247 replies to this topic

[firebird]

I think Bette Midler can do a good show, nobody expects her to 'beat' Céline (except some people here).
"Come and see Better Midler at the Colosseum, Caesar's Palace -right on the Celine Dion Boulevard"  

[kathyc25]

I think Cher would put on a great show! And I think she would have a pretty good draw too. I would pay to see Cher anytime...though it would definitely be sad going to Caesars and not see Celine everywhere. Vegas in general would be kinda sad . I love Vegas though I would still go, just maybe not as often .

[Dechen]

I love Bette Midler.

but dang gurl, it takes three to replace Celine? now that's something to be proud of Celine, at least to me.

[remykyes]

I think Cher would put on a fantastic show! With the right visuals on the screen, it should be a big hit! (BUT NOT AS BIG A HIT AS CELINE!!!! J'e t'aime Celine!!!!!)

[anewdayhascome]

their show would be somehow popular etc but not as Celine because there won't be so many fans only people from vegas maybe US but not from other continents who travelled just to see Celine

[brasilero]

smw, on May 2 2007, 02:51 AM, said:

of course they'll use her dressing room!

do you really think so  

[thevoice]

as much as i like bette as a woman , it's obvious she wont be able to sell out nights like celine did...i didnt really read the article so i dont know whether it's a daily show but i find it hard to believe she'll perform 4 or 5 nights a week - she is too old and there is no demand

[cannonball]

I'd hardly call Cher a has been.  Especially after she had a top grossing tour for YEARS.

Bette Midler is still putting out albums and touring too.  Whoever said she does better in small venues is wrong.  I've seen her sell out huge stadiums, and Bette's live shows are perfect for Vegas.  I can't wait!

[cannonball]

Dechen, on May 2 2007, 10:50 AM, said:

I love Bette Midler.

but dang gurl, it takes three to replace Celine? now that's something to be proud of Celine, at least to me.

maybe they're picking 3 people so there's always a show going on, and the theatre's never dark.  And they won't have to worry about Celine cancelling shows a few days in a row.

[CSCfan]

Quote

Bette Midler to replace Céline Dion in Las Vegas

Bette Midler will replace Céline Dion as the headliner at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, officials announced Thursday.

The announcement answered the lingering question of who would be chosen to step into some big shoes at the 4,100-seat Colosseum, which the Quebec-born Dion virtually sold out for what will be a nearly five-year run by December.

Dion's show, A New Day, has grossed more than $500 million US since it began in March 2003, producers said. The Grammy award-winning singer announced in January that she would end her run at the end of the year in the $95 million US theatre.

Midler said the venue was intimidating but exciting.

"I'm looking forward to it, but also I'm terrified because it's huge," she told the Associated Press by telephone. "That's giving me the vapours."

"At the same time, they also give you a lot of toys to play with. They give you the lifts and you can fly people in, you can fly them out. There's all this wing space and hydraulics and stuff, and the dressing rooms are staggering. It should be an opera house somewhere in the Black Forest."

Midler, 61, said she agreed to a two-year contract to work 100 shows a year, performing five nights a week for 20 weeks beginning Feb. 20.

The schedule is less grueling than Dion's, who performed 160 shows per year.

"That's really what made me decide it was going to be fun," Midler said. "I have a child in school and I have a lot of commitments here in New York City. I like the idea of being able to come and go."

With Elton John continuing his 50 shows a year through 2008, there will be room for a third Colosseum performer, said John Meglen, the president of Concerts West, an AEG Live company that books talent for Caesars.

"We will probably have one additional artist, which we'll announce later," Meglen said. He would not comment on widespread speculation that Cher also will be signed to perform.

Meglen said the Colosseum will go dark after Dion's last show Dec. 15 until Midler begins.

Midler said she hasn't decided what her 90-minute show will look and sound like.

"I think it'll be my usual outrageous, flamboyant, over-the-top show," she said.

"I have tremendous background singers and I always have a great band," she added. "If I get lucky, I'll have semi-nudes. I love showgirls and I love feathers and sequins, so I'm hoping there'll be plenty of that."

[tal-sh2]

Good luck...

[CSCfan]

Thank you

[anewdayhascome]

i don't like her

[Shaun]

It's a good move for Caesars.  There is no way they would get someone of Celine's popularity to replace her and especially not at 200 nights a year.  That move was unheard of when Celine signed it back in 2002 and it would appear no-one wants to commit to anything like that now either.

Still it's a good career reviving move for Bette Middler and it allows Caesars to have one additional headliner as well as Elton John.  

Just shows the difficulty of replacing Celine.  She really did re-define entertainment in Las Vegas. They're going to miss her.

[DianaLuts]

http://boards.msn.co.....sparam=Page=2

OMG, read these comments. they are calling Celine a COW. outrageous! I AM IN SHOCK.

[tativale]

I'm tired of jealous people saying bad things about Celine.....

Anyway...

I don't think it's a case of "beating" Celine. I think that nobody can do what she is doing - 5-4 nights, 4 years, sold out shows etc.
I saw Cher in concert twice - very close - I saw in October 31 in Toronto and January 2nd I guess in Vegas, and man, Cher doesn't sing live, her show is boring --- it's fun and all, I had more fun in Toronto -- she doesn't have the stage presence Celine does, she is funny but something is missing on her, on her show -- it's not that exciting. Anyway....

I never show a show from Bette Midler. I don't like those kind of shows that she does.

Vegas for me won't be the same after Celine leaves. She was the first to do that innovation and now everybody wants to follow her but the question is: who can? heheheh

Edited by tativale, 03 May 2007 - 02:29 PM.

[A New Day Has Come]

I hope Cher doesn't do a show in ceasers palace i find when Bette Midler comes to Ceasers Palace i  think the Collusium will feel kinda empty and it won't be the same with out Celine being there at all. Plus  it will be nothing but old people there no fenced or anything but it wont be the  same i find it wont be as happy and joyful   .

[anghil5]

Just saw Celine on E! News.

Said that Bette was taking over and that she had a hard act to follow. Also said, Celine had sold out nearly everynight since day one of her show. Showed a video of her at the Oscars. It was cute!

[celines_girl]

"I'll have semi-nudes. I love showgirls and I love feathers and sequins, so I'm hoping there'll be plenty of that."

Did noone see this. She wants to take it back to the orginal vegas show.
I want to see how she will dance around the stage and not be swallowed up. I think it will be as sad as Toni Braxtons show.

[cannonball]

you guys are really uninformed about Bette's Career.  Celine's wonderful, and I love her, but she's nowhere near Bette Midler.  Bette's been doing these wonderful Vegas style shows since 1972.  She's been acting, producing, releasing albums and touring since then.  Her last 2 albums have been bestsellers.

I personally can't think of anyone more fabulous to replace Celine, and can't wait to see Bette!

[brasilero]

cannonball, on May 4 2007, 01:02 AM, said:

you guys are really uninformed about Bette's Career.  Celine's wonderful, and I love her, but she's nowhere near Bette Midler.  Bette's been doing these wonderful Vegas style shows since 1972.  She's been acting, producing, releasing albums and touring since then.  Her last 2 albums have been bestsellers.

I personally can't think of anyone more fabulous to replace Celine, and can't wait to see Bette!

sorry but you should say that bette is nowhere near Celine. c'mon please honey get real here  

thevoice, on May 2 2007, 02:24 PM, said:

as much as i like bette as a woman , it's obvious she wont be able to sell out nights like celine did...i didnt really read the article so i dont know whether it's a daily show but i find it hard to believe she'll perform 4 or 5 nights a week - she is too old and there is no demand

exactly, bette is nearly70 years old and her idea of whats good is like  30  years ago, back in 1977  

cannonball, on May 2 2007, 04:15 PM, said:

I'd hardly call Cher a has been.  Especially after she had a top grossing tour for YEARS.

Bette Midler is still putting out albums and touring too.  Whoever said she does better in small venues is wrong.  I've seen her sell out huge stadiums, and Bette's live shows are perfect for Vegas.  I can't wait!

cher may pull a crowd in the first 6 months, but it'll fizzle out after that, same goes for bette

[smw]

Bette is awesome...and has a respect for Celine.  Cher also has a respect for Celine.  That's SO important to me--for the person coming in after Celine, to have an appreciation for her.

Bette has accomplished A LOT--and I admire her.  But I wouldn't go see her show....

[brasilero]

i've  never seen bette saying she likes Celine ever. Idont think bette is a genuine person. she seems very fake. Cher is cool tho' and she really loves Celine not just faking it

[ryandion25]

Quote

Bette Midler setting up shop in Las Vegas
Thu May 3, 2007 5:20 AM EDT
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Veteran entertainer Bette Midler is known for her larger-than-life persona as the "Divine Miss M," but she admits to being a bit intimidated by the huge space she will occupy at her new home stage in Las Vegas.

"The stage is so enormous there's a terror that you might not be able to fill it all by your lonesome, you know, a little person in high heels," Midler said recently of her upcoming long-term engagement at the Caesars Palace hotel-casino on the Vegas Strip.

Midler, 61, was set to appear in Las Vegas on Thursday to announce that she has signed a two-year deal to replace Canadian music star Celine Dion in February as the resident performer at the Colosseum, Caesars' 4,100-seat theater.

With a stage proscenium 120 feet across and 60 feet high, it ranks among world's biggest, according to Caesars.

And it's got the biggest (video wall) in the world, and you say, 'What the heck am I going to put on that? My baby pictures?"' Midler joked with Reuters in a recent interview.

But Midler, a one-time go-go dancer who launched her career in a Broadway production of "Fiddler on the Roof" and built a devoted gay following while performing at Manhattan's Continental Baths, quickly added she would think of something.

"We always try to be really ingenious about the way we stretch our people and the way we fill a stage. And I'm sure it's going to be fine," said the entertainer, famed for her brassy style and outrageously grand entrances.

She joins a growing list of big-name performers taking up semi-permanent residence in the desert gambling and entertainment resort, among them Prince, Elton John and her former Continental Baths pianist, Barry Manilow.

Midler said Caesars approached her about taking over at the Colosseum from Dion, who is due to wrap up a nearly five-year engagement in December, and the idea appealed to her.

"I thought about it for a long time, and I finally decided ... maybe it's time," she recalled, describing herself as "a person of a certain age."

Though not much of a gambler -- "I can barely count to 21" -- Midler said she enjoys playing Vegas. And setting up shop there is less wear and tear than taking her show on the road, which she did in 2004-2005 with her "Kiss My Brass Tour."  
Still, Midler, whose 1972 debut album "The Divine Miss M" won her the first of three Grammys, hardly plans to sit still.

"Running 120 feet across the stage night after night, at least 14 times a song, I'm sure that's bound to take some weight off," she said.

Opening February 20, Midler has signed to play five nights a week for 20 weeks of the next two years. Her shows will run 90 minutes, with ticket prices ranging from $95 to $250 a seat, organizers said.

Although she has barely begun to conceptualize her new Vegas act, Midler said the show would, as always, feature plenty of feathers and sequins, a mix of ballads and upbeat dance numbers and, most importantly, a healthy dose of laughs.

And of course, she will be joined by her famed backup trio, the Harlettes -- "they sing, they dance, they read minds."

The two-time Oscar nominee (for "The Rose" and "For the Boys") recently finished shooting her first film in three years, the indie production "Then She Found Me," directed by and starring Helen Hunt.

[smw]

Thanks for sharing that!

I was just watching E! News, and they said that Bette is set to replace Celine Dion next Feb.  They also said that she has big shoes to fill, since Celine has virtually sold out every show since debuting in 2003.

[CSCfan]

brasilero, on May 4 2007, 08:30 AM, said:

i've  never seen bette saying she likes Celine ever. Idont think bette is a genuine person. she seems very fake. Cher is cool tho' and she really loves Celine not just faking it

That's bullocks, Bette is a great person with a great personality. I remember that award show where Celine & Bette interacted....they made a great pair!

smw, on May 4 2007, 09:11 AM, said:

Thanks for sharing that!

I was just watching E! News, and they said that Bette is set to replace Celine Dion next Feb.  They also said that she has big shoes to fill, since Celine has virtually sold out every show since debuting in 2003.

IDreamOfCeline, on May 4 2007, 01:15 AM, said:

Just saw Celine on E! News.

Said that Bette was taking over and that she had a hard act to follow. Also said, Celine had sold out nearly everynight since day one of her show. Showed a video of her at the Oscars. It was cute!

  

[nature boy]

Quote

cher may pull a crowd in the first 6 months, but it'll fizzle out after that, same goes for bette

Errrm didn't they say the same about Celine?????

Vegas is the type of palce where this will do really well.  Some people on here are being quite snobby about this!

Edited by nature boy, 04 May 2007 - 07:20 AM.

[CSCfan]

Oh Seeeeb.. now you can finally pay Vegas a little visit..

Quote

3 Gay icons replace Celine Dion in Vegas
Picture it:  Celine Dion replaced by three MAJOR gay icons... Cher, Elton John and Bette Midler!

As Celine prepares to end her Ceasar's Palace run in Las Vegas, it looks like it is going to take three big names to replace her.  

PerezHilton is reporting that the trio of Cher, Elton John and Bette Midler will form a rotating schedule to replace Dion.

Celine is set to end her run by the end of the year, and these three will take over in 2008.

[CSCfan]

Quote

Bette Midler takes up residency in Vegas

Bette Midler  is packing her bags and moving to Sin City. Starting in February 2008, the Divine Miss M. will replace Celine Dion as the resident performer at Las Vegas' Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
"Get ready Vegas 'cause here I come!" Midler said in a statement. "Caesars Palace will never be the same and to all those critics who have accused me of being 'tacky,' 'too much' and 'over the top,' I say, you ain't seen nuthin' yet!"

Midler has signed on to perform approximately 100 concerts a year at the 4,100-seat Colosseum as part of a minimum two-year deal. Her show, which is scheduled to premiere Feb. 20, 2008, will be presented five nights a week. Tickets are already on sale for the first couple of weeks, with prices ranging from $95 to $250.

The 90-minute show will be "the biggest, most imaginative production Bette Midler has ever done," according to the singer/movie star's website. It will come with "plenty of girls, gags and guffaws, [Midler's] incomparable humor, the best song catalog in American music and her fabulous 'Kiss My Brass' section."

The $95 million Colosseum at Caesars Palace was built in 2003 for Dion's "A New Day" spectacular. The singer has virtually sold out 160 shows per year at the Vegas venue over what will be a nearly five-year run, according to the Associated Press news service.

With Midler's 100 shows and Elton John (tickets | music) continuing to put in 50 performances a year at the Colosseum, there will be room for a third performer, according to John Meglen, president of promotions firm Concerts West.

"We will probably have one additional artist, which we'll announce later," Meglen told the AP. He reportedly would not comment on speculation that Cher would be the third performer.

Meglen said the Colosseum will go dark between Dion's grand finale Dec. 15 and Midler's first show.

Over her 40-year career, The Divine Miss M.--known for her bawdy humor, revealing costumes and distinctive voice--has earned four Grammys, four Golden Globes, three Emmys and a Tony. Her most recent album releases include 2005's "Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook" and 2003's "Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook."

[Loup_garou]

Quote

i've  never seen bette saying she likes Celine ever. Idont think bette is a genuine person. she seems very fake. Cher is cool tho' and she really loves Celine not just faking it

Quote

That's bullocks, Bette is a great person with a great personality. I remember that award show where Celine & Bette interacted....they made a great pair!

  Yeap at the billboard awards and even if celine wasn't there Carole King handed her awards on the stage of the LTAL tour while Bette was presenting with a huge advert on her for her "Bathhouse betty" album it was a great moment so many awards for Celine