VIDEO: Broadway Highlights From THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW and THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW, Coming to Sony Pictures TV's GetTV
By: Michael Dale Sep. 28, 2015
Variety reports that Sony Pictures TV's GetTV is adding vintage episodes of THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW and THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW to its Monday night lineup, creating a three-hour block of variety entertainment.
The excitement begins at 8pm with Judy Garland's legendary variety program which had the unfortunate task of competing with the top-ranked BONANZA on Sunday nights at 8pm. Though only 26 episodes were taped during the 1963-64 television season, Garland's guests regularly included Broadway's brightest stars.
This duet with Barbra Streisand, combining "Get Happy" with "Happy Days Are Here Again" is considered one of the great moments in television broadcasting.
Fresh from her star-making turns in WEST SIDE STORY and BYE, BYE BIRDIE, Chita Rivera was a frequent showstopper on 1960s variety shows.
And of course, Judy Garland had a little something to do with this young talent's rise to stardom. Here's 18-year-old Liza Minnelli, a year before she would win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her turn in FLORA, THE RED MENACE.
Each week's Judy Garland episode will be followed at 9pm by one of an assortment of television variety specials. Then at 10pm THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW caps off the night.
Though his program was more of a talk show, Merv Griffin welcomed Broadway's hottest talent throughout his 20+ years on the air. In 1967 he chatted with Neil Simon during the height of his popularity.
In 1978, Andrea McArdle McArdle dropped by to belt out her signature song.
And in 1982 Jennifer Holliday dazzled his studio audience with "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going."
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