Barbra Streisand on TV: The Barbara Walters Interviews
Today Show, February 21-22, 1975; NBC
The Barbara Walters Special, December 14, 1976; ABC
The Barbara Walters Special, September 13, 1985; ABC
20/20, November 19, 1993; ABC
20/20, November 14, 1997; ABC
20/20, November 3, 2000; ABC
Barbara Walters has been interviewing Barbra Streisand for over 30 years.
Today Show, February 21-22, 1975; NBC
Their first interview was on the Today Show in 1975. In a two-part interview, Barbara asked Barbra about Jon Peters, "Rainbow Road" (aka "A Star Is Born"), and about her life in Hollywood.
The Barbara Walters Special, December 14, 1976; ABC
Next, in 1976 Walters invited Streisand (and Jon Peters) to be a guest on her first prime time television special. President Elect Jimmy Carter was her other guest. In a fascinating interview, television viewers saw the Malibu ranch that Jon and Barbra called home. The interview started with Jon addressing the rumors that he was manipulating Barbra. Jon, well spoken and charming, won over Barbara Walters. Next, Streisand and Peters sat down for a chat about "A Star Is Born" and topics like celebrity, women's rights, and whether they'd get married.
In 1996 (20 years after this interview aired), Walters reminisced about the interview. She said, "In December of 1976 the reclusive Barbra Streisand opened her home and her life to me for our first special. True, she was and still is one of our greatest stars, but I payed a high price. I so wanted Barbra Streisand as a guest on my first special that I did something I've never done before or since. I let her see the tape the same night we did the interview. As everyone knows, Barbra is a perfectionist. She wanted to change almost every line up until the program aired. I never gave anyone else control again. Barbra and I went on to do two more interviews, but this was the first."
The Barbara Walters Special, September 13, 1985; ABC
Streisand appeared on the Barbara Walters Special in 1985 to discuss The Broadway Album. Walters showed documentary footage of Barbra in the recording studio, giving fans a birds eye view of their idol at work! Barbra discussed her tinitus and made an uncomfortable face when Walters pushed the envelope by bringing up her relationship with Jon Peters, which by then had ended.
20/20, November 19, 1993; ABC
Barbra's auction of her antiques and her pending New Year's Eve concert at the MGM Grand gave her another opportunity to get together with Barbara Walters in 1993. The interview is most notable for Barbra getting prickly when Walters asks her if she'll ever get married again.
20/20, November 14, 1997; ABC
So in 1997, while engaged to James Brolin, Barbra and Barbara got together again for an interview which plugged Barbra's new album, Higher Ground. The interview, shown on ABC's 20/20, featured rare footage from Barbra's 1993 New Year's Eve concert at the MGM Grand. Jim and Barbra, shown in their new home walking through the garden, were charming, yet coy about the marriage date.
20/20, November 3, 2000; ABC
Barbra's TIMELESS concerts and the upcoming election were discussed as the two B's sat down in 2000 on ABC's 20/20 again. Footage of Barbra singing for Al Gore ("What's it all about, Albert?") was shown. Also, Walters showed footage of Barbra singing "Something's Coming" at her last concert in New York. This time, Streisand turned the tables on Walters: "So Barbara, when're you gonna get married?" See the video (REAL Player required) >>
Barbra Streisand honored Barbara Walters on the May 19th, 2000 Daytime Emmy Awards in a pre-recorded video. Of Barbara Walters, Streisand said: "What a lifetime, and what a special body of achievement. I take pride that I was half of your very first show and that I was in such good company. Remember? President-Elect and Mrs. Carter? I can actually trace my life in the five interviews I've had of you. In fact, I was so tired of you badgering me about when and if I'd get married again, I did it. Now, what about you? Love, and congratulations."
Screen captures on this page courtesy of Mark Boyce.
copyright © 2003-2008 Matt Howe
