This page continues The Irreverent Guide to Barbra Streisand tradition of recounting recent news items. Items reported on this page reached the IG news desk during 2001.
For archived news, click here for 2000 News OR click here for 1999.
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As we all know, Disney has done everything to repackage, rehype and re-release Snow White on DVD. Included in this effort were a new song by Babs, and a preorder scheme negotiated by Disney and Best Buy. Customers were expected to place the preorder by purchasing a $5 CD-ROM in advance of the Snow White DVD release. The $5 would later be deducted from the purchase of the DVD.
As instructed in the material provided in the $5 CD ROM, customers were expected to take the $5 certificate (included in the CD-ROM) along with the Snow White DVD to "any register" in order to buy the DVD. Well, yesterday, many customers found out the hard way that Best Buy registers were NOT prepared to handle this. Customer after customer were referred to the Customer Service line (you know, the line where everybody who has to return items, complain, and resolve indescribable problems has to go to.) Like most of us know, the average wait time in a Best Buy Customer Service line ranges anywhere from "way too long" to "all day".
In my case, it took 30 minutes to purchase Snow White. I arrived 15 minutes before closing and left 15 minutes after the store closed. Like the rest, I was referred to customer service. After the wait, I asked for an explanation. The Customer Service Rep had the nerve to say people didn't know the preorder was an exchange and had to be brought to customer service. At that point, I grabbed the certificate and made him read it. You know, the part where it said to go to "any register". At that point, Best Buy's Customer Service Rep stated that the person who had put the preorder concept together obviously didn't know what they were doing. I further noted that I would never buy another Best Buy preorder. The Customer Service Rep replied, "I understand. I wouldn't either."
Sony will release The Owl and the Pussycat on November 27, 2001. This is the first of a series of Streisand movies with a hooker motif. As always with Streisand, her early efforts were her best. So, if you like Babs as a hooker, this is the movie for you. This movie was critically and commercially a success back in 1970, when originally released.
Sony will release Funny Girl on October 23, 2001. The DVD will include the widescreen presentation and will be remixed on Dolby Digital 5.0. Other potentially interesting features will include "Barbra in Movieland" & "This Is Streisand". At this time, it is unknown exactly what these "featurettes" will contain. For those who like this movie, I suggest you preorder, since it is unlikely the major chains will carry it. Also, getting it through the mail will avoid the embarrassment of going to the cashier with this bright pink cover (one fan called it "Pepto-Bismol Pink"). Also, please note that this DVD will have the "1" encoding (for US or Canadian DVD players). Sorry.
Timeless in video format reached platinum, which means it reached a distribution level of 100,000 copies.
Despite the poor record sales of the CD and low ratings of the TV special, Timeless in video format has managed to reach a distribution level of 50,000 copies, resulting in a gold certification for music videos (long format).
As announced, For Pete's Sake was released on Tuesday April 2, 2001, the day after April Fool's Day. For the IGBS review and photos, click here.
Perhaps not all is lost. The following is Timeless VHS performance on the Video Sales Chart as reported by Billboard. The Video Sales Chart encompasses all videos, not only music videos (see next news item for Music Video Chart). As of yet, Timeless has not entered the DVD sales chart.
For the week ending 3/24/01, Bittersweet Motel (by Phish) knocked Timeless out of the #1 spot on the little known Billboard Music Videos Chart. Timeless ended up at No. 3. As of April 7, Timeless is at #10.
Earlier, for the week ending 3/10/01, Timeless debuted at number 1 on the obscure Music Videos Chart. A special chart on Billboard, it is only occasionally printed.
The following summarizes Timeless' Perfomance on the Music Video Chart (as reported by Billboard):
As expected, the Timeless DVD was released one week after FOX aired an abridged version of the special. As noted, the TV special became the butt of jokes as its poor ratings marked a low for FOX during this key month. So, don't expect the DVD to light any fireworks on the sales charts. For that matter, the only fireworks we'll get out of this one are the ones in the special itself (she had fireworks at midnight.) Click here for the IGBS Review of the Timeless Special on DVD. A photo of the fireworks can be found in this review. (2/18/01)
Another source has confirmed that the Timeless DVD will be released on 2/20 and not February 6, 2001, a week AFTER the Timeless special is aired. Click here for the IGBS Review of the Timeless Special on DVD. (2/18/01)
One reliable source is listing the Timeless DVD for sale. The expected release date is February 6, 2001, a week before the Timeless special is aired. According to the source, the "concert" to be presented will be put together from recordings of her 12/31/99 and 1/1/00 MGM concerts.
Why is it that all the news that comes my way, as trivial as it may be, always surprises me. Take this for example. One reliable source has announced that the DVD of For Pete's Sake will be released on April 3, 2001. Of the 14 Streisand films that have not been released on DVD, did they have to choose Pete, which is widely regarded as one of the singer's worst movies?
Don't they think fans would have preferred What's Up Doc?, The Owl and the Pussycat, or perhaps even ... Funny Girl?
Despite a much publicized appearance on the Emmys (which was seen by 17 million people), Christmas Memories began its decline on Billboard. Spending its second week at 38, it appears that Columbia's valiant efforts to promote Christmas Memories, which include paid ads, TV spots, Target Bonus CD, etc., are failing.
In its third week, the CD moved to its highest position yet, although it still fails to break the Top 20. In its fourth week, it again begans to drop. Currently, CM is the third highest Christmas Album, although the first two are performing far better. Now That's What I Call Christmas by Various Artists has smashed into the highly competitive Top 10 (it's at number 5 with a bullet); while Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas Extraordinaire has reached 15 and is spending a second week in the Top 20.
Week 5: Despite the strong surge in Christmas CD sales, Barbra only places 22. Meanwhile, Mannheim barges into the Top 10 and becomes "greatest gainer" for the week.
Week 6: In a Christmas Frenzy, the American public begans buying anything "Christmas". Virtually all Christmas CD's show a major gain, including CM, which posts a dignified 15, with 136,000 units sold.
Week 7: CM shows a major drop off to number 24. Meanwhile, Manheim Steamroller's Christmas Extraordinaire becomes a challenger for the "Christmas CD of 2001", by holding on to its No. 5 spot, posting a strong sales gain, and passing up Now That's What I Call Christmas.
Week 8: Christmas is over. CM drops to 41 (it's lowest chart position to date. CM is now officially the first Streisand studio CD that does not hit the Top 10 since Emotion in 1984. Although CM reaches platinum (a mystery to me with this lackluster chart performance), it is clearly not the Christmas CD of the season. Christmas Extraordinaire and Now That's What I Call Christmas are certified double and quadruple platinum, respectively.
Week 9: CM drops to 97 and is headed out of the Top 100. To summarize: 0 weeks in the top 10, 1 week in the Top 20, 7 weeks in the Top 40, and 9 weeks in the Top 100.
The following summarizes the CM's performance:
In her lowest studio album debut in the Soundscan era, Barbra's Christmas Memories enters the Billboard 200 at 32. That's 15 places behind Christmas Extraordinaire by Mannheim Steamroller. Top honors went to Michael Jackson, who sold 366,000 copies of Invincible. In addition to Michael and Mannheim, six other acts/recordings debuted higher than Barbra: Enrique Iglesias, Backstreet Boys, Lenny Kravitz, Jermaine Dupri, What's Going On (EP)/All Star Tribute, and Three 6 Mafia & Hypnotize Minds Presents: Choices -- The Album (by Various Artists).
Our very own Grinch has tried again to steal Christmas. Today, she has released her very own Christmas Memories CD. Doubling her efforts with Target (the low-class bargain store), she has released a special edition Christmas Memories with a special single of God Bless America. Please note that the sales of this special edition CD don't seem to be generating any proceeds to any charitable cause. What did you expect from the Grinch? For the IGBS review, click here.
Barbra has always been proud to be Jewish. Now, how that explains why she has recorded another Christmas Album (completed the second week of September) is a mystery to me. The CD, entitled Christmas Memories (CM), is expected in stores on October 30 (Halloween Eve). Barbra recorded her first Christmas Album in the 1960's claiming it was a contractual obligation (so much for artistic freedom). However, unconfirmed sources are still claiming that this cd is not a contractual obligation nor something Sony wants to release. They further claim this cd is Barbra's response to Sony's demands for more commercial material, in light of recent failures.
Less than three weeks after Barbra recorded this tune on March 19, it has been leaked. Even yours truly has anonymously received a copy. I've heard it five times and without a doubt its Babs. For those who had not heard, Barbra recorded this song for the upcoming fall release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on DVD. For the IGBS review, Someday My Voice Will Come, and samples, click here.
Babs. Yup, Barbra's voice is joining forces with a classic as old as Barbra herself: SNOW WHITE and the Seven Dwarfs. As reported by Army Archerd, Babs is recording "Someday My Prince Will Come" to be included on the DVD release of Snow White. It is unclear at this time if Babs' rendition will be included in the actual movie (Heaven Forbid!), over the credits or as a music video. Disney, if you can hear me, Disney, if you can see me... _please_ do not alter this classic. If it must be included, _please_ do a video as a bonus feature.
Finally, a 3-month old rumor hits the printed gossip news. In this case, it's been reported that Jewish Streisand will record a second Christmas cd. In the printed version, the "why" is missing. Off the record, it's been speculated that "The Second Christmas Album" is Barbra's response to Columbia's demands that she release a marketable/commercial cd. As we all know, Barbra's last two releases (Timeless, A Love Like Ours) sold poorly. In fact, the sales have been so poor, that it's been further speculated the sales did not cover the cash advances given to Streisand by Columbia for these 2 cds. And Barbra, feeling this pressure, is pushing a second Christmas cd on the grounds that The Christmas Album, her first, has sold over 5 million copies since its release in 1967.
Joni Mitchell won the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal, dashing Streisand's hopes for a new Grammy.
As follows: 21-27-52-63-69-90-101-102-121-150-128-129-132-136-174 (Latter data from Billboard Chart dated 1/13/01). Note: After this unusually short 15 week run, Timeless fell off the chart. For the weeks ending March 3, following the much-hyped but low-rated TV special, Timeless re-entered the chart at a very disappointing 130. As of March 10, it's at 132. The following summarizes the CD's lackluster performance:
What's new? Ever since they created a special category for the out-of-date musicians (ie, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance), Barbra has frequently been getting nominations. This year, nominees for this category are:
One source has reported that the chorus of Britney Spears' super-hit Oops I did it again is ripped-off from Barbra's Woman in Love. Neither star has commented on this nor has any lawsuit been filed.
The few remaining Barbra fans had a major treat this year: Columbia restored and released Funny Girl to a few select theatres. Included in this run was DC's most "technical-logically" equipped theatre, the Uptown. I attended the show on Saturday, September 15, four days after the World Trade Center/Pentagon Tragedy.
A group of us planned to attend, but given the Tragedy, I wasn't sure I wanted to go into DC during the weekend (I work in DC and it was bad enough having to go on weekdays). However, one of the group called the Uptown and asked if the Funny Girl film had arrived safe and sound (no, he did not ask the Uptown staff if THEY were ok). Turns out, the tapes were ok, so he booked us.
If you are a fan of Funny Girl, you should catch it if you can. The restoration is almost perfect. The one drawback is that it is so perfect you can hear how poorly recorded the sound was in many of the vocals. Still, Roller Skate Rag/I'd Rather Be Blue Thinking of You are a treat no matter how they sound. These are the two numbers that made Barbra a movie star. Not to mention the movie also features I'm the Greatest Star and the show-stopping Don't Rain on My Parade. These numbers turn Act 1 into quite a spectacle. Unfortunately, Act 2 doesn't work quite as well. Still, Act 2 has its moments (eg, the My Man finale).
Placements and Grosses for this release are as follows:
In a somewhat shocking move, the American Film Institute announced Barbra Streisand as the 29th recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award. According to the AFI, this award "honors an individual whose career in motion pictures or television has greatly contributed to the enrichment of American culture." However, in its press release, AFI failed to explain how the Diva's limited movie career made any such great contributions.
Frankly, any informed person must wonder as to Babs' selection. She only made 16 movies, 6 of which were flops. Of the remaining 10, only a handful were major hits (Funny Girl, What's Up Doc, The Way We Were and A Star Is Born). From a critical perspective, only a half dozen or so of her movies have stood the test of time. What's worse, many of her movies are all but forgotten. Who remembers Up the Sandbox, All Night Long, The Main Event, For Pete's Sake... For that matter, most of her movies are NOT available on DVD, if available at all.
Truly, the AFI could have found someone a bit more qualified. Bestowing its most prized award on someone who is little more than a camp actress is very disturbing.
The Mirror Has Two Faces appears to be destined to be Streisand's last film. Currently, there are no motion picture plans which include Streisand as the leading lady or as a secondary character.
E! Online described Barbra's appearance on the 11/4 Emmys as follows:
Worst Surprise Ending: She doesn't deign to appear for her Individual Performance Award, but Barbra Streisand shows up unexpectedly to sing a tribute to the victims of September 11. At least, we think it was a tribute to the victims, it was kind of hard to tell with all the fanfare and ovation for Barbra...
E! Online was also disturbed that the Diva was, get this, PROMOTING HER WEBSITE! As reported by E!:
Barbra Streisand implored us: "Check out my Website." This falls more in the category of "funny" rather than "different," but we figure it's always worth noting when Ms. Streisand implores you do to anything. Streisand issued her proclamation shortly following her show-closing serenade, "You'll Never Walk Alone." "Look at my Website," Streisand said while clutching the Emmy she'd previously chosen not to accept onstage in an apparent attempt to keep her participation in the finale supersecret. "I do not like what's going on with the [Bush administration's] economic stimulus package."
According to Suzanne Savill of the Financial Times, Barbra's meddling is the reason for the breakup between son-in-law Josh Brolin and Minnie Driver. According to the Times, Barbra wanted to be involved in all details of the wedding, including the wedding dress. Purportedly, Barbra wanted a Donna Karan design; Minnie wanted a Vera Wang creation. Ultimately, the matter was resolved when Minnie returned her engagement ring. It is unknown at this time if this incident is related to the the behavior of Barbra and husband Jim at a recent Clinton event. According to sources, Barbra and Jim were uncharacteristically cold towards each other during that event.
According to the New York Post, Barbra's neighbors were trying to build a hospital in their very exclusive and very expensive part of town. All of them agreed to provide $100,000 for this, except of course Barbra. Barbra flat out refused. However, she was kind enough to note she would consider doing a fundraiser. (BTW, rumors are flying that the Diva is not as financially sound as you'd think. Perhaps this is the reason for the refusal.)
According to the New York Post, Barbra was dissed by the producers of the Tribute to Heroes benefit for the World Trade Center/Pentagon Tragedy. As we all know, Barbra was nowhere to be found on this special--not even answering the phones. According to the Post, she is simply too difficult (surprise). Well, those of us who did watch the special know that is must have been insult to injury for Babs given the Special's inclusion of Streisand's nemesis, Celine Dion. Although not an American, Dion was asked to sing God Bless America. The producers reserved the second to the last spot for Dion, who was accompanied on piano by Streisand collaborator David Foster. Needless to say, Dion stole the show with her incredible voice which simply soared in her impeccable and incomparable rendition of the standard. For those who remember, Streisand sang this song at the inauguration for President Clinton and at one of his fundraisers. The result, however, was nowhere near as memorable.
Following the World Trade Center/Pentagon Tragedy, fans have been wondering what Barbra would do to support our country and her people in the traumatized City of New York. To date, she has only done two things: (1) remove her anti-Bush and anti-Republican statements from her website and (2) add a very brief 5 paragraph press release entitled "September 11, 2001" to her website. Let me clarify that I am only counting the paragraphs that relate to the Tragedy. Following these paragraphs is a section entitled "Some of the Lyrics", in which Barbra tries to make her upcoming CD, Christmas Memories, relevant to this Tragedy. Excuse me, but I don't think it's good timing to talk about Christmas right after talking about the most horrible act of infamy since World War II. Some have even felt this press release is being used to promote her upcoming CD. Now Barbra & Co., you should know better than this. Or, is it true what the song says: "Losing my timing this late in my career..." (from Send in the Clowns).
What is with these TV Networks? Don't they know ratings poison when they see it? You'd think with all the low ratings for Streisand specials on Fox, CBS would have known better than to show a re-run of The Mirror has Two Faces. But no, CBS aired the movie and this is the result:
"Although CBS ranked second (a very distant second, that is) in households and total viewers, repeat Barbra Streisand theatrical The Mirror Has Two Faces sunk to fourth for the night among adults 18-49. A better title for this movie might have been The Mirror Has Multiple Egos." [Source: Mediaweek.com, 6/13/01]
In a news release entitled "Barbra Not Like Butter for Fox", Reuters reported that the AFI Tribute to Streisand generated record-low demographics for the Fox TV Network. Specifically, Reuters noted that the AFI Tribute to Babs:
This is now the third TV ratings fiasco this year for Babs (Timeless, Timeless Re-run and now AFI). Let's see if Fox has learned it's lesson. But don't hold your breath, I wouldn't be shocked if they did an AFI Tribute re-run.
History is known for repeating itself. So, when Fox decided to air the Streisand Timeless special again on 5/25/01, many wondered why. Those with a good memory will remember the abyssmal ratings for the special when it aired last February (if you don't, read the news article below). This time around, Timeless performed just as poorly. As put by the Hollywood Reporter, "Fox's weekly averages were dragged down by below-the-radar numbers delivered Thursday by the 2001 Essence Awards and Friday by the rerun of the "Barbra Streisand: Timeless" two-hour concert special." Variety, on a similar note, characterized the Timeless 5/25 ratings as an "uncompetitive performance".
Confirmed by Walter Scott, Barbra is producing a TV series called Pulling the Strings for VH1. Reportedly, the series will star James Brolin, the Diva's husband (in case you didn't know). Brolin, who was last seen in a very brief cameo in Traffic, will play the part of the head of an entertainment empire that has just been taken over. I guess it is very clear who is pulling whose strings in this marraige. But be careful, Jim, the wife is having trouble keeping her own career together.
According to the NY Post, Babs is boiling over her coop apartment at 320 Central Park West, New York City. The apartment, which has 16 rooms, a beauty salon, 7 baths, and 5 fireplaces, was put on sale years ago. Of course, although the apartment only has a side view of Central Park, Greedy Girl asked for $10 million. Of the several offers made, the most publicized was Mariah Carey's. Mariah offered $7.5 million which Streisand accepted. However, given that it is a coop, the sale required the Board's approval. Presumably, Mariah's party-going habits and friends caused the Board to nix the deal. More recently, the Board nixed yet another offer (this time for $6 million +). Well, Babs dear, looks like your stuck. Deal with it.
On the same day as the previous article, the New York Post explored the potential horrors of human cloning (click here to see for yourself). This photo is truly making many take a harder stance on the issue of human cloning. Expect a ban by the end of the year. (Thanks to CB for this contribution.)
According to this purportedly recent photo (click here), Barbra and Jon might be together again. However, there are signs that it might be an old photo: Barbra is flat-chested, still has plenty of hair, there is no sign of her turkey neck, and Jon still has a blow-dryer. You be the judge.
In a somewhat hateful article, the National Review called Streisand "a sad, old gasbag, an artless crooner whose once not-unpleasant voice has been, over time, rendered objectionable; first by her industrial-strength, thick-ankled emoting; then later by her precious politicking, both natural outgrowths of her spectacularly inflated ego". Whew! I wonder how long it took to come up with that!
The article, entitled The Bimbo of Tides, goes on to criticize Barbra's 9-page resume (at her website). The National Review complains that Babs' resume is longer than Reagan's (who ended the cold war) and Kruschev's (who started it). Quite an acheivement for someone with the "metaphorical vision of Mr. Magoo."
Well, it's safe to say, when it comes to Streisand and the conservatives, the cold war is still going strong.
People say I'm negative, but I wouldn't have dreamed of writing the following reports on the poor ratings of Streisand's Timeless TV Special (ie, the TV special called Timeless):
What did they expect? It was Valentine's Day and most people were in a romantic mood. Correct me if I'm wrong, but my idea of a romantic evening is not watching a faded star sing her same old songs over again in an overpriced, overproduced, and overhyped concert. Of course, what was obvious to me was not to the FOX Network which aired the special. FOX had high hopes for the special, promoting it diligently and even interviewing fans after the show. Well, talk about having your hopes dashed. Come 2/15/01, Fox learned the news:
As reported by The Washington Blade (1/26/01, p. 21., AOL nixes screen name calling Bush anti-Gay), Rob Blizard of Virginia was using an unusual screen name: GWBushIsAntiGay. That is, until AOL gave him an ultimatum: delete it or get lost. The internet giant/bully couldn't quite explain to Mr. Blizard, a Streisand fan, what was wrong with the name. However, an AOL spokesman later told The Blade that the screen name was defamatory, abusive and purported to represent a government official. AOL added that Mr. Blizard had included White House and Capitol Hill phone numbers (public numbers, btw) in the profile. Thus, AOL ruled that the screen name was in violation of the terms of service. Well, EXCUSE ME, but with all the trash, porn, and violence floating over the internet (and in AOL chat rooms), does AOL really expect anyone to believe they are "holier than thou"? I guess the AOL people believe in freedom of speech until it offends their delicate political views. (The full story is available at www.washblade.com, if you have the patience to search for it.)
"We live in a great country. We allow a woman the right of choice over her own body. We have some basic gun-control laws. We have affirmative action. We have laws that protect the environment. We have separation of church and state. We have laws that guarantee protection of civil rights and liberties. Why would we allow the chief law enforcement officer to be a person who doesn't believe in any of these laws?"
I could not believe this one myself! But MSN Underwire reported that Streisand had plastic surgery on her nose. As part of a plastic surgery quiz (called "CELEB MAKEOVERS/Our surgically enhanced stars"), Underwire stated in the responses:
"4. Which aging beauty’s timeless face is supposed to be supported by a web of subcutaneous 22-karat gold stitches?
Answer: Five points for B, Catherine Deneuve. At least, that’s the buzz on how the French actress has stayed so gorgeous at age 57. The technique, incidentally, was developed in Paris. Oh, and minus 10 points for E, Barbra Streisand. She has had surgery. But on — believe it or not — her nose. "
Perhaps Barbra took her role as Daisy Gamble a little too seriously. For ages we've heard Babs was cultivating a rose. Believe it or not...IT'S TRUE! Winter Gardens Catalog has announced the arrival of the "Rosa Barbra Streisand" [Rosa BS, for short] with the following description:
Now, the picture, which follows, is not as enticing as the description. Note how Winter Gardens points out that the Rosa BS has a powerful odor. Which makes me wonder if its petals are the ones Barbra places in her toilets when in concert or at home. (Thanks to Rob for this news item.)
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