Lunch Break Video: When Liza Minnelli gets genuinely surprised by Chita Rivera on Dinah Shore’s show

I’m guessing this was the late 70s or so. Liza Minnelli is a guest on Dinah! with John Kander and Fred Ebb. They are performing Nowadays from Chicago (Liza had filled in for a time for Gwen Verdon as Roxie in the original Broadway production) when the original Velma, the great Chita Rivera, surprises them by suddenly appearing onstage for the end of the number. Liza’s reaction is preiceless.

I love old showbiz moments like this – especially when they involve two of my favorite performers. The two multi Tony winners (pictured here many years later) went on to co-star together in the Broadway production of The Rink.