Video Flashback: The pilot for Bette Midler’s first and only sitcom – with Lindsay Lohan as her daughter!

When the sitcom Bette! premiered in the fall of 2000, it was quite a coup for CBS to have landed the two-time Oscar nominee for her first TV series.

I watched every episode but not everyone was as loyal as ratings began dropping after a strong premiere.

Bette Midler played a fictional version of her movie and recording star self and cast as her daughter was the one and only Lindsay Lohan – post Parent Trap and pre-Freaky Friday. After two episodes, Lindsay was replaced by Marina Malota as the daughter.

Kevin Dunn played Midler’s hubby for most of the season’s run but inexplicably was replaced by Robert Hays for what turned out to be the final two episodes. Joanna Gleason played Midler’s BFF and manager throughout and guest stars included Olivia Newton-John and Dolly Parton.

Here is the show’s pilot with my favorie line being an exhausted Bette telling to her TV hubby: “I look like the last 20 minutes of For the Boys.”

Bette was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for best actress in a comedy series and won both the People’s Choice Award and the TV Guide Award for best actress in a new comedy.