Las Vegas Weekly

Ooh, so bitter! Lets see - Bette was here for roughly 17 weeks in "08, and 20 for "09. The crowds of people who come to Las Vegas to be entertained don't live and give here - must the entertainers? Lack of charity? Bette has given to many local causes, but prefers to remain anonymous. Her dining out with friends, staff and family, and the show shopping alone have contributed mightily to local paychecks over these 2 years. She's been very generous to staff and crew - her own and local. The non local crew, have spent and given in ways immeasurable while they were here.
The 2 events you speak of were coincided with Show Days, on which Bette's first and foremost commitment is to the ticket buying public. A Show Day - from AM work out to vocal rehearsal to dance rehearsal to sound check, to vocal rest, to curtain - is all, and ONLY about giving the best performance. The Audience and what they deserve is what matters - end of story. It is unfortunate that those events were scheduled on top of previously existing shows. Nevada Ballet were very aware of the logical limit to her time for participation, as you might have been also. Her level of professional commitment and dedication to the task of performance at hand is unsurpassed. To anyone who knows her, this is clear. By the way - the nightly "soundcheck" is a crucial element, involving a huge mandatory local union labor call, the artist's band, production, and crew, the Colosseum, and AEG, not just the Artist. It does not just get "re-arranged", not even by the Artist. Bette, at 63, does all her own vocals, dancing, very fast changes, and speaks to the audience all night long (unlike some others). In this very dry environment, it can be extremely difficult. She does not fly home to humid LA between shows (unlike some others). She has not canceled a single show for which tickets have been sold (unlike others). She anchored the Colosseum through June and August of the worst tourist summer Las Vegas has seen in more than a decade, possibly two. At least it stayed open and booked, and everyone who works there, plus her own crew from all over, had a job. There is a phrase much bandied about this year (and last year, if one paid attention). "Recession! - worst since 1987!". Perhaps you might Google it, and find out what other promising enterprises did not perform as well as expected in the last 2 years. As far as her future plans - anyone's guess, (but yours is not a good one). There's a lot she could do - show biz being just a fraction. By the way - do you know anyone else who picks up garbage in their spare time, has reclaimed 150 inner city gardens, has committed to planting a million trees in one of the most crowded cities in America and is 1/4 of the way to that goal? No? I didn't think so.

Bravo to Dresser1! Nothing need be said after that bitch slap of a wake up call. I was getting so sick of the bad press on Ms. Midler I was about to write an essay, but all points were made much more gracefully by the above. Long live Bette Midler!

So Bette Midler does not do enough for Las Vegas? Since when is bringing people to Las Vegas to spend money on hotels, meals and transportation not enough? I've been to Las Vegas to see Bette Midler's show at Caesars 15 times--the latest last night. Why do I keep coming back to see Bette's show? Because her show at Caesars is visually stunning, her vocals soar with emotion, and to watch Bette dance at nearly 64 is a feat I hope I am able to accomplish. Everyone should see Bette's show while they have the chance. Moreover, comparing Bette's shows to Cher's is irresponsible. For the most part, Bette performs 5 shows a week at Caesars, compared to Cher's 4 shows a week; in other words, more seats are available for Bette's shows. When Bette Midler's show at Caesars ends in January, you will no longer see me in Las Vegas spending my money. You see, I've had "enough" of your Las Vegas with your whining attitude about people not "doing enough."

AZNative, etc: I actually don't disagree -- it is a great show and has ranked in my top 5 in my two guidebooks, several of my travel pieces and in my LVW column earlier this year. But she claimed she would be a part of this community and she wasn't and that's a fact. Several other major headliners of her caliber do attend the openings of other shows and are involved in important charitable efforts in ways she didn't despite her promise to do so when she arrived. And, as I said, her seats were being discounted BEFORE the fullest impact of the recession took hold. I'm a fan, I adore her work and think her charitable efforts elsewhere are great. But she left a LOT of people in this city with a distaste and I'm real sorry you think it's wrong to report that.

Her community involvement was addressed among many other things in the first comment. You're being redundant.

Her community involvement here was nonexistent. Sorry. Elsewhere, that's great. Here? Nope. And she said she would do it here. Can't rap Cher or Elton cuz they never said they would. She did.

And have you similarly commented on Cher or Elton because they never did anything for Las Vegas or just Bette-- because, according to you, she hasn't done "enough." So much for balanced journalism.

Steve, I heard Santa Fe backed out of your show because it was mismanaged and unorganized. I doubt it had anything to do with Bette Midler. She actually has a great show and as a long time fan of Santa Fe, it was great to see local talent on stage with one of these superstars. Your article is awfully bitter. What's the real story here?

With all due respect, unless you have spent a lot of time around large mature artist centered productions, you cannot possibly imagine the extreme physical and mental effort and focus required to execute it 5 (not 4) times a week, in a dry environment, at 63 years old, without using cancelling as an "out". You also can not imagine the rest, recuperation and constant work towards improvement which have to be built and enforced into the schedule. It is highly likely that until diving into the thick of things, she herself did not have a clear idea of what it would demand - no one could have. Must it bear repeating that Miss Midler DOES HER OWN VOCALS and spends more time physically on stage, running and dancing, than most other acts? Do you know what that feels like, and what the body and brain needs to recover, to do it again and again and again? She has attended at least a couple dozen shows, as her show schedule, energy, her family time and other work obligations permit, and taken out large groups to attend with her, as a gift to staff.. When out, she seeks as little publicity as possible, preferring not to pull focus from anyone else at their show. Not being a gambler, it is not a surprise she is not seen "out and about" in that context, though she has probably patronized more local restaurants and shops than any of the other above mentioned artists. Has anyone else taken their entire cast and crew out bowling, to the movies, or to dinner, multiple times? She is uniformly gracious, grateful and generous to the workers and fans she comes across when out, even as a private person. If that is not putting money and good will into the community, and it not "enough", then I am not sure what would be. The first promise an entertainer needs to keep is to take care of themselves, so that they can fulfill on the second most important one - delivering to the ticket buying public. Anything they can do above and beyond that, for the local situation, is gravy. Bette has ladeled on much more gravy than you know. Taking her to task for "not being part of the community" no doubt stems from genuine disappointment, but comes off a tad like the personal grudge of a kid who did not get invited to a birthday party. It reflects how little you (or those nursing such distaste) really know of her actions here. Reporting on a general "opinion" or "feeling" without knowing or presenting any of the rest of the circumstance is at best, ill informed, at worst, inconsiderate of the many other demands made on her time and health. I venture to guess that most of the people who maintain this "distaste" have never run across the woman. They might be better served by getting over it and projecting their needs on the next person to come through. Oh - wait, There's no one really coming through, for a while. Rats. No one to blame or rag on. Oh well.

First of all, I am so tired of people bringing down Bette with their negativity because they expect her to do everything. She is one of the most generous celebrities out there, and when she does not give more, people assume and make comments that she does not care. Bette has, single handedly, changed the "face" of New York City with her New York Restoration Project by educating and facilitating the clean-up of an abundance of trash throughout the city. The city that she actually resides in, in case there was some confusion. Bette did not reside in Las Vegas, she was there to entertain the masses and then return home, as most celebrities in the same situation would. I saw the show several times and thought it was fabulous. She is 63, but you would never know it. Bette is perfection. Creating negativity towards the end of a wonderful run of shows only speaks to the lack of respect that you, as a journalist, seem to have for someone who is hard working and has been hard working longer than you have been complaining about her. Let this DIVA end her run with grace and I feel that you should work on complimenting those who make positive changes, no matter where they are.

Screw you... you're just bitter because Bette didn't want to be in your stupid show.

Isn't working in the community and bringing money into the community being a part of the community. I've always heard it worked that way. Keep holding on to your silly grudge; it just makes you sound assinine.

It sounds to me like the queen who wrote this drivel didn't get her way and is pissssed about it. Get over being turned down, Mary. You ain't nobody.

And when the hell is Cher going to drag her silicone and stitches to New York City to do a little cleaning? She made a mess out of her last show at Madison Square Garden (You'll recall it as one of the stops on the third leg of her fourth farewell tour ...before going into retirement for a period of time with less patience than an 18 hour bra.) Now I ask, was it really necessary for the good doctor to slap yet another fifty stitches into that old tranny's head and a couple of bolts into her neck before returning her to us for another 666 years of free roam? Chaz has more talent in her little penis than Cher has in her whole body!

Thanks for removing my link! What are you so scared of? I'd say by the posts here you were taken down a notch. Everything has been addressed to the satisfaction of Bette fans. All you've done is parsed one too many words that add up to nothing. But you do write fiction very well.

DivineMisterD: Dunno what you're talking about. I didn't remove any links. I don't have any control over the site, but the web folks do take things down if they get out of whack and you do seem to be becoming increasingly hysterical. Spend a little time looking at what I write; I'm not afraid of anything, let alone people who treat pop stars like religious icons.

All I said was that you made snide comments. I don't hold Bette as a religious icon, but I will come to her defense when she is clearly unfairly attacked. If this is out of whack for you, wait for the Cher fans,,,,

I got it... you can delete my post... but please just make sure that you pass my message on to Friess... the tragic queen that he is.

Thanks! BYE! Bette rules!

I've never seen Bette in concert and am looking forward to seeing her this New Years Eve. My husband & I have wanted to see her Caesar's show since she opened but hasn't been playing there during our trips. The ONLY reason we are making this trip to Vegas in December is to see her show.
On the other hand, I wouldn't accept FREE tickets to Cher's show after all the negative feedback I've read about that show.

OK, so Bette wasn't Ms. Las Vegas. But I didn't see you do a similar scathing review of the drivel Elton John uttered about Vegas. He was clearly disconnected during his Caesars performances, as opposed to his shows in other venues. Talk about take the money and run. If Bette didn't have time to devote to Vegas, so be it. She's a New Yorker and a Los Angelino. Grow up, Freiss.

I don't get why all you Bette fans are so offended by Mr. Friess' actions. When she first came to Las Vegas she openly promised the community that she wanted to make an impact at a local level. She didn't. That's not to say what she has done in New York isn't fantastic, it is. However, she told the Las Vegas community she was going to involve herself in their city in that same sense. She didn't. Why shouldn't the citizens of the Las Vegas Valley feel a little cheated?

That quote says nothing of the sort. You're just putting your own spin to it.. We're not offended by Friess' actions, it's his words. As far as I'm concerned his whole article has been torn up and left in tatters. Every point he tried to make has been obliterated. For some reason he holds some kind of grudge and only he can answer for that. As far as I'm concerned this article has no traction left in it. Signing off

MisterD: Just cuz you say something doesn't make it so. There has been no obliteration. My piece is supported by several facts: Bette promised something she did not fulfill, her ticket sales were weaker than her counterparts recession or no recession, she was the only artist in the history of the Colosseum to discount tickets and her show was largely derivative of an earlier tour of which I saw two performances. So all that's left is whether you agree or disagree with me on my definition of being community-involved and that is something that most rational people ought to be able to disagree on without being unreasonable or unpleasant.

As for David202's reference to Elton, I actually did blog some about Elton's dissatisfaction with Vegas and chatted about it even more on my weekly podcast when he went on Larry King Live and basically said he found playing in Vegas uninspiring.

Furthermore, the reason we include such disclosures as the matter of the MJ concert is so that readers can decide for themselves whether my view is tainted. I don't believe it is, but either way it is an effort at transparency so the notion that there's some secret ulterior motive for daring to critically assess your precious goddess is a little silly. Nothing's hidden. Make of it what you will.

Finally, the Cher folks have already come after me: http://thestrippodcast.blogspot.com/2008...

So, basically, the crazy Bette folks and the crazy Cher folks, while disparaging one another, are more alike than different. Hooray to you all.

Sir you're entitled to your own hurt feelings. Factually, you remain ignorant re Bette's actions. Of which community do you speak? To whom did she promise something to & neglect? The show community? Visited dozens. Bar & restaurant community? They've been happy to see her walk in and return - she and all her people are known good tippers. Shopping community - large designer to small businesses have all seen benjamins from Bette. Gambling community? Nope, sorry, not much. Nightclub community? Good singers don't go out late, especially where there's smoking. Charitable community? She kept her gifts private, not seeking publicity. Trust me, they've been generous, you're bugged you didn't get to "cover" it. Gay community? It's not like her to just show up at a bar. Perhaps you didn't notice - she has a family and several other careers. Should she have tap danced in your kitchen for YOUR charity? Is that what she promised? Listen, if dropping tons of money, honey, encouraging others to do so, and being sweet while doing it doesn't benefit the entire community at the LOCAL LEVEL - well, let your community know they won't have to put up with it much longer. That seems an ungrateful, ungracious, and oblivious community. Few stars will generate the spending and demonstrate the approachability that Bette did, encouraging her crew to do so also, while enjoying a 2 year run here. The "facts" you refer and cling to Sir, demonstrate that you, Sir, have ABSOLUTELY NO KNOWLEDGE (1st, 2nd or 3rd hand) of her behavior, charitable or otherwise, in this town. When writing about feelings and opinions, it's either Op-ed or gossip. Journalistic reporting requires knowledge and research. You demonstrate NEITHER. You sound like a kid who's balloon got popped! People with a lot going on do the best they can (familiar with that feeling? maybe not.) With best intentions, folks get into cities & situations that demand A LOT more than they thought, as they turn 62,63. Families (for those who have them) and other careers and causes (for those who have them) need more than one thought they might while you are gone. CLEARLY you have no behind the scenes, working insight into any large, long term star vehicle show. Hey! Come work backstage on your feet 14 hours a day, 5 nights a week for a couple of years. See what you feel like doing on your 2 days and nights off. And Cher, while a phenomenal entertainer, is a completely different creative creature than Bette. Comparing them is to show that you've no idea of nuance of talent, character, or performance. Not knowing the huge differences is to label yourself as LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR of observer, neither critic nor reporter, more like hack. Buck up, move on. Don't you have better things to do, like study writing? Dunno and cuz are NOT words.

I don't think the Bette fans and Cher fans are crazy at all....we just smell bad journalism when we read it. Deal with it and think again before you do another hatchet piece on someone. Who knows who'll be reading?

BTW...everytime I come here they keep removing things...this time the whole "who links here" bar is missing. Hopefully next time, it'll be this stupid article...

The lady puts her name on a sign on a major New York highway advertising her good deeds. Why would she be donating anonymously in Las Vegas? What would be the point? How is it that no charity in Vegas has stood up to say, on the record, "Whoa, Friesster, she did this, this and this?" The silence of the show and charitable communities here in defending her is as telling as the hysterics with which some of you bawl your defenses. You have to wonder what I would've been in for if I *didn't* own all of her CDs and love her music.

As for journalistic reporting requiring knowledge and research, look again, kiddo, at the enormous body of my work. While you make defenses up out of whole cloth and pretend to be close to the matter, I spend my life actually speaking and interviewing executives and experts at all levels.

Then again, why am I even responding to someone who claims to know the inside scoop but is obviously a delusional fan? Something tells me, by the by, Bette would be equally offended by your constant harping on her age.

I've gotta move on, so go ahead and say what you want and, within the boundaries of what they allow on this site, I'm sure it'll be posted. But don't mistake my silence for admission of being "obliterated." I've just had enough fun and need to move on. And thank you, any which way, for taking the time to express your view.

What it all boils down to is jealous.

Tell me this Friess... how does Bette being in YOUR show help the community?

Funny, only one person came to your defense. I'd say that's a little telling as well....

As it happens, I am extremely close to the situation, in a professional capacity, and have been for many, many years. I have a decade and a half of personal knowledge of the woman's actions, character, and behavior, through our 2 years of being here, and every other tour since 1992s Experience The Divine. I have spent 25 years travelling the world and working in the business, in extremely close quarters with a star clientele, on the private jets, through their world tours, and staying at the hotels as part of the inner circle & working entourage. I AM an expert. I am not a fan - I get paid to be here. It's how I make my living, and I make a fantastic one. It's how I know that you do not know what (or whom) you are talking about. You only have your opinion, and your extremely small (and still undefined) "community" who expresses resentment. Since you dwell in opinion - here's one for you. Run, don't walk to UNLV and sign up for Creative Writing 101, and Ethics in Journalism. Now that would be news worth hearing about..

Sigh. Of course crazies are going to be more exercised and motivated to comment than normal people. Normal people read the article and get on with their lives and don't look back one way or the other. They don't read nutty diatribes from people who get angry about things that don't actually matter in the grand scheme of things. And, besides, the majority of the comments were written by four people (in theory) including one who pretends they work for Bette!

This is great...

There were probably only four people that read this stupid article.

Kudos to MisterD on the Kiss My Ass Award, and i still stand by my comment about what we should do about Steve Friess (the whole revising the end of ruthless people), he just wanted to get a responce, and he sure did, because the Divine Miss M has the most loyal, bad ass fans ever, and we won't stop until Steve F. takes back his totally biased opinion! besides, Bette did as has been said so many times, give to charities annomously, but you see, she has her NYRP, and as she said in Vegas 11 or 12 years ago for her Diva Las Vegas show, how much sh** can one person handle?! So steve friess can go to hell, well actually he's been there allreaady, and he found it quite lovely!!!

Marissa: What kind of opinion isn't "totally biased?" Just wondering. It's a column. "Totally biased" is the point. Also, if she's given anonymously, how could you know? Itsy bitsy logic lapse there, but to be expected.

Well journalista, it's been lovely corresponding with you, but we have 2 shows to do, ( tonight's just started, different ,shoes than usual tonight, and a little congestion, but right on as usual). So much to do - Chelsea Handler in tonight, Monday a big load out of all the dressing room and road cases to make room for Cher to move in, and a European press junket to get ready for. Love to chat more, maybe in January when we come back. Come on over, we can give you a job for a day so you can see how it's done. Maybe by then you will have learned that if one if going to dish it out, especially for a living, one must also learn to take it right back. And get the truth before you just sling wildly when you do not fully know that of which you speak. Good luck with those lessons. Ciao Darling!

the truly amazing thing about reading all of these reactions to the article is the staggering amount of homophobia directed at the author by Bette Midler fanatics.

for all of you rushing out to defend Ms. Midler by attacking Mr. Freiss with anti-gay slurs, take a moment and ask yourself what a woman with such a huge following in the GLBT community would think of all the bigoted venom you're spraying in her name.

Dresser: I'd be absolutely fascinated to spend time backstage in any capacity whatsoever. The hard work of producing shows was never relevant to my arguments as it's similar for all sorts of productions and yet others who do it also participate in other ways in the community. But it's an invitation, if real and legit, that I'd love to take you up on. It was one of the main reasons I did the MJ show, to get a glimpse of what it takes to produce the shows I attend, critique and cover for a living. Email me.

My community is big and varied. Yes, some of us are more passionate than others and that's okay. I probaby bring in more readers than you do. When you brag about lear jets, celebrities, and big executives you supposedly interview you only come off as pompous and narcissistic. It doesn't mean you know the full, true story of anything. Only of what they want you to know or what they want you to see. So I'm not really impressed with your journalistic brouhaha. My site is meant to be an online scrapbook of everything Bette Midler. I do it for the fans and they have been more than appreciative over the years. But it's just a record of the good, bad, and ugliness that you sometimes run into in show business. I thought your article was just uncalled for by taking a simple comment and blowing it out of proportion. That's all....

Personally, detecting little differance between shine @ shinola: I do very much appreciate your detectable work. No endeavor, since the "
Dawn of Man", has come without some "Collateral Damage" (2012).
From A Distance

DivineMisterD:

I've never been on or near a lear jet in my life. And I was defending my work amid charges that I know nothing and don't do research. Now, apparently, my conversations with primary sources are also not credible, either. Convenient. Do you even realize that you've done several blog posts in the past on my work? (see links below) That in the past you referred to "my friends over at The Strip Podcast"? So I was credible to you when I wrote stuff you liked but, rather than simply civilly disagreeing with this view, you decide anyone with a different view from yours must be attacked, insulted and discredited. That's nice.

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2009/09/15/v...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2007/12/24/h...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2008/12/20/t...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2008/02/19/m...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2008/03/01/t...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2009/05/27/t...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2008/02/19/t...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2008/01/08/i...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2007/12/28/l...

Urgh! Don't let the door hit ya in the ass on the way out. She is some kind of idol for drag queens. Any straight people who saw her show knows why she didn't sell as many tickets. She's leavin because she couldn't hack it an she never got involved because she is bitter about it.

I'm straight... and know a lot of straight people who enjoy Bette too. Nope, not drag queens... there goes that stereotype.

Yes, I know I've referred to you in the past. But...with this article, I didn't agree with you in the least. I thought it was a hatchet job. You took one statement for your thesis and decided to run with it....blowing it way out of proportion. Thank you for absolutely no publicity with those links...I don't think I discredited you...I think several of us discredited this article. Basically you're a fine writer, but this piece hit a bad note with me and others....it was over the top wrong.

And to ocovegas: Grow up, Bette has been a super mainstream artist since the 80's. Time for you to go back under the rock where you live....

Hey Friess I'd like for you to explain why as you put it "Itsy bitsy logic lapse there" was to be expected! Cuz guess what I'm sure my IQ is a hell of alot higher than yours, since i would never attack a 63 year old woman who has many many very defensive fans! RETARD! and as I have read all of these comments, yes every point yuou have made Mister D has set straight and well now I think we should change the beginning to Drowning Mona (I'll let you're "ITZY BITZY LOGIC" figure that one out! And don't you ever talk down to me again!

Folks. I just read your entries while looking for news on Bette and her possible new Leaving Las Vegas cd. Yes I'm a fan. She changed my life when I was only 19. It hurts to see this vitriol flung by people who can remain anonymous yet seem so knowing. Bette is human like anyone else. It's sad to have seen the commentary that Michael Jackson endured all his life. Now he's gone and there is only that void that cannot be replaced. Bette's music has made me cry, dance, laugh, and reminisce. She has accompanied me through every phase of my life without knowing the influence she has had. She continues on with class, and a zest for life that I can only dream of. I met her once years ago, after a benefit, shook her hand, took her picture, never thinking in my excitement that I should have asked to have one taken with her. I hate to see her leave my city, but she's not leaving my life. She has made a difference. After you are gone, will people say that about you?