Summary

One in this series of interview programs hosted by Larry King. This episode features singer, actor and director Barbra Streisand. Topics discussed include the following, among others: how she does not choose to label herself as one specific kind of artist; her childhood desire to act despite her "identity" as a singer; the escapism of embodying different characters; her dislike of the "degrading" process of asking for roles; her sense of being "attacked" by Mike Wallace during a "60 Minutes" interview; her preference for television interviews over print, as written quotes can be more easily taken out of context; her sense that "the planet's in trouble" because of excessive negativity between people; her comfort in her devoted fans' interest in truth and disregard for gossip; her views on Joseph Campbell and posthumous accusations of anti-Semitism; memories of stage fright and forgetting lyrics onstage; her explanation that she has not charged for a performance in twenty years and now sings primarily for charity; her current preference for directing films over performing music; her views on lack of privacy as the price of fame; why money is not her "driving force"; her contentment with the positive audience reaction to her most recent film "The Prince of Tides" (1991); a letter from the cast and crew of "Yentl" (1983) about her perfectionism and pleasant nature onset; and the rumors that she is "difficult" as a director and the Hollywood double standards about "opinionated" women versus strong-willed men.

King and Streisand then take calls from viewers, which leads Streisand to discuss the following subjects: whether she intends to tour again as a singer; ideas for a sequel to "The Way We Were" (1973); working with Nick Nolte and her son Jason Gould on "Tides"; her pride in "The Broadway Album" (1985) and lack of contentment with "ButterFly" (1974); working with kids on "Tides" and her use of improvisation and chemistry reads to find the best young actors; her strong familiarity with her "Tides" character; the surprising revelation that she does not often listen to music; her dislike of competition between artists; her sense that President Bush "lives in denial"; her strong affinity for Daisy Gamble, her character in "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever" (1970); her preference for taking time off between projects; roles and films she has regretted turning down, including "Cabaret" (1972); her assertion that she would never run for political office; and her interest in AIDS activism and hopes to direct a film version of Larry Kramer's play "The Normal Heart." Commercials deleted.

Clips featuring Streisand's film work are interspersed throughout the program, including "Funny Girl" (1968); "The Way We Were"; "The Prince of Tides"; and "The Owl and the Pussycat" (1970).