Barbra Streisand on TV: The Tonight Show, Dec. 31, 1993

Hosted by Jay Leno

For those who were not able to fly to Las Vegas for Barbra's historic return to the concert stage on Dec. 31, 1993 and Jan. 1, 1994, Jay Leno and the Tonight Show did Streisand fans an enormous favor: they produced some very funny segments with Richard Simmons outside the MGM Grand ... and they showed a brief but amazing clip of Barbra singing "As If We Never Said Goodbye", which, unfortunately got cut short before the climax.

First there was Richard Simmons, a professed Streisand fanatic. Jay Leno cut to a live feed of Simmons several times during the Tonight Show's New Year's Eve broadcast.

Richard did several bits: He led the fans in a chorus of "People"; He had fans hold up the Streisand merchandise and tell Jay how much the champagne, boxers, and stamps cost; he watched as a couple was married on live TV.

Next he gave two tickets to the Jan. 1st concert to a very grateful woman and her daughter.

The schtick was very funny and a great buildup to the live performance clip that was promised. Finally, Jay Leno cut back to Richard Simmons, who was obviously excited (and wishing he was inside the concert hall!). "Do you have the clip ready now?" he nervously asked? "Here it is!"

The television picture switched to the inside of the MGM Grand concert hall. Barbra was receiving a standing ovation.

Then ... the moment that we'd all been waiting for happened. The orchestra cued and Barbra quieted the audience: "I don't know why I'm frightened ..."

The Tonight Show, unfortunately, cut Barbra's performance short. She did not get to the "I've come home at last" climax. They cut back to Richard Simmons, who was pretending to be crying. He ran into the ladies bathroom, and the Streisand segment of the show was over.

For fans who had never seen Barbra live and stayed home to watch the Tonight Show on Dec. 31, 1993, their patience was rewarded: it was a show (and a New Year's Eve) to remember!

copyright © 2003-2007 Matt Howe