. >> reporter: the story got the attention of legendary composer steven schwartz.ur babies, but do you have a favorite number? >> i do, but i'm not going to say what it is. ♪ popular, you're gonna be popular ♪ >> reporter: but schwartz did like this song, "popular," and he knew he wanted actress kristin chenoweth to sing it. >> steven schwartz says, i've got this song. just come for the meeting. it is with you in mind. i can't hear anybody else. i walked in and sang "pob popu"popular" for the first time, and i'm, like, i'm in. >> reporter: chenoweth went on to become the good witch, glinda. and the title role of the wicked witch went to broadway veteran idina menzel, who says at first she was a bit shaky. >> i was afraid i was going to get fired. they were rewriting things all of the time, and i wasn't good at cold readings. i was like a mad little student and ripping out pages, and kristin was so beautiful and her first take on everything was so funny and so right. and i was just the opposite. i just felt like a big mess. ♪ because of the wizard and me ♪ >> report

lin-manuel miranda, the "hamilton" impresario, julie taymor, director of "the lion king," and steven schwartzs back to see glenda say -- >> it's good to see me, isn't it? >> and then, you know, at our show, i think it's going to be so electric. these actors have been waiting for their last collaborator, and the last collaborator is you. >> i'm excited for all the people in the audience who have never seen theater. i say people, because they might be little but they're people. i've invited some. i'm really thrilled for that new audience. >> i'm just incredibly moved about this opportunity to do what we loved and maybe took a little bit for granted until it was taken away from us. and to have it back is unbelievably meaningful. >> why is this important for us to get back on broadway? >> it's very important that we come back in here to show perseverance. theater is -- it's an escape route from just the outside world, period. people need to get back into laughing and feeling that joy. getting back to life. as we knew it. ♪ ♪ it's a circle a circle of life ♪ >> reporter: and once again, a reminder

the natural chemistry from steven martin and martin schwartz is still out.s martin, he is just funny every time he opens his mouth. they compliment each other. the sort of unexpected casting of selena gomez of this -- it's a great show. >> wonderful, too. >> i want to turn to some charts. i got steve sitting here with me. eugene robinson, "stop focusing on the negatives." let's start with eugene, the president's approval ratings have taken a dive the last couple of months. why do you think we have to focus on the negatives? >> my point is this is an administration that swings for defenses and they try and often accomplishes big things. the huge rescue plan bill that they got through which was $1.9 trillion. the administration have talked for three administrations now going from afghanistan. the biden team did. they now, you know, it was ugly and messy but they got it done. the massive flood of covid-19 vaccines that they have managed to do. the shift in american foreign policies, again for several administrations, we talked about a tilt towards the endo-paci