My Name Is Barbra (TV program)

My Name Is Barbra is a 1965 black-and-white television special, the first for singer and actress Barbra Streisand. Broadcast in conjunction with the release of Streisand's studio album of the same name, the special aired April 28, 1965 on CBS.

My Name Is Barbra
Photo of Streisand from the special
Written byRobert Emmet
Directed byDwight Hemion
Joe Layton
StarringBarbra Streisand
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerRichard Lewine
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseApril 28, 1965 (1965-04-28)

A critical success, the program earned Streisand a contract for four additional television specials. Columbia launched a major advertising campaign to promote the subsequent album My Name Is Barbra, Two... coinciding with the October rebroadcast of the TV special.[1]

Act one

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  1. My Name is Barbra
  2. Much More
  3. I'm Late
  4. Make Believe
  5. How Does the Wine Taste
  6. A Kid Again
  7. I'm Five
  8. Sweet Zoo
  9. Where Is The Wonder?
  10. People

Act two

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  1. I've Got The Blues
  2. Monologue
  3. Second Hand Rose
  4. Give Me the Simple Life
  5. I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'
  6. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
  7. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
  8. The Best Things in Life are Free

Act three

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  1. When The Sun Comes Out
  2. Why Did I Choose You?
  3. Lover, Come Back to Me
  4. I Am Woman
  5. Don't Rain On My Parade
  6. The Music That Makes Me Dance
  7. My Man
  8. Happy Days Are Here Again

Critical acclaim

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Streisand received unanimously positive reviews. The United Press International proclaimed "She is so great it is shocking. She may well be the most supremely talented and complete popular entertainer that this country has ever produced."[2]

The show was the 16th top ranked show in the Nielsen ratings report for April 26-May 9, 1965.[3]

Awards

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My Name Is Barbra was nominated in six categories at the 17th Primetime Emmy Awards, winning five, including Outstanding Individual Achievement in Entertainment. The special also won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television.[4] The special earned Streisand her first Peabody Award.[5]

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[6] Gold 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "Columbia's Streisand pitch is hitting all the basis". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 9 October 1965. p. 6.
  2. ^ Great Performances . Barbra Streisand Specials . My Name Is Barbra | PBS
  3. ^ Lowry, Cynthia (25 May 1965). CBS Gets 'A' For Idea, But 'D' For Effort, Santa Cruz Sentinel (Associated Press story)
  4. ^ Awards for My Name Is Barbra. IMDb.
  5. ^ "The Ultimate Show Biz Coup: PEGOT". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  6. ^ "American video certifications – Barbra Streisand – My Name Is Barbra". Recording Industry Association of America.
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