Liza Minnelli was originally signed to do the Pine Brothers Softish Throat Drops ad that aired during the Golden Globes featuring Martha Stewart — but she canceled on the day of the shoot after dishing out an astonishing list of diva demands and suffering an apparent “nervous breakdown.”
We’re exclusively told “Cabaret” legend Minnelli had insisted on a rider which included two cartons of cigarettes, a humidifier “because she can’t breathe,” six cases of Bai antioxidant drink, black Egyptian cotton towels, a body scale, a food scale, no Styrofoam plates (silver trays only), a $400 coffee service and full hair and makeup.
But on the day of the shoot last September, after the team led by “SNL” alum Fred Wolf had set up in the Lyndon Johnson Suite at the Waldorf Towers, Minnelli refused to leave her house.
A source tells us, “Producers begged Liza to leave her apartment, which was only a few blocks away, and come to the shoot. She refused, saying this was ‘too much pressure.’ ”
Rider McDowell — who owns Pine Brothers with his wife — called Stewart, who, we’re told, was there within an hour and shot the ad “like a real pro. She was done in makeup within 10 minutes, and filmed the ad in 30. She probably earned $1 million in 40 minutes,” our source confirmed.
The soft-focus ad drew attention during the Golden Globes, broadcast on NBC on Sunday. McDowell then explained to Business Insider, “We reached out to Martha . . . after our first actress had a nervous breakdown the morning of the shoot” — but he declined to name the actress.
Pine Brothers rep Dave Roach told us Tuesday night, “We prefer not to comment and remain big fans of Ms. Minnelli.” Liza’s rep Scott Gorenstein countered, “While Liza had some initial conversations . . . they couldn’t agree on a script. So it didn’t get past that stage and all decided to part ways. Therefore [this] is a bit harsh. And untrue . . . While she may be showbiz royalty, she’s surprisingly easy. The most we ever ask to have on hand is a Coca-Cola. And if we’re being especially demanding, then some red Gatorade, too.”