BETTE DAVIS TV SHOW - THE DECORATOR 1965 UNSOLD PILOT 26 MINS

[@519forestmonk9]

Bette brought her A-Game to absolutely every role she played. She respected the craft of acting, and she respected working in general. And it shows. No matter if it were Oscar caliber, B-movies, or TV fluff, she was utterly watchable.

[@ReneeBraxton]

Damn right!

[@nancycurtis488]

Oh, my God….two of the best actresses who have ever graced the theatre stage or screen…..Bette Davis and Mary Wickes……this would have been a terrific series!

[@nancycurtis488]

And Ed Begley, Sr.! I met Ed Begley, Jr. at the 2nd. Windstar Choices Symposium in Snowmass in 1987…at least I think that was the one…his son was SO tall…and I think very talented just like Ed Begley, Sr. He was kind enough to take a photo with anyone who asked…so I asked. This would have made a super sitcom.

[@nancycurtis488]

And…oh, my God…..Dub Taylor….another of my favorites!

[@user-zx5kq6hs9d]

INDEED..❤❤❤❤

[@chelleychelley8299]

They didn't know what they had then, didn't appreciate the likes of Bette Davis and Mary Wickes! Would have been a really amazing show!

[@maxpenn6374]

The two of them together, especially. Nowadays they'd call it synergy.

[@zonary1]

ahead of it's time! "Designing Women" Bette Davis is Dixie Carter and Mary Wickes is Delta Burke WOW! hilarious! no, I couldn't drink anothah me-yant julip! lol!

[@maxpenn6374]

@Blue Clouds IMDB has a good description of her appearance, " Plain and hawkish in looks while noticeably tall and gawky in build." She discovered her niche and it kept her steadily employed. It wasn't just her appearance but also her voice. Her IMDB profile is a very interesting read.

[@harrickvharrick3957]

Agreed! I saw good acting, appealing characters, the show was very creatively put together and there was a good sense of humour in it too.. what more could one want! However sometimes a new show may not so much get rejected as well as simply not taken on, which could be for all kinds of reason from availability of one or more main players to the number of episodes they would be able to produce in a season or contractual differences or obstacles of such a kind or other ones. Would it have been for some other reasons than them actually thinking the show primarily might not do be cause of its quality, we most likely are never gonna learn any more what it may have been..

[@naomitims4521]

I agree❤

[@fabianfarbeyond558]

The biggest mistake ever made by all the TV stations of the day...was not to had picked up this jewel of a show! Hilarious, witty stylish and above all SMART. How I wish she was alive and well. Love you Betty Davis.

[@ThomasOutt]

Bette Davis, not Betty.

[@4evertony1]

I would've loved this show. I love all things Bette Davis.

[@jo-annzinni3511]

loved her, at any age

[@reneebraxton1032]

The network should have picked it up. Love Bette Davis! Mary Wicks was a treasure.

[@Theyralltakenfu]

I can't understand why this was never picked up, the show is well written, and the acting isn't going to get any better then this.

[@maxpenn6374]

Just a guess: it looks like the costume budget was sky high.

[@chomme9027]

@@maxpenn6374 definitely thought the same thing.

[@larapalma3744]

One, female Two, older female

[@maxpenn6374]

@@larapalma3744 Right! Bette Davis placed that ad in Variety seeking work for herself after she had reached that "older female" age. She did get a lot of work (not just "Baby Jane") in television and movies as old ladies of many descriptions. They were all good, even if they were not box office record-breakers.

[@larapalma3744]

@@maxpenn6374 What a lady! So smart! Is she attractive? I can't tell with women but she really has oomph lol

[@margo3367]

I don't care what the show's content was. I would have been happy to just look at her act for a half hour every week! She was elegant.

[@portiamatthews9654]

Very much so I love Mrs Bette Davis such class and elegant. you

[@thekaiser7555]

I have admit, it made me cry. She was F A N T A S T I C. AS USUAL. Heck yes I would have watched this every week! I was a Bette Davis fan from the time I first saw her. It was a movie called Of Human Bondage. “And after you kissed me, I used to wipe my mouth. WIPE MY MOUTH👄 !”

[@thekaiser7555]

A Jew!? Where do you get your information nitwit, CNN (with the other idiots)? A Suck Up? To who? Ms. Davis passed away.

[@bowtoyoursensei554]

@Sandy Thompson She was Baptist and she has been dead for 30 years. WTF is wrong with you?

[@fuhoney]

@Sandy Thompson You can't be an actual person, you sound exactly like a troll paid to get people arguing! "Betty Davis was a sh*tty f*ck*ng actress , she was only famous because she was a Jew!" Hahahahaha!!! She was one of the top actresses in Hollywood History and when did she become Jewish??? You MUST be a miserable person...

[@harryfishback8173]

Cannot believe it wasn't picked up who could resist the legendary Bette Davis. Its quite funny better than many of the shows from that era....

[@bejoyful]

Shame it wasn't picked up as a series; better than most shows on the air today and with a real star!

[@patricksaxon3983]

I loved it and I totally agree!

[@reneebraxton1032]

@Punkanelly Lovejoy Right

[@richardmanville5621]

Started watching this with a bit of "kitsch curiosity" and I'm left charmed, wanting more, and wondering why this did not go anywhere? *sigh* Hollywood.

[@Girlgamssilver]

There is never going to be another Bette Davis😢😢😢

[@patricksaxon3983]

I never knew that she could do comedy, what a talented actress she was!

[@trentsteelman8110]

She actually did several comedies in her early films, like "The Man Who Came to Dinner." She had such great timing in everything she did, and this show should have been picked up.

[@ferdinandvasquez2160]

Goodness! This lost gem should have been a spectacular series! Bette looks like the way she did back in the 40s! So beautiful and chic.❤

[@rgs6236]

Shows were so great back then. This should of been one of them...it's a shame it was never picked up

[@educationfirst2044]

It’s beautiful another amazing performance for Bette Davis which still so enjoyable in 2022

[@ThomasOutt]

And 2024--- Please Vote for Harris-Walz!

[@nocilantro_gack]

Miss Bette Davis smoked the hell out of those cigarettes....while she chewed up every scene she was in... The best actor of all time...Watch "The Little Foxes" sometime...THATS acting!!!

[@jeprice08]

"I've missed a lot of buses in my life! Don't you miss this one!" I REALLY love that line!

[@jwsmith53]

Bette Davis with a laugh track. How surreal.

[@Father-Nature]

jimbo Was just thinking that! Strange.

[@slimtee2]

I know, but it's funny tho'

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

My thoughts too.

[@scotnick59]

Ain't that the truth!

[@Marimarr59]

I wished they had aired back in the 60s while i was growing up...i would have love watching her! My mom had the personality of Bette Davis

[@laurastrobel718]

"All little girls peek"what a great line the dialogue is priceless Bette was the epitome of cool The great Mary Wickes made the perfect comedic foil for her this is golden thanks for sharing😃

[@belgiumgirl8970]

Laura Strobel and she still likes too! Great line!

[@laurastrobel718]

@@belgiumgirl8970 i imagine this show wasnt picked up because of the youth explosion at the time most boomers were teens or in their early 20s by this point and were watching things like "my 3 sons" and the like if they were watching t v at all entertainment is mostly aimed toward the younger demographic traditionally their parents would have dug it though since Bette was a star during their youth...

[@belgiumgirl8970]

Laura Strobel your probably right😊

[@christo1]

She's wonderful in this. Her talent was obvious on the big screen AND the small screen.

[@raecoyote]

OMG! I would have LOVED this !!! I’m so sad that it didn’t happen!! Perfection!

[@stevenshipman650]

This is actually quite funny. Mary and Bette make perfect foils for each other and the concept is sound. I imagine the network turned it down because she wasn’t young. She was certainly funny enough. Both she and Mary

[@wmbrown6]

Was this for ABC, pray tell? Obviously, based where Mr. Spelling worked at the time, this was a Four Star production. But then, ABC did pick up "O.K. Crackerby!" with Burl Ives for the 1965-66 season - and we see how well that did . . . not to mention "My Mother, The Car" on NBC.

[@robin2012ism]

@@wmbrown6 there has to be a few stinkers in every bunch.

[@sunnyboy4553]

@@wmbrown6 Don't forget Mr. Ed the talking horse!

[@DylanRomanov]

I hope in my next life I exist in a universe where this show went on

[@Gods2ndFavoriteBassPlyr]

What a riot! Is there no end to Ms. Davis' talents?? Such a shame this one never got any 'traction'. Thanks for this upload.

[@richardkennedy8481]

That show not going on the air is a tragedy.

[@PhillyNonSequitur]

Why was I not informed about this Bette Davis TV Show? Love it!

[@TomYaz]

Frank D because it just surfaced

[@lotharroberts5978]

I bet you do, Frank. I bet you do.

[@patriciagiles5833]

I wasn't either! Who's responsible for this conspiracy?

[@wmbrown6]

@@patriciagiles5833 - Four Star Television, apparently (Mr. Spelling worked there then, he was the producer of the Gene Barry detective series "Burke's Law").

[@showtunestarpower]

Bette's comic timing is terrific!

[@jamietodd1675]

This was actually good! I can’t believe the networks didn’t pick this up

[@caliden3785]

Think it was to real....also women in bettes age at that time weren't not seen as viable to carry a show.....

[@ernestkovach3305]

@@caliden3785 bunk. Another sexist against males comment without truth. She did get roles after 40 as she aged. Ms. Streep so stop the revisionist history LIES

[@deacondavis5098]

This should have been made into a tv series!!!

[@jraoul711]

This show would have been great if it went into production. I really liked this pilot.

[@druboy7201]

Bette Davis AND Mary wickes!!what could be better!!??

[@wmbrown6]

They did go back a long ways - ever seen "The Man Who Came To Dinner" (1942)? Ms. Davis played Maggie Cutler, the secretary of Sheridan Whiteside (Monty Woolley), and Ms. Wickes played Miss Preen the nurse.

[@reginaeiland9358]

This was sooooooooo good! Why on Earth didn't this make it!

[@highhighsky1]

It's like the Devil Wears Prada meets Baby Jane Hudson and Margot Channing all rolled into one character.

[@americandreamer6092]

@Haser Buen Don't forget Camille Beauchamps!

[@jwsmith53]

All About Eve is like an early draft of The Devil Wears Prada.

[@laurameyer7285]

What a shame!!! I would’ve watched ALL the Episodes if there had been more than just the pilot. Great to see her in such a sassy & fun role ❣️❣️

[@JassminaVellucci]

It was once said, Bette Davis Act with her eyes, she doesn’t have to say a single word, just watch her eyes and you know what’s happening. She was one of the greatest actor ever lived.

[@dsilver1999]

Wow- I clicked on this out of curiosity, & wound up enjoying the show - it was really sweet - too bad the pilot wasn't picked up

[@shellbyshell9961]

Bette is the campest, straight woman in the world....what an icon,

[@scottj7281]

I'm glad I found this gem to watch!

[@chomme9027]

Bette was absolutely fabulous in pilot.

[@sandrafledglingmixologista2221]

Thank you for posting this! Never heard of it and I wish this show had been picked up.

[@nysavvy9241]

This show would have been a hit. With Bette and Mary true star power. Think of all the amazing actors who would have guest starred. Unreal it was never picked up. Better Davis looked fabulous.

[@vanessaawilliams3780]

She's got Bette Davis eyes😘 Love her❤️

[@csfan65]

This would have made a great series! Bette and Mary together are a hoot. Too bad this show never made it past the conception stage.

[@2009cochinos]

I agree

[@misterman1958]

Wow, Bette Davis was so talented. Loved this little gem!

[@jomama5186]

Darn, I wish they would have kept that as a TV show! I bet it would have been cute! What a fantastic house Bette/Liz had!

[@wonderjh]

That was awesome!!! I loved it! To bad it didn’t get sold!! Aaron Spelling even....

[@foxspurplelolli4318]

I am ever so happy this was in my suggestions. Ever so sad this was not picked up by tv. Fabulous acting by magnificent actors.

[@zimnaya]

Absolutely fabulous....I'm still smiling minutes afterwards!

[@Father-Nature]

Bette Davis in a sitcom pilot? Never thought I'd write that out!

[@michaelabbott516]

So fabulous and with Mary Wickes to boot !

[@toddcanton9537]

love them both

[@1911beauty]

BEtte davis is one of the worlds most captivating actresses!

[@DA90027]

This was great what a shame it didn't become a series.

[@TheDuchessWellington]

Why on earth didn't this great show get sold. Bette and the whole cast were fantastic. The show would sell now because it's a good format. Thank you so much for posting it.

[@WhirledPeace]

Towards the end of watching this I got desperately sad because I’m afraid there’s no one alive left to thank or to let them know what a great pilot that was. If that was just the pilot, can you imagine the series maturing overtime. For the ghosts and souls floating about who were apart of this, great job. 🕊

[@loretta6554]

Loved it wish it had of been picked up also Love Bette Davis.

[@suzannelefrancois5343]

Great show thank you

[@AlaskanAndie]

THAT WAS A WONDERFUL WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE AND I DEEPLY THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS!!! I DON'T CARE WHAT PART SHE PLAYS, BETTE IS ALWAYS PHENOMENAL!!!!

[@calmiller7459]

I bet this show would have a great following today is aired at a reasonable hour. The network can get the older Bette followers and the younger who didnt know her would be compelled to watch. She was an ICON and missed greatly today too!

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Absolutely brilliant. This would have been an amazing show. The chemistry between Bette and Mary Wikes is fantastic. What a great concept. Our loss.

[@AxelQC]

Damn, this would have been such a good show.

[@butterflycombcomb5158]

Wow what a treat didn't know about this! I love her she one of my most favorite actresses! Why the show never happen? I think Bette is just great in this!

[@SunFlowerGold8]

I really enjoyed this!!!

[@theresacolosimo5589]

What a great show and Ms. Davis was terrific as usual. I can't believe this show was an unsold pilot? Really enjoyed it

[@debrahill2272]

The small house was priceless compared to the main house..This sitcom was designed to be a stunning success..I am a staging student so I found this to be a lost gem..The little girl was a mini Bette Davis..😍😍

[@TomYaz]

There’s a great interview with somebody that worked on this pilot episode and he insist that the reason why it wasn’t picked up is because they wanted the ending changed from the beach scene to something else and Betty Davis was either a no-show or would not comply

[@MrMd217]

I’m here for it! She was fabulous! 😘

[@windstorm1000]

I know!

[@calmiller7459]

Want more!

[@aliciapitterson2010]

That was so enjoyable

[@leeharrison4253]

It's Bette at her BEST! This should have been a long run and think of all of the great interiors of the time we would have witnessed. I will enjoy the few posted.

[@brendagroff8478]

She was the best!!

[@CandyAppleBlue]

Television gold.

[@farmyardflavours]

This was awesome. Just watched with my sister and we laughed and laughed and both agreed that we wished Bette Davis would have been our friend

[@clydewatkins7712]

So glad I came across this , I could watch it over and over again and you know I will.

[@lukalarrs7040]

Betty Davis was the best ever💖

[@willwjl]

Her house is decorated High ‘Hollywood Regency’

[@artchem1]

That was an interesting idea for a Show, as Bette Davis was fabulous in ever way. Love “ The Decorator “. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@lisad355]

Fabulous!!!!

[@gsogso3444]

Its 2019.feb.17...it took me back there...i just love Betty Davis.....thank you....the magic of old days and great acting

[@jamessandy5873]

"Betty"

[@Ebrady224]

Bette if u must correct someone at least make sure u are correct in ur response to them

[@sagdragon64]

This is awesome! Can't imagine why it wasn't picked up. Thanks for posting!

[@shanniworld8310]

To bad this was not picked up. Thanks for posting it.

[@evelynsandefur4913]

Really good show! Thank you.

[@Anita_Backrub]

This is amazing. ❤ Bette Davis was something else, I could watch this for days!

[@tinklvsme]

I liked it. Too bad it wasn’t a series, I would of enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing this with us!

[@margaretstewart7187]

❤️❤️❤️❤️ Bette Davis a great actress 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@carolynmcqueen825]

Awesome

[@james8343]

Wow! Thanks for posting this!! I have never even seen this potential sitcom!! shame nobody picked it up! Seems kind of sad that these were hard times for Betty Davis and Joan Crawford b/c they were aging and no longer as important in Hollywood as they were in their Hayday!

[@willg4802]

too much drinking, smoking, arrogance, flippancy and makeup. The main characters are old bitties. The other characters are offensive, anti white, anti rural stereotypes. Who was this supposed to appeal to other than gay men? It is a wonder this was made at all, can't imagine what any studio executive was thinking other than that they wanted to appeal to a very small audience of gay men and single women At the time this was made, single women past the age of 26 were rare, and they didn't have much money to spend on the advertisers products. It wasn't until the nineties that something along this line came along-The Golden girls".

[@saintmichael1779]

It's Bette, not Betty.

[@linnetdoe9937]

@@willg4802 ..."The main characters are old bitties." If you must resort to name-calling, at least spell it right. I won't even bother telling you how dumb the rest of your post is.

[@michaelgrant250]

I was 14 and I would have watched all seasons. Just as good as any of the sit-coms of that time.

[@okiedokey9962]

This was actually pretty good. I watched the entire episode. Surprised it didn't make it to television.

[@MensAsses33]

I love your name, it's my signature phrase.

[@myozzio5025]

Mouth says "must have been utterly charming in its day"... Eyes say "What a dump!"

[@harryfishback8173]

LMAO soooo true...

[@heosomeheosome6752]

Oh my gosh! This would have been a great show!

[@jeanthomasson5869]

This would have been fantastic. I'd love to see a tasteful remake and left as is. It was a joy to watch.

[@TomYaz]

Jean Thomasson I agree

[@mikehudson8884]

Aw this was great to see. Bette Davis still looked good in the mid 60s

[@willg4802]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGGsqpSnqtegfac

[@highiron4527]

Agreed. I would have really liked to have seen this on the tele. This was funny!!

[@GothGuy885]

I don't understand why this did'nt take off.. It would have been wonderful!! Bette Davis was one of my Favorite actresses. . .

[@dakert40]

I would have loved to see Bette Davis and Paul Lynde in this show. :-) It would have been nice to see more episodes. Thank you for posting this

[@sheismymom]

Cute seeing her interact with the little girl

[@stacynels4]

Little girl whom couldn't act

[@picmajik]

Better than most child actors of the day--some were worse

[@SK-nd7db]

The little girl is so cute!! She was in alfred hitchcock hour about the voodoo doll Numa.

[@imtweetydiva29]

Thank you for uploading. I love this. I love my Bette.What a treat!🙂

[@charlesdavis7087]

A rising star, no doubt. ? Mary Wickes, I've loved her for years. Never remembered her name. Thanks for sharing.

[@Scathingly]

So many wonderful comments written here. Pleased to know that so many loved and appreciated Ms. Davis' class and acting chops. I also think she was a wonderful human being overall and not at all the diva JC was. Instead, she was so down to earth. I can even remember the time she took out an ad in Variety (think that was the magazine) announcing to all and sundry that she was looking for work--that took guts and humility. Yep, she was the best. For sure they don't raise them like that any more. Thanks so much for posting and as you can see so many of us appreciate your sharing this gem.

[@garymattscheck9066]

This is pretty good!

[@rachelgarber1423]

I love this, my second view it’s a treasure

[@boblowney]

Mary was the nurse in Now Voyager. terrific then too

[@jasbegs1258]

Bette looks great here- shades of Margo Channing. Chic.

[@seriousone8030]

Bette's dress at the hoedown even looks like Margo's dress.

[@RayPointerChannel]

Well, it's the makeup..a LOT OF IT, and perhaps a bit overdone even for television.

[@YesItsMeGuys68]

Wow ... on so many levels ! Davis in a TV comedy complete with laugh track and playing opposite Wickes ... written by Mart Crowley and produced by Spelling ! My heads going to explode !!!!

[@LeeZeidel-s1h]

Bette Davis was a gem and could adapt to any role she took on and bring it over the top. She is the greatest actress ever . RIP Miss Davis I loved you so much ❤

[@williamfreytes-cheverez3688]

This was actually enjoyable