Search Results for: blog what is up with barbra streisand

Pop Culture Potpourri: Streisand Rip-Off, “Dateline” Dumped, and Three Times Is Not The Charm

STREISAND RIP-OFF Rosie O’Donnell may be thrilled about her idol Barbra Streisand’s upcoming concert in Rome, but Italian consumer groups want authorities to cancel the singer’s gig because they think people are getting ripped off. According to European news reports, the consumer group maintains Streisand’s concert tickets cost way too much money. The Adusbef and Codacons groups urged the city of Rome and the Italian Olympic Committee to deny permission for Streisand to perform at the Stadio Flaminio on June 15th. Never mind that the venue is where the singer plans to perform her first-ever concert in Italy and the … Continue reading →

What is Up with Barbra Streisand?

I will be the first to admit that Barbra Streisand is very, very talented. In this day and age of “stars” like Lindsay Lohan, Barbra is a throwback to a time when the truly talented could both act and sing. But one thing I have never liked is her liberal political point of view. I appreciate her zeal, but I wish celebrities would realize that when they mix their personal convictions with their professional life, they might suffer consequences. She has had two run-ins with fans in the last month due to her political views. In early October, she appeared … Continue reading →

Barbra Streisand: The Brooklyn Nightinglae

Born Barbara Joan Streisand in Brooklyn, New York, on April 24, 1942, her father, Emmanuel Streisand, died when she was only 15 months old. Her relationship with her step-father, Louis Kind, was turbulent at best, and he put her down often when she was a child, saying things to her like, “you are too ugly to eat ice cream.” Her well-intentioned mother discouraged her daughter’s dream of becoming a star because she felt she was not attractive enough. Barbara grew up with a deep sense of insecurity about her appearance, which has not left her, despite her enormous talent and … Continue reading →

The 85th Academy Awards – Part 1

It seems only fitting that my last two Pop Culture blogs for Families will be about the Oscars.  If you’ve ever read any of my blogs around this time of year, you know how much I love this ceremony.  Yesterday, I turned E! on at 12:30 to begin my pre-Red Carpet coverage and finally turned the television off at 11:30 – 11 hours later. There were a lot of beautiful dresses.  Although Jessica Chastain didn’t win Best Actress, she was beautiful from head to toe.  Perhaps the Best Actress winner, Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook, should take a cue … Continue reading →

In Memoriam 2012 – Part 5

The list of those we lost in 2012 continues: August 2012 6 – Marvin Hamlisch – Respiratory Arrest (68) Hamlisch was an American composer and conductor who was part of the elite EGOTs – someone who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award.  He also won a Pulitzer Prize and two Golden Globes. He composed the theme song “The Entertainer” for The Sting and “The Way We Were” from the Barbra Streisand film. 14 – Ron Palillo – Heart Attack (63) Juan Epstein wasn’t the only Sweathog (“Welcome Back, Kotter”) that was lost this year.  Ron Palillo played … Continue reading →

In Memoriam 2011 – Part 3

After the slight interruption by the implosion of Sinead O’Connor’s 17 day marriage, I now return you to those we lost in 2011. May 2011 I think I can safely say that not everyone mourned when terrorist Osama Bin Laden was killed during a U.S. attack on May 1st in his compound outside Islamabad, Pakistan. Bin Laden, who was on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted List, was 54 years old. “Our Gang” lost another member when Jackie Cooper, the first child actor to receive an Academy Award nomination, died on May 4. The actor made the transition from child … Continue reading →

Mr. Blackwell Dies

Richard Blackwell – the original Hollywood fashionista whose cutthroat comments on stars’ wardrobes made him a household name, is dead this morning. According to news reports, the 86-year-old fashion guru died Sunday of complications from an intestinal infection. Prior to his passing Blackwell spent more than 50 years using his trademark sardonic, and at times acerbic, personality to poke fun at Hollywood’s most famous celebrities. His popular Best and Worst Dressed Lists became staples in the entertainment world and he took no prisoners. In January 2007, Blackwell took aim at then BFFs Britney Spears and Paris Hilton calling them “two … Continue reading →

Babs to Sing for Barack

Long time Democrat Barbra Streisand will perform at a fund-raising event for presidential hopeful Barack Obama. The event will be held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, which can hold up to 700 people, later this month. The evening will kick off with a dinner at the historic Greystone Mansion. If you would like to attend, you will need to cough up $28,500 per ticket. The event will be co-hosted by Hollywood heavyweights Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen and Andy Spahn, a political consultant. (Photo Source Library of Congress. New York World-Telegram & Sun Collection.) It should come as … Continue reading →

Yentl (1983)

“Yentl” is one of the most deeply touching films I’ve ever seen. I saw it for the first time when I was about ten, and the memory of it stayed with me until I saw it again, years later. Barbra Streisand truly shines in this role. Her name is Yentl, and she’s the daughter of a rabbi. Women are forbidden to study the Talmud, but she badly yearns to have the religious education of her father and his students. At night, she draws the blinds and her father (Nehemiah Persoff) teaches her the sacred words of the book, knowing that … Continue reading →

Tristi’s Favorite Musicals

I grew up watching musicals. I love Doris Day, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire – in fact, there are very few movie stars from Hollywood’s golden era that I don’t like. There’s just nothing like a man and woman gazing into each other’s eyes and then breaking into song. Some of my all-time favorite musicals are, in no particular order: “Oklahoma!” Who could forget Shirley Jones in her first role as shy and idealistic Laurie, caught up in her feelings for that rascally cowboy, Curly? “Show Boat” took on a tough topic – that of race discrimination – and brought us … Continue reading →