IMHO "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" (5.1): Place your Bette

"but there were moments when she seemed embarrassed to be in the company of Kathy's potty-mouth."

^ yeah, i noticed this too. I wonder if she was surprised how open kathy is about the things she says...and maybe the fact this was on camera and everyone would see it...who knows? maybe it's simply an age thing. EH

This looks to be a wonderful season, although I will miss her D-List activities like hosting the porn awards. Focusing on The Divine Miss M was a perfect way to get the audience in the mood for the new tone of the show. I have to admit some disappointment, though, when Bette became uncomfortable with Kathy's potty mouth. It seems a bit hypocritical for a diva who (at least partially) established her name and persona through bawdy Sophie Tucker jokes, references to her own knockers, and songs like "Dr. Longjohn."

And was it just me, or did anyone else see that primping "fan" during the Vegas Strip Happy Birthday song, and think "Wow, Diana Ross has really let herself go!"? Maybe it was just flashbacks to the Vegas-set "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" video...

I really enjoyed the episode, myself.  I do like Bette as well; good to see them together.    Can't say that I noticed Bette being overly embarrassed by Kathy, but I'm wondering---even in her hey-day, Bette never was quite so crude as Kathy, was she?

Next week's episode looks like it may be very good.

I'm like a superhero, with no powers or motivation...

Has Bette Midler changed or qualified her stance on same-sex marriage? (Seriously, I'd like to know).  'Cause I really lost a lot of respect for her (and a lot of desire to be interested in her performances in any venue anymore), once Midler-- who owes a lot to the gay community-- was so wishy-washy and frankly uncaring when asked about her view of same-sex marriage on Larry King not so long ago. It felt like she was quite comfortable with us having her back, but she wasn't so interested in extending herself to have ours. Has she changed or clarified her view since then?

Kathy Griffin, on the other hand, has been out there kicking a** on same-sex marriage, and good for her.  Midler seemed strangely conservative behind the scenes on Kathy's show last night-- what was with all that chiding of Kathy Griffin about Kathy "going to hell" and criticizing Kathy's language?  It wasn't exactly funny, so I'm not sure why Bette was doing it. Kathy played along, but I thought her hilariously profane outburst once Midler had left about the kinds of obscene things she hadn't been saying around Midler was actually a pointed comment on Midler's weird prudishness. 

It was also hard not to notice that while Kathy plays it up about  Bette being an "A-lister" and Kathy being on the "D-list" it sure sounded like the folks in the casino when they passed by were calling out "Kathy"-- not "Bette."

I have to say i don't think Bette is a fan of kathy.  Much of the time she got a few digs in or was just kinda rude.  Not sure if it was part of the act or if Bette really didn't want to be part of kathys show.

I am a HUGE Mrs. Kathy fan. I love watching her show and seeing all the crazy antics. Who can forget the Kathy Griffin School Para Los Ninos? I loved seeing Kathy going incognito at the HIE. Classic Kathy schtick. I think my favorite part of this episode had to be when Kathy asked Bette whether "Wind Beneath My Wings" was about flatulence. The look on Bette's face was priceless! When I went out to Vegas last year for Cher's opening night I stumbled upon the casino (Mermaids) Kathy and Bette visited for the fried twinkies. I ended up getting plastered on watermelon daquiris and going over to the Plaza Hotel across the street and ordering food at McDonalds in spanish (long story...). I saw Kathy in Kansas City last year and am going to see her again this August when she returns. Long live Kathy Griffin!!

i thought that both kathy and bette was playing an act - bette was playing the uber class diva belittling the a-list wanna be kathy. not really belittling but you know what i mean. that's what it was the whole theme of the show - kathy trying to be in the "a-list" well i guess both the "lady" comedienne are both very good actresses to make people believe the act.

and yes - bette supports gay marriage - she said so on an interview to celebrate her 100th performance.

My favorite part of this episode was the "Happy Birthday" sequence. I was laughing my head off from the moment that "fan" butted her big face right into camera, totally blocking Kathy (but not completely blocking Bette, supreme diva that she is).

 

The blog is a supreme diva also, but owns no wheelchair.

Sorry, I didn't think it was an act or a joke.  I think Bette was a straight-up snotty bitch to Kathy. 

She seemed genuinely eager to just get through this obviously pre-arranged and heavily scripted "meeting."  From the "Oh, hey, how are you, I love you, DON'T TOUCH ME!" to Kathy not-so-subtly telling Tiffany and Tom they had to wait outside (which was clearly not HER idea, since Bette's chef had only set the table for two.)

Now, normally, when Kathy's in a situation like that, her confessional scenes call the person out for being a bitch, but she continued to fawn over Bette which left me thinking she either truly didn't see the sheer disgust in Bette's eyes or she just felt it was best to let Bette's bad attitude stand on its own, out of sheer respect.

When she was making cracks about Kathy's D-list gigs, I wanted so badly for Kathy to say "Um, didn't you once work bathhouses?" 

It seems Bette has chosen to forget where she comes from, which is a shame.

First of all, LMAO at the Diana Ross comment above by giovannif7.

Completely agree 100% with zanefan's assessment.  I wonder if maybe Kathy was afraid to call out Bette's actions because she was afraid of offending "her gays" by showing disrespect for a (former!) gay icon?  Kathy, you totally shoulda went there!  Believe me, we would have followed you all the way.

I felt really uncomfortable that I'd just had dinner with some older gay friends who had gushed about seeing Midler in concert recently.  Seeing her on this show felt like she's a big fraud who is still making a living off of people she does not respect, probably resents, and at the very least looks down upon.  It was really obvious which of Bette's words/reactions were scripted and which were not.

The whole thing with Bette was kind of sad, really.  Except the part where they called Stevie Nicks!

I do love Kathy, but I hope that she doesn't also forget what got her where she is which is making fun of meeting celebrities like Bette Midler!