by Kathy O’Connell, XPN, Kids’ Corner Host

CBS-TV’s “Judy Garland Show” was a noble failure of the 1963 -1964 television season. The variety series starred the 41-year-old musical movie legend, and featured guest stars like Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, and Soupy Sales. Unfortunately Garland’s series ran on Sunday nights opposite NBC’s popular “Bonanza”. While critics loved “The Judy Garland Show,” it never found an audience, and was canceled after 26 low-rated (but memorable) episodes. I watched every episode of “The Judy Garland Show,” but only one musical moment lives in infamy. To this day, I can recall Judy and Barbra’s “Happy” medley. On October 6, 1963, Judy’s guest was Barbra Streisand, who had not yet achieved stardom with “Funny Girl.” Streisand’s “Happy” duet with Judy Garland juxtaposed a wistful version of Judy’s “Get Happy” with Barbra’s classic slow rendition of “Happy Days Are Here Again” (from The Barbra Streisand Album). Two brilliant vocalists combined to create something wonderful as their energy fed off each other.

In her liner notes for 1991’s Just for the Records, Streisand remembers:

“Extraordinary talent went into the making of this show. The director was Norman Jewison, the musical director was Mort Lindsey and Mel Torme did special musical material. There’s also a brief appearance by the wonderful Ethel Merman—but most of all there was Judy Garland. Miraculous… soulful… divine… Singing these duets with her was sheer bliss. I was 21-years-old…”