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ABC PREMIERE EVENT: LIFE WITH JUDY GARLAND: ME AND MY SHADOWS {PART 2 OF 2} (TV)

Summary

Part two of this two-part miniseries, based on the book by Lorna Luft about her mother, Judy Garland. The program opens with Judy playing the Palace and singing "Palace Montage" as Sid, Lottie, and Kay watch admiringly in the wings. In 1952, Judy marries Sid and soon gives birth to Lorna. Then, Sid arrives at the hospital with some racing winnings, as well as news that Judy is to headline the Warner Brothers remake of "A Star is Born," her first film in four years and one in which she will "call all the shots." Later, Sid informs Judy, in the midst of post-partum depression, that Ethel had a heart attack in a parking lot and has just died. On the set of "A Star is Born," Judy fumbles the twentieth take of "The Man That Got Away," though director George Cukor proves understanding. In contrast, Jack Warner takes Sid to task for "babying" Judy and causing cost overruns. After talking with Roger, Judy agrees to quit the pills "cold turkey." Following a grueling withdrawal, she returns to the set and completes the film. In September of 1954, "Star" opens at the Pantages to huge acclaim and remarkable reviews for Judy's performance. However, producers later cut the film on "orders from New York." Sid feels that the movie has been "butchered" in editing. Judy agrees but is preoccupied with her latest pregnancy. Nevertheless, Judy gets nominated for an Oscar and everyone thinks she will win. Judy can't wait to get vengeance on Hollywood's "slave drivers." However, Judy gives birth to Joe before the Oscars ceremony. Television film crews are set up beside her hospital bed during the Academy Awards broadcast. Surprisingly, Judy loses to Grace Kelly, though she tries to take the defeat in stride. Sid calls it "the biggest robbery since Brinks."

By 1959, Judy can't get another part in the movies and has to go back to performing on stage, with the family facing more money issues. Judy also starts gaining considerable weight as she starts popping pills again. Liza, Lorna, and Joe look for a daily "mama report" from Lottie, then decide if they can seek her company. Judy makes Lorna promise to always take care of Joe. One night after throwing a party, Sid gets into a disagreement with the caterer over payment. Sid complains to Judy about all the full-time people they have on staff, and how it has put them into debt. Judy lashes out at Sid for making her continue to be the breadwinner, wondering where their savings has gone. Sid walks out on Judy, who is subsequently hospitalized with hepatitis. By 1961, Judy gets "miraculously well" and slims down but continues fighting with Sid after throwing him out of the house. One night, Judy tricks Sid into coming home and the pair reunite. Eventually, Sid sets up Judy with fast-rising agents Freddie Fields and David Begelman. They convince her to go on a European concert tour, then pursue a television career. Judy gives Freddie and David power of attorney and finally eliminates Sid as her manager, angering him. Judy tours the country to great success, culminating with an appearance at New York's Carnegie Hall. Keeping herself awake for thirty-six hours before going onstage, Judy knows she has to knock them dead on April 23, 1961.

After her wildly successful performance, having sung numbers that include "San Francisco" and "Swanee," Judy is now a hot commodity again. The next day, Sid stops by to tell her that she was sensational. He also questions her trip to London for a film shoot, stating that she can't take their children. Judy tells Sid she will meet him for dinner that night but instead rushes to leave the country. In 1963, Sid is embroiled in divorce proceedings, criticizing Judy for her lifetime of drug use and suicidal behavior. Judy testifies that she's a good mother and would "die" without her children. Lorna tells a judge that Judy would fall apart without her and Joey, making them want to live with their mother. The court then awards the children to Judy. Later, Judy is pushed by Freddie and David to begin a weekly television show as networks bid for her services. She performs well on "The Judy Garland Show," impressing audiences with numbers like "Maybe I'll Come Back to You." Watching the show with Kay, Roger, and Lottie, young actor Mark Herron begins to woo Judy. However, Judy worries to Mark about the show's poor ratings. The next day, Judy goes in to meet with CBS television executives, who voice complaints that viewers don't feel "comfortable" with her. During the meeting, Judy calls President John F. Kennedy, asking him if he watched her show that week and basks in his praise. Regardless, the show gets cancelled and Judy has a tantrum at home when the IRS takes all her earnings to pay off back taxes. The family returns to the road, heading to Australia so that Judy can perform. Her concerts there go well but things unravel once she gets to Melbourne. The audience boos when she forgets her lyrics and the American press mocks her, saying she'd "gone over the rainbow for the last time."

Back home, Judy marries Mark and tries to lay low, but is unable to put Australia behind her. Later, Judy throws Mark out after discovering that he's having an affair with the pool boy. In 1967, Judy is back at work to eliminate the family debt. She also starts taking pills after divorcing Mark and firing Lottie. Lorna begins understanding how drugs affect her mother's life. One day, Judy calls Sid after watching "A Star is Born" on TV. Sid offers to get Judy some bookings. Eventually, Judy begins performing onstage with Lorna and Joey at the Palace, performing songs like "Me and My Shadow" and pulling off yet another comeback. Sid begins giving Lorna instructions on how to take care of her mother. However, the IRS takes Judy's house and entire salary from the Palace run. Without any funds, Judy begins sneaking her children from hotel to hotel without settling up. Judy tries to get further jobs and Lorna begins to hide pills as Judy's behavior becomes increasingly erratic. One day, Lorna returns to a hotel room to find her mother standing at the bedroom window, claiming she is about to jump to her death unless a debt is forgiven. Later, Judy tells Lorna about much she misses the applause and is hurt by being called "washed up." The next day, Lorna collapses from the physical and emotional exhaustion of taking care of her mother. After Lorna's hospitalization, Sid takes Lorna and Joe to live with him in Los Angeles. In 1969, Judy is living in London and married to her fifth husband, pianist Mickey Deans. On June 10, 1969, Liza, Lorna, and Joey call their mother to wish her a happy forty-seventh birthday. She invites them for a visit that summer. Two weeks later, Judy accidentally overdoses on sleeping pills and Mickey discovers her dead in the bathroom. Upon finding out, Lorna sobs in her father's arms. After noting how 22,000 paid their respects to Judy in a New York City funeral home, Lorna recounts how, at sixteen, she would never see her mother again. However, she puts more import on the lessons that she learned from her mother, then recalls Judy singing "Get Happy." Includes commercials.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: February 26, 2001 9:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:58:55
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:64234
  • GENRE: Drama
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Biography; Singers; Actors and actresses; Hollywood
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 2001
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - "Judy at Carnegie Hall" compact disc
    • TV - Commercials - "Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure" home video
    • TV - Commercials - "Life With Judy Garland" home video
    • TV - Commercials - Bounty napkins
    • TV - Commercials - Buick automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Celebrex arthritis medication
    • TV - Commercials - Cottonelle toilet tissue
    • TV - Commercials - Dove soap
    • TV - Commercials - Downy wrinkle remover
    • TV - Commercials - Drano drain cleaner
    • TV - Commercials - Energizer batteries
    • TV - Commercials - Fantastik grease remover
    • TV - Commercials - FedEx shipping
    • TV - Commercials - Frontline flea and tick protection
    • TV - Commercials - GMC automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Kenmore washing machines
    • TV - Commercials - Lipton Sizzle & Stir meals
    • TV - Commercials - MasterCard credit cards
    • TV - Commercials - Maybelline lipstick
    • TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Mercury automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Motrin pain reliever
    • TV - Commercials - Nabisco Wheat Thins crackers
    • TV - Commercials - Office of National Drug Control Policy and Partnership for a Drug-Free America
    • TV - Commercials - Olive Garden restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Pepcid antacid relief
    • TV - Commercials - Physique hair care
    • TV - Commercials - Pizza Hut restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Pontiac automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Roche weight loss plans
    • TV - Commercials - Sprint calling plans
    • TV - Commercials - Sunny Delight drinks
    • TV - Commercials - The Philip Morris Companies
    • TV - Commercials - Tilex shower cleaner
    • TV - Commercials - Toyota automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Viagra erectile dysfunction medication
    • TV - Commercials - Wendy's restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Wisk detergent tablets
    • TV - Commercials - Xenical weight-loss medication
    • TV - Promos - "Amy and Isabelle"
    • TV - Promos - "Eyewitness News"
    • TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
    • TV - Promos - "My Wife & Kids"
    • TV - Promos - "One Fine Day"
    • TV - Promos - "Spin City"
    • TV - Promos - "The 73rd Annual Academy Awards"
    • TV - Promos - "The Drew Carey Show"
    • TV - Promos - "The Mole"
    • TV - Promos - "What About Joan"

CREDITS

  • Peter Sussman … Executive Producer
  • Ed Gernon … Executive Producer
  • Craig Zadan … Executive Producer
  • Neil Meron … Executive Producer
  • Kirk Ellis … Co-Executive Producer
  • Robert Allan Ackerman … Co-Executive Producer, Director
  • Lorna Luft … Co-Executive Producer, Based on the book by
  • Von Alvensleben, Philip … Supervising Producer
  • John Ryan … Producer
  • Robert L. Freedman … Producer, Writer
  • Dave Mace … Co-Producer
  • William Ross … Music by
  • David Lawrence … Music by
  • Miranda Garrison … Choreographer
  • Cynthia Gibb … Narrator
  • Judy Davis … Cast, Judy Garland
  • Victor Garber … Cast, Sid Luft
  • Hugh Laurie … Cast, Vincente Minnelli
  • John Benjamin Hickey … Cast, Roger Edens
  • Sonja Smits … Cast, Kay Thompson
  • Jayne Eastwood … Cast, Lottie
  • Daniel Kash … Cast, Arthur Freed
  • Alison Phil … Cast, Young Lorna Luft
  • Aidan Devine … Cast, Frank Gumm
  • Stewart Bick … Cast, Artie Shaw
  • Tammy Blanchard … Cast, Young Judy Garland
  • Al Waxman … Cast, Louis B. Mayer
  • Marsha Mason … Cast, Ethel Gumm
  • Amber Marshall … Cast, Lorna (6 yrs)
  • Mackenzie Weiner … Cast, Lorna (3 yrs)
  • Harrison Kane … Cast, Joe (7-10 yrs)
  • Alex House … Cast, Joe (11-15 yrs)
  • Brittany Payer … Cast, Liza (1 & 2 yrs)
  • Di Iulio, Arielle … Cast, Liza (6-8 yrs)
  • Sarah Moussadji … Cast, Liza (12-15 yrs)
  • Brandi Marie Ward … Cast, Liza (23 yrs)
  • Rob Smith … Cast, David Begelman
  • Christopher Marren … Cast, Freddie Fields
  • Martin Randez … Cast, Herron, Mark
  • Richard Waugh … Cast, Executive #1
  • Steve Cumyn … Cast, Executive #2
  • Hume Baugh … Cast, Mickey Deans
  • Richard M. Davidson … Cast, Jack Warner
  • Angelo Tucci … Cast, Drunk
  • Stefan Brogren … Cast, Oscar Cameraman
  • Philip Williams … Cast, Oscar Soundman
  • Ken Kramer … Cast, Judge
  • Adrian Hough … Cast, Doctor #1
  • Jim Codrington … Cast, Doctor #2
  • Thomas Seniuk … Cast, Pool Boy
  • Derek Keurvorst … Cast, George Cukor
  • Aron Tager … Cast, George Jessel
  • Alan Rosenthal … Cast, Judy's Personal Doctor
  • Allan Murley … Cast, St. Moritz Hotel Manager
  • Tom Melissis … Cast, William Morris Agent
  • Grace Kelly
  • John F. Kennedy