Liza Minnelli Had Breakdown Over Throat Drops Ad

If you watched the Golden Globes, you may have noticed Martha Stewart shilling for Pine Brothers Softish Throat Drops in a rare ad appearance. But Liza Minnelli was originally intended to star in the commercial, according to a crazy New York Post story that claims Minnelli initially insisted on a number of bizarre demands, then dropped out of the ad entirely on the day of the shoot. Among her demands: two cartons of cigarettes, six cases of an antioxidant drink, two scales (one for her, one for her food), and a humidifier. But on the day she was supposed to film the ad, sources say, she refused to leave her apartment because there was "too much pressure."

That's when the owner of Pine Brothers called Stewart, who hoofed it over and "probably earned $1 million in 40 minutes" of work, the source says. The owner confirms part of that to Business Insider: "We reached out to Martha ... after our first actress had a nervous breakdown the morning of the shoot," he says, while not giving Minnelli's name. But Minnelli's rep insists that she only had "initial conversations" about doing the ad, but "they couldn't agree on a script. So it didn't get past that stage and all decided to part ways." He calls the Post story "harsh" and insists Minnelli only ever demands Coca-Cola ... and sometimes red Gatorade. (More Liza Minnelli stories.)