Michael Feinstein for PBS' American Songbook

[brettarnett]

I haven't heard anything about this. Super excited!

Excerpt from BWW article:

"Show Tunes" - Friday, April 5, 2013 at 9 pm. Stars in the Broadway universe don't shine much brighter than Stephen Sondheim, Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole, all of whom appear in this episode about great American musicals. Sondheim reveals the composers he most admires and shows Feinstein some rare home movie footage of the original Broadway production of the classic Follies. Tony Award-winner Ebersole gives a tour de force performance of some of the greatest show tunes of all time, and Lansbury reflects on her Broadway career, from Mame to Sweeney Todd and Gypsy. (Feinstein has a surprise for Angela.) Feinstein discusses his personal relationship with Ira Gershwin (also the topic of his recent book) and performs the classic "Lullaby of Broadway," "Let Me Entertain You" and "No One Is Alone."

Read more about Stephen Sondheim, Liza Minnelli & More Set for FEINSTEIN'S AMERICAN SONGBOOK on PBS; Season Premiere 4/5 by broadwayworld.com"

First episode sounds incredible! Anyone think it is new Follies footage or the bootleg that everyone and their mom has seen on Youtube?

[brettarnett]

Will this happen to be on PBS online at all? Or anywhere online?

[notabb]

I enjoyed the show but I would have loved if it had a lot less Michael Feinstein. It was practically a commercial for him and he's just not that talented to be worthy of the amount of time he got. The first segment could have had more archival footage of shows and less of his singing. And does anyone need to see him try to dance rather than have gotten a chance to watch the pros. It was far to self serving. Next time , Dear God Please , LESS Michael Feinstein!!!

[EricMontreal22]

I am not a big fan of him as a performer--but I found the program much more interesting than I expected. I haven't heard some of Sondheim's comments before, and I admit, while indulgent, it was touching to see Lansbury's response to watching her Gypsy clips.

[jv92]

I think Feinstein does wonderful work as an archivist, etc., but boy is he shameless mugging while he sings getting old.

The Sondheim segment was interesting, though, and it's always nice hearing from Angela Lansbury.

[DAME]

The Angela Lansbury segment was beyond wonderful. But M.F. bugs. I don't know why.

[theatergeek3]

I missed the first ep. Didn't know it was happening, Do you know if it will be broadcasted again or something? Is there any way I could get it? Really upset I missed it.

[EricMontreal22]

There are some clips online but not many that I can find http://www.pbs.org/michael-feinsteins-american-songbook/ EVery PBS is different, so check your local's website, but they usually repeat these things once.

[DAME]

Hulu perhaps?

[jv92]

PBS usually posts episodes online. Maybe not for Feinstein's series, though?

[GottaHaveAGimmick]

Ebersole really nailed her performance. She was wonderful.

[MCfan2]

I watched the "Let's Dance" episode because I heard there was going to be "Pal Joey" footage. And there was, and it was so cool to see! I'd only ever seen one tiny clip of Gene Kelly and the chorus dancing, but this show had snippets from a few different scenes. No sound, alas, but the picture was very good.

As for the rest -- well, I have to agree about Feinstein being a little self-focused! I don't see what his lack of ability to tie a tie, or the date that his nightclub closed, has to do with anything. But there was some really good stuff about Kelly, Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse (including some great TV footage from the "Oscar Levant" show and other shows) that made it well worth watching.

[EricMontreal22]

The Dance episode doesn't air till next week here, but I look forward to seeing more of that PalJoey footage

[luvtheEmcee]

I keep looking for the full "Let's Dance" episode (which I didn't hear about until after it originally aired) online because I really want to see that Pal Joey footage. But it doesn't look like any full episodes from the show are up. I wonder if they will be in the future. It re-aired today on some PBS prime channel that I may or may not get. I set my DVR to record it but didn't have a chance to check and see if I actually have the channel... so I guess I'll be surprised?

Anyway, if anyone finds it, or has a way to get some of that footage online, I'd be really grateful!

[GavestonPS]

There's only a small bit of PAL JOEY footage because there is no sound to go with it. (And sorry to be bitchy, but MF doesn't seem to know the show or its history very well; or perhaps he was being polite to Kelly's widow by not mentioning that the Harold Lang revival in the early 40s really made the show and its score famous.)

But Liza Minnelli is a revelation, if you ask me! She hasn't sounded so coherent in years and her observations of Astaire and Kelly are very insightful.

I agree with other posters that MF's mannered tendencies only get more cloying with time. But somebody should do an extended series of interviews with Minnelli!

On a personal note, my husband was glad to see a few clips of Lansbury in GYPSY. He's had to hear more than enough about that performance for all these years. I was really impressed at how much of "Rose's Turn" Lansbury was able to sing full out on each breath. Check out the sequence ending with "This time, boys, I'm taking the bows and...".

[MCfan2]

Yes, Liza did a really nice job. Her insights on the different dancers added a lot to the show.

[DAME]

Liza did a great job . But it was also edited very well. Michael bugs. His husband also bugs. There is something very la dee da about them both.

[SeanMartin]

I really do love MF, but he's verging ever so close to becoming the Kim Kardashian of the cabaret circuit.