Liza Minnelli To Guest Star on NBC's Smash

Theater legend Liza Minnelli (daughter of yet another theater legend, Judy Garland) is scheduled to play herself in an episode of NBC's soapy Broadway-themed television drama Smash, which returns to TV for its second season this coming February. It is anticipated that the Tony Award-winning Ms. Minnelli (Cabaret, The Act, Flora, the Red Menace) will be singing a new song by Smash's resident songwriters, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray). She will have a duet with fellow Tony-winner, actor Christian Borle (recently of Broadway's Peter and the Starcatcher), who co-stars on Smash as Broadway composer Tom Levitt. The name of the Smash episode that Liza Minnelli will appear in is called "The Surprise Party". Of her guest appearance, NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt said, "Liza Minnelli is the essence of a multi-talented, singular show business sensation, particularly for her extraordinary contributions to Broadway. So what could be more fitting than to have her legendary talent on a show that celebrates a world Liza has dazzled for decades?"