Newlyweds Liza Minnelli and David Gest are making the talk-show circuit to discuss the abrupt cancellation of their never-to-be-seen reality series, "Liza & David."
The twosome, who were unceremoniously dumped from the VH1 line-up — just weeks before "Liza & David" was about to air — will discuss the much-in-the-news termination on CNN's "Larry King Live" (Nov. 20 at 9 PM, ET) and on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" (Nov. 29 at 11:35 PM, ET). Check local listings.
On Oct. 30 VH1 canceled the new reality series, "Liza & David," which was to feature weekly dinner parties with newlyweds Liza Minnelli and David Gest. It was a surprise move from the cable network, which had hoped for an "Osbourne"-type hit from the famed singer-actress and her new husband. In fact, the first dinner party had already been filmed with celebrity guests Liz Smith, Sandra Bernhard, Isaac Mizrahi, Lynn Wyatt, Cynthia McFadden and Dominick Dunne.
Rob Weiss, head of VH1's East Coast programming, told the New York Post at the time, "We've made the decision not to move forward with the 'Liza & David' show on VH1. Although we continue to believe that Liza is an amazing talent, we were not given the cooperation that we were promised." The New York daily also quoted a "source close to the aborted reality show" as saying, "We discovered what a lot of people already knew: David Gest is impossible to work with."
In related news: Minnelli will offer three concerts at New York's Town Hall on Thursday, Dec. 5 (8 PM) and Friday, Dec. 6 (7 and 10 PM). Tickets — ranging from $50 to $250 — may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (212) 307 4100 or Town Hall at (212) 997-6661; by going on-line to www.ticketmaster.com; or by visiting the Town Hall box office. Town Hall is located in New York City at 123 W. 43rd Street. Liza Minnelli, an Oscar winner for her performance in Cabaret, was last on Broadway in a tribute to her late father entitled Minnelli on Minnelli; she returned to New York City's Beacon Theatre this year with her acclaimed concert Liza's Back! In addition to her Tonys for Flora, the Red Menace and The Act, Minnelli was awarded a special Tony in 1974 for "adding lustre to the Broadway season." Her film credits include "The Sterile Cuckoo," "Arthur," "New York, New York" and "Stepping Out." The singer is also a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress. Her newest album, "Liza's Back!," is now in stores.
—By Andrew Gans
