THIS IS THE LEAD IN FRIDAY'S LIZ SMITH COLUMN (JULY 9TH) IN THE N.Y. POST,
NEWSDAY AND SYNDICATION:
"I WANT THE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT ME TO KNOW I'M TAKING CARE OF MYSELF. I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO PERFORMING AGAIN AND GIVING BACK TO MY FANS AND FRIENDS
THE LOVE THEY HAVE SHOWN ME BY BEING HEALTHY. I FEEL THERE IS NO SHAME IN
TAKING POSITIVE ACTION."
THOSE VALIANT WORDS COME TO US EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE GREAT ENTERTAINER LIZA
MINNELLI. LIZA, ONE OF THE EARTH'S DARLING GIRLS IS AN OFT-TROUBLED ICON, BUT
ONE ALWAYS LOOKING TOWARD A BRIGHTER FUTURE. SHE HAS HAD RELAPSES ALONG THE
WAY. BUT SHE IS DETERMINED TO REGAIN ALL THAT HAS FALLEN AWAY IN RECENT
TIMES. SHE KNOWS THE TABLOIDS ARE ON HER CASE - A PHOTO WAS RECENTLY SNAPPED
OF HER LEAVING A REHAB CLINIC WHERE SHE TOOK "ACTION" BATTLING HER DEMONS.
SHE ALSO KNOWS THE PHOTO WILL SOON APPEAR.
"I JUST SMILED AND WAVED, WHAT ELSE COULD I DO?" SAID LIZA WITH A RUEFUL
LITTLE LAUGH. "I TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT I'M DOING."
LIZA INSISTS SHE "WILL" PRESENT HERSELF ON BROADWAY IN "MINNELLI ON MINNELLI"
NOW SET FOR SPRING OF 2000.
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO SAY ABOUT LIZA MINNELLI: I HAVE KNOWN MANY STARS IN
MANY SITUATIONS OVER MANY YEARS. I HAVE RARELY, PERHAPS NEVER, KNOWN A STAR
AS GENUINELY SWEET AND LOVING AND NEEDY AND DESERVING OF AFFECTION AND
SUPPORT AS LIZA - OR ONE WHO HAS BEEN AS SINCERELY "APPRECIATIVE" OF SUPPORT
AND AFFECTION; A DELICATE FLOWER, VIGOROUS AND VITAL WHEN ATTENTION IS PAID.
SHE IS A GREAT TALENT BURDENED WITH A GREAT ALBATROSS - THE LEGACY OF HER
INCREDIBLE MOTHER, JUDY GARLAND. LIZA HAS ALWAYS PUT A HAPPY FACE ON HER LIFE
WITH JUDY, NEVER ADMITTING TO MUCH TRAUMA. THIS IS CALLED REAL LOVE AND REAL
CLASS. LIZA'S HEALTH WOES - A PAINFUL HIP REPLACEMENT AND AN OPERATION ON HER
THROAT WHICH THREATENED THE FAMOUS VOICE - HAVE ADDED ADDITIONAL PRESSURES.
LIZA, YOU WILL SURVIVE, YOU WILL PREVAIL, YOU WILL TRIUMPH. AND WHEN YOU TAKE
YOUR BOW ON BROADWAY NEXT YEAR, I'LL BE IN THE FRONT ROW, STANDING AND
APPLAUDING..
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