Thank you, Panni, for your earlier comments. It used to be, that if someone disliked an actress or an entertainer, they simply avoided their work. They didn’t go see their films, they didn’t listen to their music, and they certainly didn’t turn on the television to watch an interview with someone that they didn’t enjoy. However, Barbra Streisand seems to evoke a whole different set of rules. A great many people I know (and I don’t mean only people at this site), seem to go out of their way to see her films and hear her music and to watch her interviews, for no other reason than to turn around and bash her.
As Panni pointed out, if big egos were banned from the entertainment industry, we would see a lot fewer stars in that firmament. Miss Streisand is certainly not alone in scheduling interviews and public appearances to coincide with the release of a new film or CD. You can look at which stars are appearing on Leno or Letterman in any particular week, and you can pretty well figure out who has a new project coming out in the very near future. Someone yesterday commented on the fact that Streisand even reads her ad-libs off of cue cards. A lot of entertainers script everything in their performances right down to the smallest throw-away line. I can think of Bette Midler, Wayne Newton, Steve and Eydie, and Bob Hope; all of whom are famous for scripted ad-libs.
I don’t want, or expect anyone to like all of the films that I like, or to listen and enjoy all of the singers and musicians that I like; but if you don’t care for someone, then fine, just let it go. I promise that I won't go see Patti LuPone's next Broadway show or buy her next CD, if people would just lighten up a little on Barbra.
As for the casting of people who are not age appropriate, it does make one wonder what Laurence Harvey was trying to do by having Angela Lansbury, who is only three years older than him, play his mother in Manchurian Candiadate.