It doesn't get better than this...
These two early episodes of Judy Garland's weekly T.V. series show her at her absolute zenith....looking slim, glamorous, and gorgeous, and singing like no one else could ever come close to! Her versions of Old Man River, As Long As He Needs Me, Come Rain or Come Shine, and When The Sun Comes Out are so emotionally charged and soulful and show her unmatched ability to rip her heart out for her audiences. Mickey Rooney is also very enjoyable, and very affectionate with his old MGM pal. Hearing them ad-lib to old photographs of themselves when they were teenagers is simply charming and full of wit. Liza is also fun to watch in this very early stage of her career, as she is so energetic and full of spunk! These television shows are simply classic, and if some of the intervening segments lag (like the scenes with Jerry Van Dyke), they don't override the greatness and brilliance of the musical numbers.