Daily Herald Suburban Chicago
By Liz Smith
April 3, 1997
“I know I’ll never have another ”˜nervous breakdown’ again. Know why? I found the magic words, ”˜I don’t care!’ Now, I stand where they tell me to stand, say what they tell me to say, wear what they want me to wear.”
So said Bette Midler to Barbara Walters IO years ago, during the heyday of her super-successful Disney orchestrated comeback films.
Midler’s latest movie, “That Old Feeling ” opens Friday, and naturally, the sta r would love to have another big hit. But even if this romantic comedy isn ’t a success on the level of “The First Wives Club,” Bette has other fish ready for frying, broiling or baking.
Our best Bette has been offered the moon, stars and the HaleBopp comet to become TV’s newest queen of chat, going up against Oprah and Rosie. I do mean millions upon millions of dollars!
As far as I can see on an exceedingly cloudy day, I don’t think this will happen. On the other hand, had anybody told me Rosie O’Donnell would abandon her burgeoning movie career for a daily stint on TV, I would have laughed and laughed. Now she’s bigger than most movie stars. In fact, if the screen version of “Chicago” ever happens, casting her with Goldie Hawn, Madonna and Rosie, I wouldn’t be surprised if O’Donnell actually takes home the biggest paycheck!
