Bette Midler - Bette on the Boards

GUESTS

Buddy Rich, George Carlin, Bette Midler,
Richard Crenna

PROGRAM TIME

11:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

The footage from this appearance apparently no longer exists. However, thanks to a very clever fan back in the early days, an audio recording made from the television broadcast does remain. Although that recording can not be shared here on this website, below you will find a written transcript from this appearance documenting what was said and performed during this show.

Johnny Carson		She is uh, she's causing quite a bit of commotion over at the Downstairs at the Upstairs where she will be appearing, I understand, for another two weeks. She's been held over. She is an original. She is delightful. She is uh . . . strange is not the word, she's unique. And she does sing. Would you welcome please, Bette Midler.
Bette Midler		Friends (Moogy Klingman, Buzzy Linhart) I am all alone There is no one here beside me And my problems have all gone There is no one to deride me Ah, but you got to have friends The feeling's oh so strong You got to have friend To make that day last long I had some friends but they're gone Something came and took them away And from the dusk to the dawn Here is where I'll stay. Standing at the end of the road, boys Waiting for my new friends to come I don't care if I'm hungry or poor I'm gonna get me some Because you got to have friends Yeah, you got to have friends Yeah, you got to have friends That's right, that's right You, ya got to have friends I had some friends but they're gone Something came and took them away And from the dusk to the dawn Here is where I'll stay Ohh, standing at the end of the road, boys Waiting for my new friends to come I don't care if I'm hungry or cold I got to get me some Because you got to have friends You got to have friends You, you got to have friends Ffriends, friends, friends Oh, I got me my, I got me my I got me my friends Superstar (Leon Russell, Bonnie Bramlett) Long ago and so far away I fell in love with you Before the second show Your guitar just sounds So sweet and clear But you're not really here It's just the radio Don't you remember You told me you loved me, baby Said you'd be coming Back this way again, baby Baby, baby, baby, baby, oh, baby I love you Loneliness is such a sad affair I can hardly wait, oh To sleep with you again What can I say To make you come again Come back, come back and play Whoa, play your sad guitar Don't you remember You told me you loved me, baby Oh, said you'd be coming Back this way again, baby Mmmmm baby, baby, baby, baby, oh, um baby I love you Loneliness is such a sad affair And I can hardly wait To sleep with you again What can I say To make you come again Come back and play Play your sad guitar Don't you remember You told me you loved me Said you'd be coming Back this way again, baby Baby, baby, whoa baby I loved you, I really do
		Oh, I think that was the most fun I've had on this show in a long time. That was so much fun.
Johnny Carson		You do that great.
Bette Midler		Thank you.
Johnny Carson		We saw you the other night over at the Downstairs at the Upstairs and you are killing them over there.
Bette Midler		We're having a good time, we really are. Um, we had an interesting group in last night. The place was packed and the owner, umm, he was like in a state of shock, because at the end of the program I do a thing where everybody sort of claps and waves, you know, and they were standing on the tables, and he kept turning around to people saying, "they're standing on my tables, they're standing on my tables."
Johnny Carson		That's an honor.
Bette Midler		Oh, it was wonderful.
Johnny Carson		Have to take another break for a second.
Bette Midler		Okay.
		[commercial break]
Johnny Carson		We're talking with Bette Midler. The critics, a lot of them like you, and a lot of them say things that are not so complimentary. What are some of the things they've said that you don't like?
Bette Midler		That I don't like? Well, let's see. The gentleman who writes for Variety said that I was less elegant than Phillis Diller.
Johnny Carson		Sweet.
Bette Midler		He was going along very nicely and then all of a sudden the whole review took on an entirely different colour. He said, "her hair and clothing are a nightmare, and her hair looks like her hairdresser was afraid to put his hands in it."
Johnny Carson		Does that stuff bother you?
Bette Midler		I was very upset, but I had a laugh, I really did, because . . . well because I do my own hair, you know. [laughs] No hairdresser touches my hair.
Johnny Carson		You do that all yourself?
Bette Midler		I do this all myself. Yes.
Johnny Carson		So it's going well?
Bette Midler		Yes it is. You know, reviews are a very funny thing. I get some good ones and I get some bad ones, but I try to concentrate on the good ones, you know, because if you make yourself sick, then, what fun is it, right?
Johnny Carson		And things start to get to you personally and you get upset and it's not worth it.
Bette Midler		That's very true.
Johnny Carson		Just read the nice ones and forget the ones that are bad.
Bette Midler		I'm learning, I'm learning.
Johnny Carson		Somebody said, the reporter said, this is a quote, "you like to throw the vibrations out to an audience and put them through the changes."
Bette Midler		Yes.
Johnny Carson		Do you play the mood? The mood you're in?
Bette Midler		Yep, play the mood that I'm in, and throw out the way I'm feeling to an audience, so that they don't have to guess how you're feeling. Like when I'm feeling good I throw out good vibes, and when I'm feeling bad I throw out bad vibes.
George Carlin		May I comment on that, because you and I worked about a year ago at the Playboy Club.
Bette Midler		Oh, yes. [laughs]
George Carlin		When I was right in the middle of my trying to change over, and the thing I'm going for that I found really works is to experience the thing with the audience, rather than this tradition of, "I'm coming out here to do something to you." It's a case of, "I'm going to come out and we're going to be together, and I'll get most of the lines, but you'll be there." You know, do what you like, but it's really a nicer feeling, it works fine.
Bette Midler		Yeah.
Johnny Carson		So rather than say I'm going to perform, I'm lucky to be here.
George Carlin		Yeah, instead of this wall between you.
Johnny Carson		Yean, a lot of performers never get passed that point. They work great on a stage, but the audience is never really there.
George Carlin		Right. It's more fun to share it all, I think.
Bette Midler		Yeah. But I'm easy, it's very easy to know where I'm at, you know, because if I'm feeling good I'm like . . .
Johnny Carson		Do you feel good most of the time?
Bette Midler		You know, I didn't use to feel good much at all, but lately I've just been feeling so good. I don't know what it is but I tell you! It must be the air.
Johnny Carson		Maybe it's that nine cups of coffee a day.
Bette Midler		No. No.
Johnny Carson		HI! Hi! Hi! It's Showtime at the Nogahyde Room!
Bette Midler		[laughing] Hi! Hi! Hi!
Johnny Carson		Ed . . . you're going to go do a commercial, or else you're mad at us and you're leaving, one of the two . . . I assume it's a commercial.

INTERESTING FACTS

According to the Tonight Show paperwork, Bette was suffering from laryngitis when she did this show.

THE TONIGHT SHOW PAPERWORK
It was with great amazement when it was discovered that the Library Of Congress in Washington, D.C. had papers in their archives for most of the Tonight Show episodes starting from October 17, 1970. Upon learning this, the paperwork for all of the early episodes featuring Bette Midler were acquired. Since the Johnny Carson people claim these early episodes no longer exist, this paperwork may well be the only record of what took place. Not only that, but this paperwork also gives insights and extra details into the existing episodes.
Broadcast Standards	Episode Run Sheet	Pre-Interview Page 01	Question Sheet	Johnny's Cue Card
The Carson Papers document each night's show and the production material pertaining to guest interviews. Typed index cards contain introductory comments for use by Johnny Carson or a substitute host related to each guest. Linked to these cue cards are typed commentaries prepared by researchers from preliminary interviews with a guest outlining areas of interest to be discussed. Also with the file for each show is a listing of commercials, skits, guests, and network pauses in the sequence they occurred. A "Broadcast Standards Acceptability" report includes the names of guests, the host, sponsors, personalities and commercial products mentioned, and references which were censored and edited.

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