confessed to not fully comprehending the sitcom format. "It was a part of the media I simply did not understand," she admitted. She enjoyed watching sitcoms but didn't grasp what it meant to produce one. "I watched it. I appreciated it. I enjoyed it, but I didn't know what it meant to make (a TV series)," Midler said.
