"Great Performances" on PBS tonight

[tishaLA]

Back before all the perfectionism and the soulless singing. Before she became over-produced and underwhelming. Before she became an actor-singer-director-writer-producer who thought it'd be a good idea to make a film in which she cross-dresses to study Talmud. Before the gauzy close-ups and all the therapy. Before the perms. Before she became the poster child for everything that is wrong with "adult contemporary" music. Before she became the Hollywood liberal republicons love to hate. Before she called for the chimp's impeachment, before she fund-raised for Clinton and Gore. Before she was only photographed on one side. Before she inspired drag queens worldwide.

Before all that was My Name is Barbra


She made it when she was only 23 and her voice had guts--a throbbing hunger she hasn't shown for decades. And she had the Cleopatra eyeliner. And the "kooky" thrift shop clothes. And a sense of humor!

When it came out in 1965, UPI called it "a pinnacle moment in American show business, in any medium, in any period. She is so great, it is shocking...she may well be the most supremely talented and complete popular entertainer this country has ever produced." I recently saw the show and...well...if you love classic American singing--think Frank, Ella, Sarah, Judy--you will love this show. 40 years later, it still packs a wallop.