Note:
This story was originally posted at The Barbra Streisand Music Guide website on November 24, 1999. It is reprinted here with the permission of its author, Mark Iskowitz.
After first guesting on
The Rosie O'Donnell Show in New York's Rockefeller Center on November 19, 1997 (
the show aired Nov. 21 ), Barbra Streisand reunited with Rosie O'Donnell in a special program called "The Barbra Interview" on November 16, 1999. The delightful, relaxed, and inspired hour was recorded on October 29 at Barbra and James Brolin's Malibu, California home. On Nov. 15 Rosie aired an entertaining video diary chronicling her extensive preparations in L.A. The night before visiting Barbra, a bundle of nervous energy, O'Donnell stayed up till five in the morning with a close friend, sharing "Barbra memories" and a film or two. Following only 4-5 hours of sleep, Rosie had her hair and make-up done while listening to Barbra's
A Love Like Ours for the umpteenth pleasurable time. Her morning and afternoon featured some funny experiences, as she elicited warm reactions and encouragement from total strangers whom she informed about her impending visit with Streisand.
Arriving at Barbra's house an hour early, Rosie ventured around, noting its cozy and personal interior design. James Brolin was in San Diego with his TV series, and Barbra was first heard on a speaker phone. Rosie admitted experiencing deja vu, having often imagined making this visit. She photographed herself sitting in the bathroom and in Barbra's beautiful and unusual garden, especially noting the Barbra Streisand Roses. She took home a rose for freeze-drying and a couple of paper hand towels (with B monogram) from the bathroom. Rosie says she actually edited the segments for the shows, because it was so important to her. Outside, she also found some neat crafts, including a homemade scarecrow and wooden ducklings. Despite being allergic, Rosie held a calico cat named Halloween simply because it was Barbra's. Inside, she photographed some warm, personal touches, including an antique croquet set sitting next to an old metal milk can. She even photographed herself wide-eyed and joyous when advised that Barbra was ready to begin the interview. Rosie auctioned six autographed photographs on eBay to benefit The For All Kids Foundation.
Wrapped in a burgundy ensemble, including a sleeveless top (a familiar and flattering look for Barbra those days), Barbra Streisand reunited with one of her biggest fans, Rosie O'Donnell, certainly her biggest celebrity fan. In fact, "fans" came up often during a wonderfully casual conversation in which Rosie epitomized the curiosity and enthusiasm of countless devoted Streisand admirers who have, at least once, imagined themselves chatting with Barbra in her home. At the outset, while extremely welcoming and comforting to Rosie, Streisand said she still could not understand why so many people have such lifelong admiration for her, Rosie notwithstanding. Later during the conversation, on a similar topic, she said, “I'm not some goddess, I'm a human being,” again underscoring the difference between her own view of herself and that of the average person, especially the hardcore fan. Nothing wrong with that. And the fact that she views herself not first as a star entrenched in the Hollywood lifestyle but instead as a wife and mother makes this refreshing glimpse, from a true fan's perspective, into her private life at home and into her artistic projects all the more unique and memorable.
Not only was Barbra Streisand a wife and mother but she was still a daughter to mother Diana Streisand Kind, then in her 80s and coping with Alzheimer's.
Barbra: I went to visit my mother yesterday, and my mother has Alzheimer’s Disease, and I was trying to explain to her some of what I’m going to do in my concert, some of it has to do with me as a young girl and the first time I ever made a record. My mother took me there because she wanted to make a record. My mother had-has-a beautiful voice, an opera kind of voice. And so sitting around the table I said, “Ma do you remember the day?” — and by the way, do you believe in numbers, or certain kind of power in numbers?
Rosie: Yes.
Barbra: I was reminded recently that the day that I made this first record when I was a young girl, it was December 29, 1955. My son was born December 29, 1966. It’s an interesting date about the birth of something, and then the birth of my son, which was a magic, miraculous moment for me. My mother doesn’t remember that much, although she does remember me still, which is great. But I said, “Ma, do you remember the song you sang on this record?” And you know we’re talking forty years ago, more than that. And I said it was called “One Kiss” and she started to hum it note for note. And so I sang with her at the kitchen table. And it was just a wonderful moment for me and my mom.
