Am I the ONLY One Who's Concerned?
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filmmekker — 9 years ago(April 19, 2016 02:17 AM)
I don't think she's in any shape to perform. After the Oscars, someone tried interviewing her on the street, walking with Michael Feinstein I think, and she couldn't step up onto the curb. It took a couple tries. Her voice is pretty shot as well. I read somewhere she's been speaking to the students at some performing arts school. I don't remember where. I've seen her live 6 times and, at her peak, she was the greatest live performer I've ever seen and I've seen many of the greats.
Open the door for Mr. Muckle!! -
stonejulius — 9 years ago(April 20, 2016 09:39 PM)
No, you're not the only one who's concerned. So am I, and I have been for some time.
Actually, there was a LOT of coverage about her 70th birthday, much more than I expected since, as you said, she has not been performing for way over a yearan eternity in show biz nowadays.
Plus, there was some very nasty internet headlines only a week or so ago that had her "near death." They were by far the most lurid stories I've ever read about Liza, and that includes the David Gest years.
Her official website has been posting nothing but upbeat birthday wishes since March 12 (her actual birthday). No updates on those internet stories, and nothing about the passing of Gest.
I've been thinking about writing her a letter. Her website is on Facebook, which I steer clear from. -
gbennett5 — 9 years ago(April 21, 2016 09:10 PM)
And what's eerie is how many music/acting icons we have lost this year,
and 2016 is still fairly young! And today, of course, Prince, who at
57, seems to have overdosed.
Liza's had nine lives, but she just doesn't seem capable of performing
anymore, and that, it would seem, would really do her in. I don't see
her stage AND alcohol free, knitting sweaters and working in the garden.
She needs that CHARGE somewhere.
As for Gest, I doubt even a healthy Liza would comment on that scumbag's
death. -
brookwriter — 9 years ago(April 22, 2016 01:12 PM)
I agree with you that if Liza cannot perform, she will not be happy.
Her people need to get her some classy acting gigs ala Shirley MacLaine. Nothing wrong with stellar supporting roles ("Arrested Development" was a brilliant coup for her).
If this requires her character to be in a wheelchair, so bet it. I've always thought Liza was an actress first, a singer/dancer second. She's said that herself.
Keep your fingers crossed.
The Prince death is just stunning to me. I don't think most people have even processed it yet. You can be sure that this summer it will be PRINCE. Which is justified.
Don't read Justin Bieber's "comments" about Prince's death. You will want to kill him. Don't do it. Let someone else. -
gbennett5 — 9 years ago(April 22, 2016 04:31 PM)
I was never a Prince fan, although I certainly respected and admired
his talent.
Yes, Liza's an underrated actor. Her problem, however, is that, unlike
Shirley M, Minnelli can't really disappear into a role. It's always
LIZA. When she did that TV movie back in the '80's (I think she was
the mother of a retarded boy, or something), all I saw was LIZA. I
couldn't reconcile her as the character. This does not mean she's
a bad actor - far from it. It's just that, like Ethel Merman, her
personality and STAR factor overwhelm any chance of us buying her
as a character. Same thing with Bette Midler, although she has made
many more movies than Minnelli.
There's also another problem: If Liza truly has fallen off the wagon,
no producer is going to hire her. -
stonejulius — 9 years ago(April 25, 2016 03:47 PM)
I have to strongly disagree with you about Liza's performance in "A Time To Live" (1985), where she searingly, forthrightly played the strong-willed suburban mother of a pre-teen boy diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. One of her best performances, shamefully not even nominated for the Emmy (although she did win a Golden Globe).
She is fantastic in this film. There is no "Liza!" to be found here. -
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steviegoldiescott — 9 years ago(June 21, 2016 12:04 AM)
I saw Liza at the London Palladium in 1979. The best live performer I have ever seen, bar none!
Liza was due to appear at the Palladium last year (or was it end of 2014?). She was going to do an 'evening with' where she was interviewed on stage by Bruce Forsyth. It was obvious she would not have been able to do a full blown concert. However, due to poor ticket sales it was cancelled.
Times and tastes change, and while it was shocking that her show was cancelled due to poor ticket sales compared to previous decades when they sold out in minutes, it was a sign of the times I think.
I just hope she is ok. I fear she will never the same again if she cannot perform. I hope she finds a way to just enjoy her life. -
gbennett5 — 9 years ago(June 22, 2016 05:36 PM)
Here's what's been spinning around the web and "news" since my original
post.
Minnelli has sold her longtime NY apartment and moved to L.A.,
supposedly renting a house. Unfortunately, reliable sources have
announced that Minnelli is selling her beloved Andy Warhol collection
for forty million, as she she's so strapped for cash. It has been
(erroneously) written that she is a total recluse behind closed
doors. Yet at least one (I think maybe two) Youtube videos show
her - one this past spring - departing L.A. for a visit to NY. Yes,
she looked frail, and definitely needed support to walk, but I thought
she looked good otherwise, as she walked from her car to the terminal.
As usual, she was swamped with incredibly stupid comments and questions.
And just this week, she was seen walking the streets of NY where she
had just performed in Michel Feinstein's nightclub. Supposedly, she
sang "Cabaret", "New York, New York", and Maybe This Time." Hardly fresh
material, but at least she's "steppin' out" again!
I'm sure the old days of kicking up her heels and big tours are behind her.
But if she's doing okay, getting out with friends, and doing some
singing, good for her.