american musical variety television series aired cbs sunday nights television season despite stormy relationship cbs found success television specials featuring star years reluctant commit weekly series saw best chance pull severe financial difficulties production difficulties series beginning series different producers course episodes went number key personnel changes change producers came changes format started comedy variety switched purely concert format popular critics initial variety format star competed fourth popular program television consistently performed poorly ratings fans rallied attempt save cbs cancelled single season guide included series list shows cancelled soon cbs history cbs prior series previously headlined specials network inaugural episode ford star jubilee aired special scale color telecast cbs ratings triumph garnering nielsen rating success led signing year contract network single special aired live episode pact terminated relationship cbs husband manager dissolved agent unable come terms network format special filed million lawsuit cbs libel breach contract cbs filed settled cbs agreed drop claims negotiations began new round specials network specials new relationship aired february entitled special guest starring nominated emmy awards signed deal weekly series december final special titled guests presented march alternately promoted preview pilot upcoming regular series special nominated emmy production year contract series called weekly shows corporation paid episode guaranteed retain ownership tapes allowing sell series syndication said early weekly television series early 1960s financially situation thousand dollars debt having failed pay taxes commercial disappointment film star born meant share profits film eaten immediately successful run television secure financial future episodes episodes initially slated taped new_york_city network initially offered producer job time producing series interested declined relocate west_coast credits included shows approached similarly refused relocate veteran producer director heading sing approached produce direct program based east accepted unbeknownst lobbying west_coast producer job signed produce ultimately producer slot producer retained direct producer question settled set assembling crew series hired conduct orchestra designed earlier martin special signed art director engaged design costumes knew work hired costume guests brought musical arranger write special musical material appear guest program choreography duties taken engaged series regular addition musical performances week guest stars series initial format included recurring segments born trunk taken number star born tell stories business career sing related song tea feature surprise guest van perform comedy sketches guests close episode singing song maybe come obscure novelty song selected cbs objections network wanted bars rainbow included line president cousin running gag substitute different week initially planned east_coast shoot taped studio los_angeles network gone great expense prepare studio including estimated raise stage install separate revolving stage dressing room trailer decorated replica newly purchased home corridor led dressing room stage painted resemble yellow brick road wizard taping commenced june old friend frequent mgm star insistence guest network elected air series production order actually tenth episode broadcast episodes episodes august weeks taping completed shows fired producer president cbs production suspended weeks according book rainbow fired fired writing staff choreographer replacing executive producer shared vision series closer vision glamorous television needed series present conventional light veteran musical variety writers brought agreed serve producer thirteenth episode implemented changes designed sacred cow sacred including jokes issues weight reputation career highs lows introduced new recurring feature guest writing tailored material week guest perform near premiered september run producer episode chosen premiere second completed episode seventh produced episode overall reviews generally favorable supporting role heavily criticized let cast tenth produced episode left episode thirteen intended bill episodes episodes joined selection executive producer revamped format away insulting humor focusing singing comedy elements initial episodes guests briefly featured regular showing home movies hollywood stars dropped episodes ratings continued poor cbs announced cancellation january officially reported exited series explained letter released cbs supposedly advising wanted spend time caring children despite announced cancellation allowed finish season continued tape episodes broadcast final seven episodes taped cancellation notice sustaining comedy variety element simply presented concert solo entire episode musical guests final episodes following specifically fired replaced musician met recently new_york later file suit breach contract write tell book series rainbow dawn patrol air episode aired september featuring guest star seventh taped episodes continue shown sequence series run scored rating reviews largely positive variety wrote mind work week dedication zeal characterized premiere week associates fine san_francisco_chronicle characterized elegant exciting review glowing noting miss fine fine rest needs help negative reviews similar vein focusing particular format writing general cbs publicly responded critiques issuing statement talent chief decided appear sketches play character singing songs standards songs babies told think listening far insecure television exercise judgment knows good scenes network continued addition replacement key production staff constantly format summoned new_york receive bits information touching guests instructed stop van let immediately reviews came taping october numerous episodes featuring van completed taping continue air meaning changes format apparent viewers weeks accordingly reviews format opposed singing continued negative humor continued attract criticism viewers saturday reviewer wrote absurd notion reputation legendary figure imitation variety shows disaster hurts audience rating polls averaging rating half audience represented rating departure producer exit lauded contemporary reviewer idea came late focus changed emphasize performances singly guests format including concert solo episodes remain intact remainder series despite continuing positive critical comment performances ratings remained flat fans formed save committee organized early letter writing campaign behalf series efforts spare cancellation final concert episode broadcast march episode list
The Judy Garland Show