On The Download: Liza Minnelli At The Hollywood Bowl

Liza Minnelli poses backstage during the 63rd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 7, 2009 in New York City Getty ImagesAccess Hollywood

By Jeremy Blacklow

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- Whether or not you are a fan of Liza Minnelli - there's no doubt, this legend still puts on one hell of a show!

CLICK HERE to read Access' new interview (8/30/09) with Liza about Michael Jackson

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Following her 2008 stand on Broadway for "Liza's at The Palace," which itself followed a 75-city international tour, Liza With a "Z" (not an "S" because that goes "Ssss" not "Zzzz") invaded Los Angeles last weekend for a grandiose two-night stand at the Hollywood Bowl, as the city's fires burned behind her.

Liza's been enjoying a resurgence of late - whether appearing on the small screen in this summer's "Drop Dead Diva" on Lifetime or the few-years-cancelled "Arrested Development" or her re-issue of "Liza With a Z" through Showtime - she's as popular as ever, with fans old and new alike.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: The 2009 Tony Awards

Her set at the Bowl started off a bit shaky - in opening number "Take Me Tonight," she seemed unable to hear herself. But by the time she got to fourth number, her touching rendition of Charles Aznavour's "What Makes A Man A Man" (without a hint of irony), she was back in her groove.

The evening continued with a venerable greatest hits line-up of her standards. Interestingly, her choice from "Chicago" was one of the less popular tracks (which was not in the 2002 movie), "My Own Best Friend." Act 1 ended with "Cabaret" - still perfect since her Oscar-winning rendition, more than three decades past.

And then she REALLY dipped into the archives, with standards including "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and "Mammy" - songs older than most people in the audience's grandparents.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: On The Download

But nothing beats a night at the Bowl when Ms. Minelli talks about "Uncle Frank" before dipping into "New York, New York" - a little slice of heaven, even out here on the left coast!

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MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: On The Download - Liza Minnelli - Pop - Arrested Development - Broadway