Liza & Alan Cumming Say It's Cold Outside

Liza Minnelli and Alan Cumming teamed up to do this perennial winter favorite for a Broadway Cares benefit album.

This is one of the more charming covers of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" in my humble opinion.

My Christmas Countdown continues  until New Year's Day!

Happy Birthday, Liza with a Z!

March 12th is Liza Minnelli's birthday. She turns 67 this year. The daughter of Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli, the goddaughter of Kay Thompson, she came into our world to be a gay icon.

In fact, Liza loves gay men so much, she married (and divorced) four of them: the late Peter Allen, Jack Haley Jr. (son of the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz, her mama's co-star Jack Haley), Mark Gero and David Gest. Yet, Liza still believes in the sanctity of the institution of marriage, apparently, as she was last seen on the silver screen, as herself in Sex and the City II, singing the Beyonce song, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" at a same-sex wedding.

Of her marriage to Peter Allen, she told The Advocate:  "I married Peter and he didn't tell me he was gay. Everyone knew but me. And I found out... well, let me put it this way: I'll never surprise anybody coming home as long as I live. I call first!" Obviously that plan didn't work either.

Liza recorded with the Pet Shop Boys. The album was Results. It's considered a classic but, at the time of its release (1989), was considered a bit of a disappointment domestically. It spawned three major club hits, especially for her international gay fans: the disco version of "Losing My Mind" from the Stephen Sondheim musical, Follies; a cover version of Yvonne Elliman's "Love Pains"; "Don't Drop Bombs" and the ballad, "So Sorry I Said."

The "Don't Drop Bombs" video is one of the most fabulous ever. Not available on-line, but you can get it as part of Results/Visual Results cd/dvd set. Available at Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Results-Visual-Liza-Minnelli/dp/B0002TLBRU/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1394665419&sr=1-1&keywords=liza+minnelli+results

Oddly, Liza visibly took offense (her reaction recorded in the audience) to Ellen's gay joke at the 2014 Oscars. "Hello to the best Liza Minnelli impersonator I've ever seen. Good job, sir!" DeGeneres said, looking at Liza from the stage. Ms Minnelli was obviously not amused. Liza ran out of estrogen three decades ago. She shouldn't be so sensitive at this stage.

She later told NBC's Today show: "I was really fine until she said 'sir,' and then I thought, 'Ouch! Ouch' a little. But I looked at my sister [Lorna Luft] and she was laughing. I thought, 'Well, they just didn't give her the rest of the cue card.' No. I know Ellen, she would have said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, my friend, Liza.' I guess it wasn't supposed to be like that."

Liza has recorded numerous hit albums, starred in numerous smash films (most notably her Oscar-winning and iconic performance as Salley Bowles in Cabaret), has won an Oscar, Emmys, Grammys and Tonys. She is a most divine diva, Hollywood royalty, gay icon, a unique multi-talent and an all-time superstar.

Liza Minnelli, we love you. Happy Birthday!

Bad Girls: Liza Does Donna

Liza Minnelli's rendition of "Bad Girls," co-written by Donna Summer and Brooklyn Dreams, performed live! We're over the hump. Treat yourselves!

Liza Loses It on My Halloween Countdown

Is there anything scarier than Liza with a Z losing her mind, not going left and not going right on the middle of the (dance)floor? Special Halloween remix from stevers62 on YouTube as My 2013 Halloween Countdown Continues with only 4 days to go.

Liza with a Z Is Norma with an N

News from Online PR Media:

[T]he iconic Liza Minnelli officially announced the news; she is finally taking time off from the concert stage, to begin work on what she calls 'the role of a lifetime'; Norma Desmond in "Sunset Blvd". 

Back in 2003, after making her comeback from brain encephalitis and various addictions, Andrew Lloyd Webber approached her for consideration of the 'Norma' role. However, due to a relapse, a divorce and various other commitments, Minnelli was unable to follow through. There was talk amongst the theatre and film community that Lloyd Webber would move forward with the project anyhow, instead replacing Liza with Glenn Close as Norma Desmond. 

Fortunately, due to possibly divine intervention of some kind, Andrew Lloyd Webber and producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan made the decision to hold off on production until Minnelli became available. And that time seems to be now. Zadan and Meron, known for their major success with bringing musicals like "CHICAGO" to the silver screen, are the leading producers on 'Sunset', and were the first to bring Liza the idea. Meron says "Anyone who knows Sunset Blvd. knows how perfect Liza Minnelli is for the role of Norma Desmond. There's no doubt in my mind that Liza's maturity and life experience have brought her to the ideal level to conquer such a challenging role as this, not just vocally but psychologically. This will surely be Liza's greatest work since "Cabaret". 

When asked about who Liza will be starring with in the film, Craig Zadan implied that there will be another Broadway icon in the film, and that within the month of October the casting of the leading man will be made public. Filming is set to begin in January 2014, and Clint Eastwood is currently signed on to direct. So far, this is looking like a movie musical worth writing home about!

Initially, Hugh Jackman was approached to star in the William Holden role from the Billy Wilder film. As Sunset is currently in pre-production, not many more details are immediately forthcoming. But this is shaping up as a movie event to definitely look forward to.

"Cher Sex Cult Horror!"

While we wait for her new album, single (duet with Lady Gaga) and tour, Cher positively explodes onto the most recent cover of National Enquirer.  This rag is a Tea Party favorite, I'm sure, absolutely hostile to the idea of fact checkers. The ethos of the Tea Party is, indeed, partly inspired by this gossip-ridden, sensationalistic, American supermarket tabloid that has been around since 1926.

Since the Enquirer pays its sources (a no-no for legitimate press), you can be sure it's full of half-truths, quasi-truths and blatant lies. Once in a while, however, a gossipy little article will, after some fact-checking, end up as news, even appearing on the pages of The New York Times.

The latest cover has, as its banner headline: "Jessica Simpson's Dad Confesses He's Gay!" (Honeys, that asshole's been on my gaydar so long, he's past his expiration date!) "Pastor Joe has a boy toy half his age! Jess and Ashlee devastated! Mom files for DIVORCE!" (Duh!) Well, you can skip that article because the headline punches across every point to be made regarding that drama.

The Cher cover story is the main one, just beneath the logo. "CHER SEX CULT SCANDAL!" screams the headline for this one, next to an unflattering image of the star. Subheads add: "HER AGONY -- what she's hiding from fans" and "Torture! Brainwashing! Abuse!" and "Shocking Secrets Ripping Her Family Apart."

I bought the paper and went directly to the Cher article, licking my lips, only to find the front-page headlines had thoroughly misrepresented the story. Turns out that Cher's son, Elijah, is dating a young woman whose parents once belonged to a free-love cult. That's the Cher Sex Cult Scandal, everybody! Go home, show's over. "Cher's world is collapsing around her!" blares the first sentence of "Cher Sex Cult Horror!" Somehow, I seriously doubt that.

What I found far more interesting and believable was the article on the opposite page. "Streisand Success Has Liza Singing the Blues." Now this is a reason to buy the Enquirer.  After all, enquiring minds want to know!

Liza Minnelli Is the Bomb

One of my all-time fave music videos, MTV meets Vincente Minnelli with Liza at her glam peak! Music produced by The Pet Shop Boys.

Stormy Weather

Well, I went ahead and did it, using my new effects machine and a pre-fab beat. I remixed Stormy Weather for the dance floor using a recording of Lena Horne live at Webster Hall in 1957. I meant it as a tribute to this great star who recently passed away. Clocking in at 6:02 minutes, I call it "Buddy B's El Nino Tribute Mix." Plan to shop it around on the dj circuit.

And did you catch Liza recently on The Joy Behar Show, guzzling from a coffee mug through a straw? Well, you certainly don't sip coffee that way, not even iced coffee. She sure seemed to be relaxed and held nothing back when talking about her infamous last marriage.