S u r v i v o r III
The Hollywood Backlot!
~ Los Angeles, California ~
Who will Survive the Ultimate Challenge?
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A new book by the star of the TV series, "Bette!" will
reveal shocking "behind-the-scenes" secrets for any new
show establishing itself in prime time. Including alliances
and strategies, developed through the "Rise and Fall"
of the network series, "Bette!"
Everyone will be talking about it!
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"Cancelled!" written by "Bette Midler" ~ the show's principle
star ~ is set to be the official companion book of "Surviving"
the Tribal Council seated within the walls of the highly
guarded "CBS" compound.
The book's contents are being kept top-secret until later this
year, when the "Fall" schedule is firmly in place. It will
serve as a guide for fledging shows, hoping to make it
through the first sweeps period, with a possible renewal
for an entire season. But we have been granted a sneak
peek from a source who has read the manuscript.
Here are some of the "shocking" details contained in the book!
* "Cancelled!" tears the curtain down, to reveal late night
candlelit dinners that Les Moonves had with it's star,
Bette Midler, as he tried to "lure" the talented star, into
accepting the title role of the series.
* On camera, husband Kevin Dunn always seemed in
control, but edited out of the show are scenes when
he loses his GRIP!
* Unbeknownst to viewers, James Dreyfus' gay character
in the British sitcom "Gimme Gimme Gimme" helped
land him the role in "Bette!"
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* "Fans of the show will be surprised to learn that in the
background there's a lot more tension than meets the
eye. Many times the show's participants and the staff
nearly came to blows under the pressure.
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* An in-depth interview with executive producer,
Bonnie Bruckheimer, discussing the use of "body-doubles"
for many of the principle "aerial shots" and "location"
scenes. Bonnie was quoted as saying, "I don't use
professional 'doubles' because they have been stared
at so much, they have grown another skin."
* During the pilot, Lindsay Lohan was cast as Bette's
daughter, second in line, after Mary Kate and Ashley
turned down the "leading role." Over the course of the
series, they were scheduled to "rotate" playing the younger
cast member, which would allow each of them to pursue
individual projects, as they switched "identities" each week.
* If viewers thought the cast had it's share of problems, the
Guest Stars behaved like "animals." True to his on-screen
persona, Jon Lovitz was an obnoxious, self-indulgent jerk!
Who tried to upstage the talented Miss Midler, by refusing
to read his lines correctly, during several of their scenes
together. His unwillingness to "support the efforts" of the
cast and crew caused the show to run late into the evening.
* The "Bette!" crew also had to contend with "scorpions"
( Les Moonves and his team of cut-throat executives ),
"snakes" ( the ever present press agents, spin doctoring
out of control ), "spiders" ( hair stylists and makeup
artists ), "crocodiles" ( personal assistants ), and of course
each other, feeding off the "insecurities and vulnerabilities"
commonly associated with those in the entertainment field.
And then there were three:
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* Included also in the book, is the "shocking" account of
the events surrounding Kevin Dunn's mental collapse,
as he spiraled out of control on the set, taking Miss
Midler hostage in the commissary.
* With the departure of Kevin Dunn and Lindsay Lohan,
the show was in the process of scheduling major "cast
changes" and "walk-on" roles for many of Bette's former
co-stars and friends.
Among the changes:
"Lainie Kazan"
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And . . . in perhaps the most twisted tale of all!
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