Here’s an article on what Margaret South is doing post-Bette. Here’s an excerpt from the Honolulu Star Bulleting today:

As for Margaret, although she worked part time after her son was born, she also had a frenetic career as co-founder, with Bette Midler and Bonnie Bruckheimer, of All Girl Productions.

She also developed scripts for Disney, Fox and Tri-Star Studios and produced the Midler films “Beaches,” “For the Boys” and “Man of the House.” And she once served as a consultant for ABC Daytime Television in New York, where she met Frank, who was having his plays produced in the city.

For the rest od the article: Click Here

This is a great article by J. Wynn Rousuck, Sun Theater Critic, about Bruce becoming ‘Edna’ in Hairspray. And for all you BetteHeads…well, he talks about her, too….enjoy:-) For the transformation, click on the photo link to the right of the article once you get to the Baltimore Sun article. The photo shoot was shot by David Hobby.

It’s quite a long article, but definitely interesting. Kind of whets your appetite to see the show. So if the musical comes your way….grab tickets fast….

Becoming Edna

Love, Mister D

*******************************************

Art Work: Tom Miro

New York Daily News
Hundreds of hot new sounds
Jim Farber
Saturday, August 30th, 2003

Comebacks and followups, debuts and swan songs — this fall’s music has ‘em all.

As the season commonly filled with the most releases, fall tends to feature music’s most dramatic story lines.

Will artists who made big splashes with their first albums fall on their faces the second time around? The question has to haunt contenders like Alicia Keys, Dido, Nelly Furtado, Nickelback and the Strokes.

Will musicians who’ve been out of the limelight for long periods be able to buff up their faded brand? That query has to concern gone-missing stars like Sarah McLachlan, Gloria Estefan and Courtney Love.

Then there are those well-known names embarking on their first solo flights, such as ‘N Sync’s JC Chasez, Eminem protege Obie Trice and the so-called American Idols Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard.

Every fall also harvests the usual round of names primed to feed the labels’ fourth-quarter reports. This year those include Pink, Missy Elliott, Britney Spears, Outkast, Kid Rock and Blink 182.

Two more big shots — Jay-Z and DMX — have provided extra incentive to buy their latest CDs. Both are threatening to quit.

Of course, in today’s MP3-ravaged music industry, no one’s album can be called a sure thing.

For a list of those CDs most likely to excite monetary or creative interest during this coming apple-picking season, read on, but bear in mind release dates are subject to change:

September 2

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club “Take Them On, On Your Own”: The third album by one of Britain’s most aggressive bands.

Linda Eder “Storybook”: A new CD from one of the few Broadway stars who maintains a contemporary pop career.

Shaun William Ryder “Amateur Night in the Big Top”: Finally, a solo album from the long-lost leader of the late bands Happy Mondays and Black Grape.

Alejandro Sanz, “No Es Lo Mismo”: A new CD from one of the few stars from Spain to establish a strong U.S. fan base.

Speedealer “Bleed”: The group formerly known as REO Speedealer churns out more trailer-park rock.

Various Artists “Light of Day: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen”: True, Springsteen has probably inspired more album salutes than anyone beyond Dylan (or John Hiatt). But which other one features Elvis Costello, Dion, Pete Yorn and Graham Parker? This one also benefits the Kristen Ann Carr Fund and the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.

Jeff Buckley “Live at the Sin-E”: Columbia has already released classic Buckley recordings from the New York club Sin-E (where the singer got his start). But this is an expanded version of those 1994 tapes, sprawled over two CDs, with a bonus DVD tacked on.

The Byrds “Sweetheart of the Rodeo”: A greatly elaborated, double CD version of the 1968 album that gave birth to country rock.
September 9

Andrew W.K. “The Wolf”: The Detroit rocker’s previous album promised to revive the enjoyable, if lunkheaded, legacy of Gary Glitter, but it succeeded only in amusing condescending critics. Will his second effort connect with actual record buyers?

Frank Black and the Catholics “Show Me Your Tears”: The latest solo work from the ex-Pixie.

David Byrne “Lead Us Not Into Temptation”: Not an official solo album but a soundtrack to the movie “Young Adam.”

June Carter Cash “Wildwood Flower”: The final recording by the country legend (and wife of Johnny Cash) who died this year at age 73. Features guest spots from Cash, their daughter Carlene Carter, and Marty Stuart.

Steve Earle “Just an American Boy – The Audio Documentary”: A double live CD from the classic roots rocker. It accompanies a film about his troubled life and prolific writing career.

John Mayer “Heavier Things”: The second set from the most commercially successful of the new young male singer-songwriters. Will this make him the Jackson Browne of his generation?

My Morning Jacket “It Still Moves”: The debut CD from an arty country rock act that sounds like a blend of Buffalo Springfield and Sonic Youth.

North Mississippi Allstars “Polaris”: The hardest rocking album yet from the modern South’s answer to the Allman Brothers.

Sinead O’Connor “She Who Dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty”: For what this dotty singer claims will be her final album, she has come up with a title that doubles as a Sermon on the Mount. The two-CD set stresses cover songs and live outtakes.

Petey Pablo “Still Writing in My Diary: 2nd Entry”: As its name implies, this is the sophomore record from the only hit rapper to represent North Carolina.

Seal “Seal IV”: The fourth release from the smooth-voiced singer, produced, as always, by Trevor Horn.

Spiritualized “Amazing Grace”: The latest from the U.K.’s spaciest band. Those who long for early Pink Floyd, take note.

Various Artists “Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues”: A collection of albums drawn from the filmmaker’s massive documentary series on blues music. Separate disks feature Eric Clapton, Son House, Robert Johnson, Keb Mo, Taj Mahal, the Allman Brothers, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters and more.

September 16

Erykah Badu “Worldwide Underground”: This EP from the queen of “Baduism” has been delayed so often, you’d think it would be a full CD by now. Still, the abbreviated recording manages to work in cameos from Queen Latifah, Angie Stone, Bahamadia and Lenny Kravitz.

David Bowie “Reality”: At 56, Bowie isn’t ready for the rest home just yet. Only one year after his last release, the legendary rocker returns with a solid new one. It again pairs him with his old producer, Tony Visconti.

DMX “The Grand Champ”: He says he’s sick of the music biz. So this buff Yonkers rapper will put out his final CD this week.

Drag On “Hell and Back”: Another one from the mainstay of rap’s Ruff Ryder crew.

Aretha Franklin “So Damn Happy”: She hasn’t had a hit in eons, but with heavy backing from L.A. Reid, this could turn things around.

Shelby Lynne “Identity Crisis”: The latest from the volatile country singer.

A Perfect Circle “Thirteenth Step”: A second album from this Tool offshoot, adding former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha and a fresh bassist (Jeordie White, late of Marilyn Manson’s band).

Bubba Sparxxx “Deliverance”: A far more substantial and serious album from the portly white rural rapper than his previous one.

Joss Stone “The Soul Sessions”: The debut from a much-hyped 16-year-old who wishes she was born in the ’60s. Produced by “Clean Up Woman” Betty Wright. Features a cover of a White Stripes song.

Obie Trice “Cheers”: The first Eminem protege to cut an album since 50 Cent. Expectations are sky high.

Carnie Wilson “For the First Time”: A solo debut from the ex-Wilson Phillips singer and daughter of Brian Wilson. Also, her first since she lost her flab.

Bob Dylan: Reissues of 15 Dylan classics, with great sonic upgrades. They range from his freewheelin’ days to vital recent material.

September 23

Bangles “Doll Revolution”: The L.A. harmony group’s first album of newmaterial since its late-’80s bust-up.

Big Tymers “Big Money Heavy Weights”: The latest from the New Orleans’ rap team.

Blondie “The Curse of Blondie”: The last album by Debbie Harry and Co. was a smash, but didn’t lead to a comeback. Maybe this time Blondie will get the full revival it deserves.

Bottle Rockets “Blue Sky”: A new record from roots rock’s smartest satirists.

Elvis Costello “North”: This collection of hard-to-classify grand ballads reunites the prolific writer with the Brodsky Quartet.

Gloria Estefan “Unwrapped”: The Miami diva’s first pop album in five years features guest duets with Stevie Wonder and Chrissie Hynde.

Cee-Lo “The Soul Machine”: The second CD from one of the South’s most musical and witty hip-hop stars.

Emmylou Harris “Stumble Into Grace”: The godmother of alt-country returns with her first release since the brilliant “Red Dirt Girl.”

Chris Knight “The Jealous Kind”: Another one from alt-country’s most promising upstart. Produced, in part, by Dan Baird, formerly of the Georgia Satellites.

The Innocence Mission “Befriended”: The latest from the Pennsylvania-based folk-rock group fronted by Karen Peris, one of music’s most wondrous singers.

Limp Bizkit “Results May Vary”: It’s been delayed, scrapped, rerecorded, and only last week finally gained a title. If it actually comes out, Fred Durst’s latest will feature production by Rick Rubin and guest contributions from the likes of Snoop Dogg and Weezer.

Dave Matthews “Some Devil”: This is Matthews’ first solo record, but his last effort with his band sounded a lot like a one-man job.

Matmos “The Civil War”: A sure-to-be-weird set from this avant-electro duo.

Mojave 3 “Spoon and Rafter”: A fresh CD from one of rock’s most contemplative bands.

Murphy Lee “Murphy’s Law”: The first solo effort from the next breakout star from Nelly’s St. Lunatics.

Nickelback “The Long Road”: The Alice in Chains knockoff follows up its 5 million-selling breakthrough CD.

112 “Hot & Wet”: More formulaic oversinging from Sean Combs’ crooning crew.

Offspring: Another one from the snickering So-Cal punks. Not yet named.

OutKast “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”: A double CD comprising solo albums from OutKast chiefs, Big Boi and Andre 3000.

Peaches “Fatherf——”: The latest from an utterly insane sounding female rock-rapper who recently collaborated with the king of rock dementia, Iggy Pop.

South “With the Tides”: An arty leap ahead for the second album from Britain’s adventurous prog/dance/electro/rock band.

Stagga Lee “Game of Breath”: Thedebut from a white rapper produced by an ex-leader of C&C Music Factory.

Billy Bob Thornton “The Edge of the World”: The second country release from the actor.

Rufus Wainwright “Want”: The singer-songwriter expands the theatrical sound he explored on his debut and matches it to lyrics that look at love from all sides now.

Television “Marquee Moon” and “Adventure”: The great New York guitar band remasters its two classic ’70s albums, with bonus tracks.

September 30

Babyface “Love Story”: More odes from the king of R&B schmaltz.

Dido “Life for Rent”: The most successful of the trip-hop singers releases the chaser to her mega-platinum debut. Also her first since her celebrated duet with Eminem (”Stan”).

Enigma “Voyager”: World beat music for people who wish it were elevator music.

Avril Lavigne “My World”: A possibly redundant live album from a 17-year-old with one major tour behind her and a single studio album.

Loon “Loon”: Sean Combs’ rap protege. Features guests Missy Elliott, Trina and Kelis.

Lyle Lovett “My Baby Don’t Tolerate”: The first from the wry Texas singer-songwriter on the rootsy Lost Highway label.

Bette Midler “Rosemary for Remembrance”: A tribute CD to Rosemary Clooney that reunites Midler with her classic producer, Barry Manilow. (Mister D: Of course, we Betteheads have now found out that the title has changed)

Sting “Sacred Love”: A ballad-heavy collection from the self-proclaimed king of pain.

Various Artists “Livin’ Lovin’ Losin’”: A tribute to classic country singing group the Louvin Brothers, courtesy of Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, Linda Ronstadt and others.

October 7

Belle & Sebastian “Step Into My Office”: The latest from Scotland’s most precious band.

The Clipse “Hell Have No Fury”: One of the Neptunes’ pet rap projects.

Rickie Lee Jones “Evening of My Best Day”: The jazz-R&B singer’s first album of original material in six years.

Kelis “Tasty”: The hippest R&B singer of the moment releases her first for the Neptunes’ label.

Ludacris “Chicken & Beer”: The wild-eyed emcee raps about his favorite foods and drinks.

Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros “Streetcore”: The late ex-Clash singer’s final release.

Cassandra Wilson “Glamoured”: The latest grouping of covers from jazz’s most popular interpretive singer.

October 14

Clay Aiken “Clay Aiken”: The debut from the starry eyed, theatrically minded “American Idol” runner-up.

Wanda Jackson “Heart Trouble”: A contemporary of Elvis Presley, and the first woman of rockabilly, puts out a new record with help from admirers like Dave Alvin and Elvis Costello.

Kid Rock: The third major-label work from rock-rap’s party king. Not yet titled.

Jonny Lang “Long Time Coming”: The young blues guitarist tries to grow up.

Nas “The Lost Tapes Vol. 2″: A collection of rarities and castoffs from hip-hop’s best writer.

Raphael Saadiq “All the Hits at the House of Blues”: A live CD featuring a reunion of his old group, Toni! Tony! Tone!

Barbra Streisand “The Movie Album”: Babs sings her favorite songs from movies she didn’t star in.

Various Artists “Just Because I’m a Woman”: An all-star tribute to Dolly Parton featuring Norah Jones, Shania Twain and Emmylou Harris.

Luther Vandross “Live”: A concert album from the ailing R&B singer.

October 21

Barenaked Ladies “Everything to Everyone”: The latest from the popular Canadian jokesters.

Mandy Moore “Coverage”: Includes the teen star’s take on mellow ’70s hits from Cat Stevens, Elton John and Todd Rundgren. What, no Bread?

Van Morrison “What’s Wrong With This Picture”: Morrison’s first for the jazzy Blue Note label.

Rod Stewart “The Great American Songbook Vol. 2″: A sequel to Stewart’s surprise hit collection of standards.

The Strokes: The second, as-yet-untitled album from New York’s great punk-rock hope.

October 28

JC Chasez “Schizophrenic”: A solo debut from the second most popular ‘N Syncer (after Justin Timberlake).

Dream “Reality”: Sean Combs’ girl group rebounds.

Wyclef Jean “Preacher’s Son”: The ex-Fugees’ leader’s tribute to his late father, featuring guests the Edge and Timbaland.

Courtney Love “America’s Sweetheart”: The hellion returns with songs produced by Pink’s right-hand woman, Linda Perry. Will anyone still care?

Robi Rosa “Mad Love”: The man best known by Anglos as the co-writer of Ricky Martin’s biggest hits releases another album of his own.
November 4

Blaque “Torch”: The R&B girl group hedges its bets, using producers from hip hop’s Missy Elliott to rock’s ubiquitous Linda Perry.

G Unit “G Unit”: The rap posse — which includes 50 Cent — releases its first CD.

Josh Groban: Return of the man hellbent on bringing back the era of the crooner.

Sarah McLachlan: The sensitive singer-songwriter’s first in four years. As yet untitled.

P.O.D. “Payable on Death”: The most credible band in the Christian metal world follows up a massive hit.

Iggy Pop “Skull Rings”: Features the original punk’s reunion with his old band the Stooges (on four cuts).

November 11

Ron Isley: The silkiest singer in R&B releases a solo album covering the standards. Title pending.

Korn: The most psychologically tormented of the “nu metal” rockers returns with an album still to be named.

Pink “Try This”: The followup to her last smash, with production once again from Linda Perry, who oversaw Pink’s rock-’n'-roll makeover.

Ruben Studdard “Soulful”: The debut from the full-figured “American Idol” champ.

Tears For Fears “Everyone Loves a Happy Ending”: The synth duo’s first album in 14 years.

November 18

Blink 182 “Blink 182″: Punk pop’s jokiest band chases a hit.

Jay-Z “The Black Album”: Purportedly the rapper’s final work.

Alicia Keys: The Grammys’ favorite girl of 2001 tries to match her huge debut. No title yet.

N.E.R.D. “Fly or Die”: The second album from the Neptunes’ side band.

Britney Spears: Can teen pop’s biggest female grow up? First, she needs a title.

Usher “Confessions”: The teen R&B star with the hardest abs in pop goes for another smash.

November 25

Nelly Furtado: The second album from the “Fly Like a Bird” girl. Title to be decided.

Correction: I was informed that Linda did not get to go with the other 2 girls to New York, but I’m sure she was there in spirit with her Divine Dutchie comrades….so I’m leaving her name in there. Somebody had to hold down the Bette Fort in Nether, NetherLand:-)

Sara, Jaqueline, and Linda (hope I got that right girls) just vacationed in New York and were kind enough to send me some pics of where Bette was to be filming in New York City. The sound stage is the Kaufman Astoria Studios.

Anyway, you can see how “closed” this project is because you could not get very close and sheets covered even the buildings. But I think it’s great that Sara and the gals gave it their best shot and were very excited. New York, in and of itself is exciting.

The pics are in the update section of “The Stepford Wives” page….they are in the last 5 articles….enjoy.

And thank you so much ladies….

Mister D: Anyone who has never seen this on the big screen should make an effort if you are nearby. Mark Rydell will be on hand for a Q&A.

The Rose Returns

By Nadine Hamdan

The Rose, the motion picture that launched the acting career of Bette Midler with an Academy Award nominated performance, is getting a major face lift from 20th Century Fox. The studio is in the final stages of restoring the rock classic that features electrifying concert footage of “The Divine Miss M” performing in front of live audiences. Director Mark Rydell and cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond personally supervised the restoration.

The popular Hollywood’s Master Storytellers program from Meyer Multimedia Productions will present the first public screening of the newly restored film on Tuesday, September 2nd, at 7:30 p.m. at ArcLight Hollywood followed by a live Q&A with Rydell and veteran entertainment reporter Dennis Michael.

“The Rose was one of the most influential and important films of its time,” said HMS creator and producer Gordon Meyer. “Bette Midler’s performance is one of the most incredibly dynamic ever achieved by an actress. This was her first starring role in a motion picture and it truly made her a star.” Midler was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in the title role.

The Rose also set new standards in showcasing musical artists on screen. Director Rydell staged several live concerts in front of audiences of thousands of fans and used nine cameras to capture the magic. Unlike similar scenes in other films where the songs were pre-recorded and the performers lip synched in front of the audience, Midler performed all of her songs live and in character before. “The Rose captures the excitement and raw energy of a live concert better than just about any scripted film out there,” said HMS host Dennis Michael. “That concert footage is on a par with the best concert films, including Woodstock, in my opinion.”

Rydell, who began his directing career helming television classics like Gunsmoke, I Spy and Ben Casey and later went on to earn an Academy Award nomination for On Golden Pond, will be Dennis Michael’s guest for an in depth Q&A following the film. Contemporary audiences have also seen Rydell as an actor, playing Woody Allen’s agent in his recent comedy Hollywood Ending. “I’m very excited to have Mark Rydell as my guest on September 2nd,” Michael said. “He has some of the best range of any director, and I think The Rose is a master work. He truly is a Master Storyteller.”

Meyer Multimedia Productions presents Hollywood’s Master Storytellers on the first and third Tuesday of each month at ArcLight Hollywood. Upcoming presentations include producer Howard Gottfried with the Academy Award winning satire Network on September 16th, writers Karen Lutz & Kirsten Smith plus director Robert Luketic with Legally Blonde (the original) on September 30th and writer Gary Goldman with Total Recall on October 7th.

Tickets are available at the ArcLight box office and online at: www.arclightcinemas.com

Posted on Thu, Aug. 28, 2003
MTV awards, just itching for outrageousness
By David Hiltbrand
Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer

MTV’s president, Van Toffler, refers to it as “the biggest cultural and musical train wreck on the tube.”

The pileup in question is theMTV Video Music Awards, which turns 20 tonight. But there’s still a lot of adolescent in this surreal star- and navel-studded soiree.

As always, MTV promises live performances by the hottest acts of the moment. This year, that means 50 Cent, Coldplay, Christina Aguilera, Good Charlotte, Beyoncé and Metallica on stage in New York’s Radio City Music Hall. There’s also a persistent rumor that Madonna and Britney Spears, the once and future princesses of platinum, could be belting one out together.

The MTV Video Music Awards
Tonight (Aug. 28) at 8 on MTV, preceded by red-carpet arrivals show at 6:30.

They’ll mingle with the usual extravagantly eclectic cavalcade of VIP presenters, everyone from tennis titan Serena Williams to those ubiquitous fashionistos from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, from raucous rapper Lil’ John to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, from Kelly Clarkson to hoop phenom LeBron James.

But what makes the VMAs more fun than all the other televised award shows put together is Ingredient X - the volatile catalyst of unpredictability. Whether it’s scripted (Pee-wee Herman strolling onstage in his first public appearance after being arrested for public exposure in 1991 and asking “Heard any good jokes lately?”) or spontaneous (Diana Ross bobbling Lil’ Kim’s pastie-covered breast in 1999), this is an event that virtually guarantees shock and irreverence.

Over the years, the VMAs have provided viewers with some of the most bizarre spectacles television has seen. Remember Michael Jackson planting a caveman kiss on his new bride, Lisa Marie Presley, in 1994? Or comic Andrew Dice Clay in 1989, spewing out so many obscenities that he was banned for life from MTV? (That was the year, by the way, that Mötley Crüe and Guns N’ Roses rumbled backstage.) How about the allegedly virginal Spears writhing with an anaconda in 2001 in a routine risque enough for the Bada Bing?

VMA executive producer Salli Frattini refers to the show as “a night in New York filled with controlled chaos.” But sometimes things spiral into anarchy. In 2000, Rage Against the Machine’s bass player, Tim Commerford, went King Kong and scaled the scaffolding over the stage in protest of Limp Bizkit’s winning the rock-video award.

“That was a little frightening,” Frattini says. “We didn’t know who he was and what he was carrying.” (Later the consensus was that it was a piece of the set that had broken off in his hand.) Commerford caused the show to run over by 20 minutes and was eventually handcuffed and arrested for disorderly conduct by New York cops. (He spent a night in jail and pleaded guilty.)

And it’s fitting that the show’s astronaut statuette award is referred to as the Moonman because celebs as dissimilar as Howard Stern, Prince and Marilyn Manson have bared their butt cheeks during VMA appearances.

Tonight’s edition will open with a big production number to celebrate the Video Music Awards’ 20th anniversary. Frattini promises “lots of dance, lots of booty, and lots of surprises.”

Then it’s time for host Chris Rock to throw verbal darts at point-blank range at the celebs in the front rows. It’s hospitality, MTV style.

Rock - who had the gig in 1997 and 1999, and has dismissed Oscar-hosting invitations as something he’ll get around to when he’s ready to “retire and play afternoon shows at Lake Tahoe” - spent the summer doing stand-up appearances just to hone his chops for the VMAs. No one is safe from his ridicule, except Slim Shady.

Everyone is afraid to take on the rapper, especially after he swatted down Triumph the Insult Comic Dog during last year’s telecast.

“You don’t want to dis Eminem,” Rock, 38, told Rolling Stone. “He doesn’t even like his mother, so who knows what he’ll say about you.”

(Time for some VMAtrivia. Can you remember who hosted the first Video Music Awards, in 1984? It was Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler. Apparently they were cutting-edge back in the day.)

Another hallmark of the broadcast is inventive, elaborate performances. Superstars such as Madonna and P. Diddy have set the bar high by using theVMAs to stage career-defining moments. Everybody brings his A-game, such as Eminem, who in 2000 marched across the Avenue of the Americas and into the hall trailed by an army of peroxided Marshall Mathers clones while rapping “The Real Slim Shady.”

The front-runners this year are unusually diverse. Rapper Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott is coming in with eight nominations; pop imp Justin Timberlake has seven, and 71-year-old country legend Johnny Cash has six.

Elliott’s demeanor could get a little stormy if she doesn’t finally snag a Moonman: Despite 21 previous nominations, she has been recognized only for her speck of a cameo in “Lady Marmalade.” (That’s still better than Spears, the Susan Lucci of the VMAs, who is 0 for 12; no noms this year.) Cash’s fragile health makes his presence iffy, but at press time, the channel still hoped he would fly in.

The only celebrity who has consistently turned down an invitation to MTV’s annual shindig is Michael Jordan. It’s hard to figure why. You get to dress up and act crazy. They give you some nice parting gifts. (This year’s grab bag includes a microdermabrasion kit, a silver lotus necklace, Mavi jeans, and flashy Melamed belts.) And afterward, you party all night with rock and hip-hop nobility.

So who throws the best after-party?

“I’ve got to give that to P. Diddy,” Frattini says. “Diddy does the party better than most.”

Well, of course he does.

This message is from my only fan:-):

“Kazaa scam - I went on their last night and searched “Midler Rosemary” and
low and behold, every track from her new album came up . . . I of course
wasn’t fooled, but downloaded one just to be sure: it was 5 mins of silence
with 10 seconds of “the rose” . . . so I wanted to tell you so you could
give everybody a heads up, warn them that they’re not the real songs . . .
so they don’t waste their time downloading them.”

No names to protect the innocent….

Well, there’s plenty of news and music to write about…..

Is there trouble on the set of The Stepford Wives? who knows?
Will Bette be going a mini-tour with Barry Manilow? I don’t know
What’s the 411 on the song list for Bette’s new CD? yes, we know

New Music includes covers of Bette songs by Rasputina (3 girls on cello), Kirsty MacColl, and Betty Hutton…plus links to familarize you with them…

The Jukebox has songs that hit the top of my last poll…

Speaking of Polls….new ones are up, so start voting…

Don’t forget to check out www.wegotbruce.com: finally got some photos up and have even started working on the theme song…I hope I can get it the way it sounds in my head…

Don’t forget to check www.betteontheboards.com: Darrell has a new article up from Photoplay…and interesting read…

And take a gander at Bruno’s site makeover: www.bettemidlersroses.cjb.net

I’m sure I’m leaving something out, but you’ll find it I’m sure….

Special thanks to Kathy from the Rosemary Clooney Palladium for the detailed info on Bette’s new CD: Rosemary for Remembrance

Love, Mister D

Nicole’s ‘Stepford’ is in whine country
The 411
By REBECCA LOUIE, SUZANNE ROZDEBA, ZOE ALEXANDER and BEN WIDDICOMBE

Nicole Kidman has the ‘Stepford Wives’ set abuzz with concern that she’ll take time out to shoot a perfume ad.

All’s not well on the set of Nicole Kidman’s “The Stepford Wives,” co-starring Bette Midler and Matthew Broderick.

The jittery crew of director Frank Oz’s film is griping about delays on the remake of Ira Levin’s suburban horror story - and about Kidman’s alleged diva-ish behavior.

Our on-set snitch says Kidman has slowed filming with complaints, including an unwillingness to shoot outdoors on hot summer days.

The crew is also worried she’ll hold them up even longer by jetting to Australia to film a Chanel commercial with Baz Luhrmann, her “Moulin Rouge” director.

Kidman has yet to be officially announced as the new face of Chanel, but it’s the worst-kept secret in fashion.

Her rep strenuously denies that Kidman is responsible for any delays. “That is crazy. No one is more professional than Nicole.”

The movie has been plagued by other delays, says our insider.

“The whole film is on hold for re-writes. The final scene - which was supposed to have been shot this week - was to include a beheading of Christopher Walken, which is now going to be scrapped for something else. The crew is wondering what will happen.”

Producer Scott Rudin joked through a rep: “So far, there are no heads rolling, but it’s early in the shoot and you never know.”

Should Bette Run For Governor of California? This was almost a tie, but the answer was “no, she should not” by a 3% margin. Ms. M has too much class to get involved in this freak show…I’d like to see her start revitalizing the public educational system…even if it would be just New York. We could then emulate her work….

What’s Your Favorite Part of Bootleg Betty? The answer to this was overwhelmingly the Daily News Updates….the second place was a tie between the Jukebox and “I Like it As a Whole”….now I know what to place less emphasis on…

Which Concert Do You Wish You Had Seen? The Winner for this was seeing Bette at the “Continental Baths” with “Clams” in second, and ETD in third….

Which Is Your Favorite Bette Single? I was pleasantly surprised at some of the rankings here. “The Rose” came in first, followed by the majestic, “To Deserve You” (my choice), with “Do U Wanna Dance” bringing up the rear….these were a close race. There was a tie for 4th…”Friends” and the ever predictable “Wind…”

Love, Mister D