Two new shows debuted on CBS Wednesday night (October 11, 2000) before the second Presidential Debate, Bette and Welcome to New York. Both shows have a lot of promise, a lot of laughs, great characters and promising stories.

Bette Midler stars as herself in Bette. This half hour sit-com is based on Midler's life and career. The series premiere opened with Midler performing a fictional finale to a musical tour with her classic hit song "Friends" and from there the "Divine Miss M" proceeded to live up to her nickname by giving us an exceptional comic performance and a peek into the behind-the-scenes tragedies of a superstar. The characters look as though they are going to be very amusing. This first episode only touched on the various personalities of supporting members of the cast and focused primarily on Midler declaring that she is the star, as if we weren't aware of this fact.

Not that she has a big head about it...she takes a lot of hits on herself which really makes the show work even better.

Several times Bette's husband Ron (played by Kevin Dunn) caught her quoting lines from her popular films like The Rose and Beaches. He would call attention to this, which allowed her the opportunity to make that annoyed and confused facial expression that she does so well.

In another example, that whole "Oscar-Sally Field" thing that we've been seeing snips of in trailers for months really worked. The premise is that Ms. Field won the Oscar for Norma Rae over Midler, who was also nominated for The Rose. So, after griping about that to her husband, Bette turns on the TV and, guess what s on? Norma Rae! This bit really came off with some class, instead of becoming a Sally Field-bashing session. There were lots of situations similar to these that really provided the laughs.

Also, there are a few tributes to Lucille Ball that only Midler could pull off. Prominent friend and guest star Danny DeVito made a couple of appearances in this episode. The first was at a party and then again in a TV interview where he expresses hope that Bette will play his mother on his new fictional TV series. This, of course, sends Midler's family and friends into panic, as they know this will only incite her. So Midler tackles the "I'm getting older" concept with everything from visiting a plastic surgeon to getting some exercise apparatus that resembles a medieval torture device. Seeing, of all people, Bette Midler tangled up in this thing was very reminiscent of Lucy. And, although the supporting characters have yet to be developed fully, it was great to see Joanna Gleason back on TV as Midler's manager and best friend. She had a few shining moments of her own and we can only hope that she has many more to come.

I read in Entertainment Weekly that the "laughter meter" would decide if the series sinks or swims. Well, the laughter meter was very high and the only thing working against Bette's survival is the time slot - opposite Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which has become the supreme ratings generator over the last season. CBS has struck gold with Bette and there can only be hope that the time slot does not hurt this series.

In much the same manner, Welcome to New York, starring Christine Baranski, Jim Gaffigan and Sara Gilbert, has to tackle the second half-hour of the Millionaire time slot. Ms. Baranski has emerged as the star but seems to be only narrowly beating out Gaffigan. From the trailers, it was really unclear as to whose show this was...I think Baranski won.

Ms. Baranski's comic flair shines through as the producer of a New York City news program. Ms. Baranski's character is very similar to that of Murphy Brown's years ago - tough on the outside, yet soft on the inside. The cast is not an ensemble arrangement like Murphy Brown's. Holding their own, Baranski and Gaffigan deliver the laughs and deliver them well. Gilbert plays Baranski's assistant, and she's grown up a lot since her days on Roseanne and I would barely have recognized her if it weren't for her distinctive voice. Gilbert gets laughs, too, and I have a feeling that the directors and writers will eventually expand her role.

The first episode revolved around Gaffigan's weatherman (named Jim Gaffigan - go figure) arriving for his first day of work in the newsroom. Nothing too exceptional but add these factors to the humor - he came from Indiana to Manhattan and this is his first day. He dresses funny (well-noted and remarked upon by Baranski and Gilbert). He has the same glasses as the big-headed news anchor (played Ted Baxter-like by Rocky Carroll). He pays $200 for a basket of cheese to try and impress his co-workers, but everyone thinks he s kissing up to Baranski's character. And that's just the beginning. There is a lot of room for development with this Odd Couple premise and characters that are, in fact, almost like a male - female version of Oscar and Felix.

Ms. Baranski, who was last seen on Cybill, always sparkles with whatever she does (she's a two-time Tony Award and one-time Emmy Award winner). And this character seems tailor-made for her. In my estimation she makes the show. And she is the Executive Producer of the series. Welcome to New York is full of great characters, but may only crack the top ten if writers and directors can get past the two lead characters and throw some meat to the supporting roles.

All in all, CBS's Wednesday line-up has life at last with these two comic gems, and they might even make Regis a little nervous. Any way you look at it, Midler and Baranski make the night...truly Divine.

Robert Bach is a writer and musician and former entertainment editor for an East Coast publication.

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