20/20 Barbara Walters Interview 2000

Streisand / Television

20/20 (2000)

Aired: November 3, 2000 on ABC

“Barbra Streisand: A High Note”

Producer: Alan B. Goldberg

Editor: Joe Schanzer

Barbara Walters and Barbra Streisand pose next to each other in 2000.
The text on this page originally appeared in 2000 on “The Barbra Streisand Music Guide” website and was written by Mark Iskowitz. Thanks to Mark, it is reproduced here ...

Barbra Streisand invited veteran ABC journalist Barbara Walters to her Central Park West triplex for their sixth interview in 25 years. They first talked on NBC's Today in February 1975. Since then, Walters has held interviews with Barbra exclusively for ABC in 1976, 1985, 1993, and 1997. On November 3, 2000, with the general election just a few days away, politics was Barbra's major concern but Walters also wanted to discuss why Barbra had ended her public concert career in September and other topics.

The 15-minute 20/20 feature, A High Note, began with high praise from Walters, who said Barbra is considered by many as the greatest entertainer in the world today. Launching into rarely seen "Something's Coming" footage from Barbra's September 27, 2000 show at Madison Square Garden, Walters asked Streisand why she was so adamant about no longer performing in concert. Of course, Barbra answered honestly, echoing sentiments she has previously expressed about live performing being tough work, uncomfortable (she loathes high heels), and causing worry about her appearance and voice (which she's never pampered). "I like the idea that I could go out on top," Streisand said, implying that it's wiser to quit while she can still deliver the goods. Of course, her audience has always had high expectations, but she told Walters that she has felt good enough about her performance quality of late. An admitted Streisand music fan, Walters wondered, "Don't you think you're great?" Barbra humbly replied, "I don't know if I'm great; I'm very good." Nevertheless, she assured Walters that her concert days were really over, despite what cynics may say — "Why should I do something I don't enjoy doing at this stage in my life?"

Wisely, Walters gave us an overview of Barbra's future plans, which clearly do not include retirement from being an artist and entertainer. "I like recording. It's very private. I love singing with an orchestra," Streisand answered when Walters inquired about future albums. In addition to acting, directing, and producing films, Barbra confirmed that an upcoming Barbra's Boutique will present a self-designed clothing line.

As in many of Barbra's recent interviews, her fatherless childhood was explored a bit, Streisand describing it as a "complete void" whose shoes no one can ever fill. They briefly discussed the three-page poem on the power of love, which Barbra's father sent to his girlfriend years before marrying Barbra's mother and which plays a major inspirational role in Barbra's Timeless concert. Streisand's memorable and frightening 1979 experience with a New York psychic was also recounted. She believes that her father communicated with her, spelling out his name on a Oujia board presumably — "Manny," followed by "Sorry" and then "Sing" and "Proud."
Scenes from Barbara Walters 2000 interview with Barbra Streisand.
Considering the absence of her father, which clearly still affects her deeply, Streisand said she's "doing well with what I have," which Walters segued into a discussion of Barbra's marriage to James Brolin. Pleased she didn't have to ask again about wedding plans and that Barbra wasn't overly concerned about the furniture and lighting for their interview, Walters inquired as to whether Jim has changed Barbra for the better. "I think I'm probably still controlling," Barbra candidly admitted (but that's not always a negative if her control is positive and productive). In a blissful marriage at age 58, Barbra said, "It's easier to live in your own skin" and believes that "opposites do attract." Perhaps the couple will join for a movie. "We read scripts that are sent to us for the two of us to star in together." As for name billing, Streisand humorously clarifies, "Me first, are you kidding?"

Certainly the reason this interview aired the weekend before Election Day was that Barbra wanted an opportunity to express her pro-Gore message. But, first, Streisand had to get through Walters probing questions regarding President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Admitting that Clinton is a friend and that they actually discuss policy and legislation because she has "very strong opinions," Barbra was visibly uncomfortable with some of Walters' questions. She was correct in not divulging details of issues with which she had expressed disagreement to the President. Barbra did state that Congress's impeachment of the president and the entire investigation into his private life was "overrated and ridiculous" and that she would have stood strongly behind him if he were her husband. Clinton has been a "wonderful president," according to Streisand.

Why should people listen to Barbra Streisand on politics, Walters asked. Barbra reminded her that she's "an American citizen, a person, a human being. Then I'm an actress, director, composer, and so forth. ...I feel injustice very deeply...I've always been for the person less fortunate." This is why she supports Al Gore for president and Joe Lieberman for vice president, as their Democratic Party is in sync with her political and social beliefs. Most of Barbra's pro-Gore comments were provided in clips from her August 17 Nomination Celebration Concert speech in L.A. or paraphrased by Walters ("He represents her political and personal agenda") who inserted a video clip of George W. Bush replying to concerns about his possible Supreme Court appointments. For an election so important to this country, Walters chose to compress what Barbra had to say rather tightly, following it quickly with a quick chat about Streisand's stock market success. Barbra phoned in to C-SPAN's call-in program the following Sunday afternoon to explain that ABC wouldn't permit more of her speech (perhaps due to equal time concerns) but hoped that Rosie O'Donnell would show it in its entirety on her November 6 program. (She did).

To conclude the interview feature, ABC showed a brief "People" montage, Streisand singing the song's beginning in 1967, 1994, and 2000. Her final statement of the evening was a reply to Walters' question about the current meaning of the song for Barbra: "With the complex world we live in, the need we have for each other. People who need people are the luckiest people in the world, and the sooner we find that out, the better off the planet will be."

The interview ended on a light note of humor between the two women, Barbra asking Barbara when she would be getting married. ABC packed plenty of historic Streisand photos and performance video footage into the 15 minutes, usually paired with Walters' narration. Walters looked forward to more interviews with Streisand.

[Note: This would be Walters' last interview with Streisand.]

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End / 20/20 Barbara Walters Interview 2000
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