Phenomenal is the only word for LIZA WITH A Z - did you notice that there were no spectacular sets or special effects, just an incredibly versatile artist accompanied by a dancing ensemble and an orchestra. Who of today's "artists" could do that? With all the negative news about LIza in the past decade or so, some people tend to forget that in the two decades after CABARET Liza was indeed a superstar of the first magnitude - if her movie career never really took off (remember duds like LUCKY LADY and A MATTER OF TIME?), she was still the Queen of the Concert Stage in the US and Europe.Liza was absolutely in her prime here - incredibly, she was only 26 in this year of CABARET and LIZA WITH A Z, and her voice was in great shape: rich, resonant and powerful - all the notes were there, big-time! (Check out some 1960s Minnelli recordings like "Come Saturday Morning" - her voice was much higher and sweeter then than we're used to.) And yes, there were certain brief moments when she looked (rather than sounded) like her mother, but she's all LIZA. I saw her on Broadway in CHICAGO in 1975, and caught her first "Post-Betty Ford Center" tour in 1985, and she was still brilliant (That's when she starting singing "When I gooooooooooooo - I'm NOT - going - like - El - sie!") and at an outdoor theater in 1992. What a performer! Barbra Streisand had MY NAME IS BARBRA - LIZA WITH A Z is Liza Minnelli's MY NAME IS BARBRA! Truly legendary performances by truly legendary performers.

Liza/Z is great! Really good bonus features. The Toronto Film Fest alone, proves that Liza is still sharp as a whip! That said, she did forget that at the beginning of Son of A Preacher Man - Fosse was paying tribute to Ailey with those "Revelations" arms. And I'm still trying to find out the name of the male singer that starts Preacherman. As much as I'm thankful for the careful restoration of this major event, I still feel that an integral part of the show has been slighted: the dancers! I really wish someone had bothered to list the dancers in the credits. While a few names are mentioned, surely the overall group should be known as more than just "the kids". I understand that 1972 was a long time around, but surely someone remembers all of their names. In fact, I would have enjoyed seeing Liza in a room with the some of the dancers - sharing memories. (I know Candy Brown is still around)

We have really come a long way in terms of visual storytelling and the types of shows that get produced on television, but when I was watching it, the one thing that stuck out was Bob Fosse's choreography. Especially in the "Ring the Bells" number, it really shows how he was able to bring so much to live. Also, we should remember that a primary reason this was able to be resotred was that he paid so much attention to detail, some technical aspects of the show that they were concerned about were able to be salvaged.On another note, I think you get a somewhat good glimpse of the 70s when you watch this show.

First off let me make something clear--I LOVE Liza Minnelli. She's talented, beautiful can sing and act. I'm also a big fan of her mom. But this show just bored me. I saw the restored version on Showtime last night.The show was remastered--the picture was as clear as a 1972 TV special can be, the colors were strong and the sound was excellent. Liza herself looked incredible and belted out the songs full force. But I didn't recognize most of the songs and she seemed to be acting in a REAL strange way during a bunch of lullabies. Also the dance numbers were just OK--nothing special. The show only came to life at the very end when she did all her songs from "Cabaret" (No "New York, New York"--that was 3 years later). Basically I quickly lost interest and patiently waited for the show to end.I'm not sure why I hated this so much. Minnelli was superb...but I was just bored silly. I can't recommend this at all.