Diva Worship
Diva Worship
Barbra is Psuedo-Pornography for my Ears (w/ Brooke McHugh)
This week Allen welcomes in actress, cinephile, and dog mother: Brooke McHugh! Together we discuss the iconic career of *drumroll please* Barbra Streisand. From Italian movie posters for A STAR IS BORN, to her ironic narrative of not being pretty. We swoon remembering Mandy Patinkin in Yentl. And we adore her many husbands and very public love affairs. Then we take a slight diversion to talk about the Royal family, but trust us, it all will get back to Babs! Pay homage with us!
IG: @Mchugh.brooke
IG/Twitter: @allenstarby
She is like, for sure. convinced it's her dog Sammy talking to her.
Allen Darby :We didn't even talk about her.
Brooke McHugh :We didn't talk about her dog.
Allen Darby :Hey, divas. Welcome back. How's everyone doing? My shoulder just popped out I need to see a chiropractor for like every time I start recording like my bones just like snap, crackle and pop like frickin cereal. Anyway. Hi, everyone. Welcome to diva worship a podcast where we dish dissect dive deep and always defend our divas, my secondary diva this week. Is Shira and the princesses of power. If y'all have not seen this show, oh, oh my god, I'm clapping because I get to get it is so good. It's so queer. It's the showrunner or the EP is Noah Stevenson I believe is her name. She's a queer creator. I follow her on Twitter now She's so funny. The show is great. It's magical. It's queer. It's beautiful. It's powerful. Jacob tobiah is going to be on it and season four. I haven't finished it. I'm only on season two or three right now. But it's so fun. So funny. Most of the voice actors are people of color. Almost all of them are women. It's it's it It's so good. Sorry I just burped fuck I can't believe I did that. But it's so good. Please give it a watch. It's on Netflix. It's it's just absolutely delicious. I I really think you'll enjoy it. So my guest today is my so my dear dear dear friend Brooke McHugh. I think I talked about her in the introductions episode like she and I started a podcast few years ago which eventually like grew into diva worship that it is today. Brooke is an aspiring actress in her words, but I'm gonna say not just aspiring, she is an actress. She's a Star she's brilliant and hilarious and funny and truly I think I say this in the interview but she has an encyclopedic knowledge of classic film. Like it's truly remarkable whenever I have a conversation with her because she just like drop of a hat. She can like, name the film name, the title name, who directed it, who wrote it. And it's it's like a like a Rolodex with her. She's brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. She's also a dog lover, and just a hilarious human overall. And we talk about Barbra Streisand. So get ready. We have some really, really funny things. She's such such fun, hot takes about a lot of that stuff. So I hope you enjoy my interview with Brooke McHugh on Barbra Streisand. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Hi. Hi Brooke McHugh.
Brooke McHugh :Hello Allen Starby.
Allen Darby :Oh you are you did stop ever I don't know if everyone everyone knows this but
Unknown Speaker :Allen Starby comes from Brooke McHugh.
Brooke McHugh :It does it does it does. I'm gonna take full credit even though I'm sure if somebody said it to you before and literally
Unknown Speaker :no one said it to me beforehand you were the first person to say it to me. I yeah you are
Brooke McHugh :have no imagination or personality,
Unknown Speaker :no connection no personality like Who the hell do they think they are? Anyway How are you doing? So you live in New York right now you are in? Yes,
Brooke McHugh :Brooklyn. I am in New York. I'm in Brooklyn. It's an insane time. Yeah, um, yeah. How are you doing? How's it there?
Allen Darby :You know it like I wouldn't I? I thought about this the other day when quarantine first started happening you wouldn't know like, but beside like, unless Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Unless that Hadn't if he hadn't told me like, I look outside and like, I mean, people have masks on some do although some people don't. It's driving me kind of crazy now
Brooke McHugh :people are starting to get really like lazy with the masks. Relax, relax
Allen Darby :real bad. Yeah, so yeah, I'm doing fine. We're which Ellen here?
Brooke McHugh :Yeah, yeah, I know. That's what I wish I could be. And my parents live in Stockton. And I'm like, they just like they're so distant. Like, there's a lot of conservative people there, which is, you know, very special. But they, you know, they're not taking this seriously. I'm like, Well, part of it is like, it's so suburban. No one they know is sick. It's like in New York, though. It's like, you know, I live right near the Brooklyn Hospital Center. I live down the street from that. So you see everyone I see. Yeah, I see. Like, all the health care workers and everything. It's, it's just, it's like right here and I think part of it is obviously like this city. is very condensed and like, close together. So it's kind of impossible. Yeah, it's impossible to, like, you know, pretend for a moment but yeah,
Allen Darby :but you're staying safe. You're staying well,
Brooke McHugh :yes, yes I am. Okay. Good staying bored,which is good.
Allen Darby :Indeed. Also, before we before we get into the, the the worship moment of this podcast. I want everyone to know that this podcast actually started because Brooke and I were going to do a podcast called live in the maloca. And it was Oh, it was so fun and then we kind of put it down for a while and then yeah,
Brooke McHugh :yes cuz you like you got this. I mean, you are diva. listens out.
Allen Darby :Okay, well, let's great transition. Let's
Brooke McHugh :organized. Can I just say though, you're organized that email I was like, this is something I could never possibly do.
Unknown Speaker :Beautiful email. You're sweet. I wish I could. Let's let's get into it. Who is your diva and how are you worshiping her today? Ah,
Brooke McHugh :My diva is the the most amazing Queen Barbra Streisand. Barbra Streisand. Yes. How am I worshiping her today? I mean, like every day I have posters of her all over my house
Allen Darby :you do. I remember when recorded that first episode that has not seen the light of day but I live in the bathroom and I went, everyone there's a poster of Barbra Streisand it's like pencil drawn right?
Brooke McHugh :It's pencil drawn. I found it at a thrift store. It's pencil drawings of like her in like her iconic roles and I was like some amazing let's be honest again.
Unknown Speaker :To be honest,
Unknown Speaker :like had so much fine,
Brooke McHugh :I must have it I am and I have a stars born poster above my bed. That is an Italian stars board poster. It's very which makes it
Unknown Speaker :even more chic. Come on.
Brooke McHugh :Yeah, it's very chic. It also looks like it just Looks like porn, honestly. She's like, it looks like she's about to blow him. And he has no shirt so
Unknown Speaker :it's great pornographic. Yeah, you know, Barbra Barbra is pseudo pornography for my ears. I'd be the title of the episode. Perfect. Yeah. So how did you meet Barbra? Like, how were you introduced to her?
Brooke McHugh :Yeah, I'm trying to think I'm I'm pretty pretty. Pretty sure. It was funny girl when I was a little a little girl. I really don't know. It may have been my grandmother. Um, but I you know, I don't know. I used to watch a lot of like classic movies on TV. I just watched TV my whole childhood. That's pretty much all I did. I didn't really Yeah, but yeah, that's all I get it. And I I saw it and I connected to So much with Fanny Brice. Like, I just felt like I was a star and nobody knew. Yeah, and I was really funny and I didn't know where I fit and like I loved the scene where she is performing. With all the beautiful brides for chick fil follies and she comes out with a pregnant belly because she wants it to be funny. And she's like, because if I came out with all these like supermodels, like, everyone would be laughing at me. But now I'm like making the joke. And I really connected with that. Even though let's just say this in Funny Girl. They're always like, you're not very pretty. She looks so gorgeous.
Allen Darby :And that was just like, that's the irony of Barbra Streisand. Yeah, like Streisand however you say it. I know. She probably hit me for saying her name wrong, but she's like she's her whole identity to herself is that I was never the pretty girl and it's like you're you're Yeah, blatantly wrong.
Brooke McHugh :Yeah, she's so pretty and she's like, she kind of looks like in this movie what's up doc? She looks exactly like Jennifer Aniston like real straight hair. Exactly. Like they look like twins. So it's very interesting. I mean, I think also partly the time it must have been like she looked Yeah, she didn't have a nose job. So she was ugly. I well, standards were different.
Unknown Speaker :That's her that's her whole like thing is that she's never had a nose job. Right?
Brooke McHugh :Yeah, she's never had one and she's had to suffer looking like the way she
Unknown Speaker :had to suffer. looking gorgeous. Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Unknown Speaker :So what's so what's your favorite role or song? Like what is it? Is it Fanny Brice of Barbara.
Brooke McHugh :You know, I was it usually. It usually is but something something one of her roles, which she did not it's not a musical which is interesting. That has grown with me through my life and I think, like, really inspired me when I saw it when I was what like 11 because you know 11 year olds have serious relationships is the way we were. But it's really her character's politics and I was thinking about it today and just that it's such a it also this the screenplay I can't remember his name off the top my head but he's a he was a very out queer man who wrote that screenplay. What's his you would know his oh my god is I should look it up, but
Unknown Speaker :it keeps telling me to look it up right now. Yeah, yeah.
Brooke McHugh :He that that character of Katie and the way we were is just like, I think when I was young, it also was like, easy to understand, for me the way they did that film and just her whole people. Are there principles and
Unknown Speaker :morals. Yes, yes, yes. Oh my god. Wait, like, he's like a playwright the famous art. Didn't you write Westside? Yes. Yeah. Oh my god. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. That's crazy. But
Brooke McHugh :it's kind of based off of I think he said it was based off his relationship. I think with another man. I mean, I think it was inspired by his Queer Eye, which is another thing I love. It's It is very, like, I could see that like, queer aspect to that really, I mean, especially at that time of being out or you know, being a political person and some person is able to hide and not be as political. So, yeah, not to make it all serious.
Unknown Speaker :But it's so so it was the way we were and her her I don't even Yeah, I've heard of it, of course, but the song
Brooke McHugh :Yeah, yeah. No, you should. You should. Um, yeah, the song is great. It's very like, you know, it's really 70s Barbara. It's really nice, but it will I think he would love love it.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah. Okay, well, tell me what's your favorite decade of Barbara cuz she's had so many
Brooke McHugh :yeah I mean I love man it's hard because it's like I really love the beginnings like I love funny girl and I love like hello jolly and on a clear day you can see forever which is
Unknown Speaker :"Love with all the trimmings" lovely all the trim song. Oh my god iconic Yeah. Very weird. Yeah.
Brooke McHugh :It's very I know watching and I'm just like, this is jack nicholson, isn't it for like two seconds, which is funny, but
Allen Darby :like six actors back then all white film
Brooke McHugh :recast and nothing has changed. No, pretty much hopefully. Well.
Allen Darby :Hopefully No.
Brooke McHugh :too early. Barbara, early Barbara. And then I do love like, Yentl Barbara. Oh, you know?
Allen Darby :Yeah, come
Brooke McHugh :I love when she's like I'm gonna direct movies and I love I don't know if there's a decade of her I don't love I you know? Yeah.
Unknown Speaker :Can we talk about yeah until for a second though? How hot Mandy Patinkin isn't that movie?
Brooke McHugh :I think about it. Maybe that's what I worship daily.
Unknown Speaker :I talked about that with my friend Seth where it's like, he like when he comes out of the lake nude, and you're just like, Oh, it's
Brooke McHugh :like she knows she knows what we want. Oh, completely so hot and, and how can like, I've never really seen it. Like, I'm trying to think of movie maybe there's probably a obviously more openly queer film. Obviously I get that but with his wife, and how she's like, I'm like, in love with her too, in a weird way. in a weird way. It's so weird now. But she's like falling in love with you. And him. I was like, This is So like, the way she makes made that film about gender was pretty I think radical it's
Unknown Speaker :a credit Yeah, it's very true. It's very radical and like, talking about gender talking about gender roles talking about religion.
Brooke McHugh :Yeah, exactly. Religion and education. It's like she fuck it man. Those are like those are not light subjects for your I think that was her first directorial endeavor.
Unknown Speaker :Meanwhile, she made that and she's saying all the songs which Oh, I caught like public Oh my dear me a piece of sky piece of sky. Oh, and What's that? What's that one? I used to sing as an audition song. Um, Will someone ever look at me that way? Yes.
Brooke McHugh :Oh my God. God. Oh my God. That music in it. I feel like I'm she did. Yeah, it's her directing movies. Huge like, and it wasn't like she was like, I don't know went from being a writer to a director like she started as a musical theater person, you know? So it's it started because on Funny Girl I guess she was so bossy. William Wyler the director was like you should just direct movies and not act because you're like,
Unknown Speaker :telling everyone where to go. It's all really fucking controlling. Literally and nothing's changed. She's She's stuck that way
Brooke McHugh :is really stayed that way.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, you know, I have this memory of this director who directed me in all my kids theater stuff who's a diva in his own right. Um, but it seems mr. Duncan, but I feel like he told us this story. I could I could be wrong, but I'm gonna tell it anyway. Where it's it's Barbra Streisand and she was at a dinner party and she was nervous to sing. And so she turned around to sing because she was so nervous to like sing in front of people. It was like before she was Famous, and then she's saying and everyone likes to turn back around. Everyone was crying maybe What's wrong?
Brooke McHugh :No, I think you're correct because she has told stories like that like she did an audition for I think the first I don't know if it was a musical or play, I can get it for you wholesale. And she said she was so nervous that she asked to do the audition, sitting down because she couldn't stand. And she's talking about she has she people was trying to get her to sing happy birthday to them. And she's like, I can't I can't do it. I find that to be extremely difficult song. And also I don't like to sing. And I was like, I love that. But she has a lot of stage fright. She Yeah, a lot of stage fright, famous for her stage when she forgot the words and she didn't go on stage for years afterwards. Yeah.
Unknown Speaker :Is there a story where she like took her gum out and put it underneath a stool in an audition?
Brooke McHugh :Yeah, I think that was I can get it freeze up or funny or I can get it for you
Unknown Speaker :for wholesale. Yeah. Which is in the listeners don't don't get upset with us for not fact, checking Beforehand we don't we
Brooke McHugh :know I didn't do any?
Unknown Speaker :Well, because I think we're right. What Listen, if anyone was right, I would trust you to do that. Because there's so many times where I'll be like, Oh, I remember this thing. And then I'm like, Oh, yes, it was in this film at this minute mark. And this was the director and the writer and you just you are encyclopedic in your film acknowledge I have
Brooke McHugh :a lot, but I also have a lot of blind spots, which I find are usually in the 80s for some weird reason. masculine 80s things.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, yeah. Well, meanwhile, like when all the queer people were dying, and so like all the good art was disappearing, but it worked. Yeah, exactly. Wow. Wait a turn dark Darby. Okay, yeah.
Brooke McHugh :I mean, it's appropriate. She is a gay icon and like her son is was what? He's one of the first people who has HIV out with being HIV positive right. Now, one of the first but he was out being HIV positive, I think positive. I believe so. That really definitely the fact check, but I'm pretty sure yeah,
Unknown Speaker :you know, I'm gonna do that while you tell us what is the harm diva licious. What's her biggest diva moment? Like, what? What's the most delicious thing she's ever done?
Brooke McHugh :As a major, or as like, a horrible thing?
Unknown Speaker :Well, let's start with as a performer, what's the thing that like your jaw dropped where you were just like, That's amazing. I cannot believe this.
Brooke McHugh :Oh my god. You know, ah, some of her some of her like TV specials have so many amazing moments like her voice. There's just nothing like it's it's epic. And I think when she's saying with Judy Garland, which is obviously every I mean, I hope everyone knows Monday they read it. Yeah. Really. And it got a resurgence, which I think is great because it's one of the most beautiful moments in her voice. Also, when she's saying Crimea river
Unknown Speaker :driving Nope. I think hardware
Brooke McHugh :special. Oh my god. It's so good. And also her moment in Funny Girl where she sings my man and she's in like a black velvet gown and like, you know, she looks, it's just so there's like a single. She's here. It's perfect. The lighting. I mean, it's just magical. That is like to me. It's like showbusiness. Like, I just hope. Yeah, gosh, seeing the motional woman and it's all the things I love. Um,
Unknown Speaker :so I did look it up. A very quick google search from the Enquirer. Oh, wait,
Brooke McHugh :oh, that's where I get my information. Just a big fire story. I'm like,
Unknown Speaker :Well, no, it says, Who is open Streisand and her son who is openly gay and was diagnosed with HIV in 2000 were rumored to be estranged. So Gould, her son allegedly already had begun to pend the explosive book, apparently to the book, but he revealed what he did. He exclusively This is bullshit.
Unknown Speaker :that this isn't Oh, I don't know.
Unknown Speaker :Oh, mom are not estranged.
Unknown Speaker :They're not as strange. They did
Brooke McHugh :a song together recently
Unknown Speaker :there is no yeah, literally National Enquirer Streisand war with gay son in all caps. Okay.
Brooke McHugh :She's, she came out and she's like, I want to go to
Unknown Speaker :all my fans who've been like, you know, Help Help me. Okay. Yeah, I can look this up. Anyone who has intel on whether also Who cares? Like we're not going to stigmatize. I
Brooke McHugh :mean, it's still great, but I just think it's, it's really cool that he was like, you know, it's still a big deal when people come out with that as figures and also public figure in a different way where he's like, he didn't choose to be a public figure.
Unknown Speaker :Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. There's now I'm thinking about the play Buyer and Cellar. Do you know that but have you seen that play? No, No, I haven't. Oh, my God, I can't that will Michael Urie did it he did it on broadway.com recently and it's a play about a guy who
Brooke McHugh :I wanted to watch. I my friend told me about that. Yes, it's
Unknown Speaker :you know, it's, I'm sure you can find, like, yeah, I wouldn't I wouldn't look it up on YouTube and I wouldn't Google Search buyer and seller would not do that. Wink. But anyway, it's so good. And like she there's a moment where she talks about herself. Granted, that was a total like, basically this podcast like the play version of this podcast.
Allen Darby :Where it's like all fictional
Brooke McHugh :Wait, it's the one it's the way works, works in her mall. Yeah. Which is like that. That idea alone.
Unknown Speaker :I got a saying. Yeah, yeah,
Brooke McHugh :cuz she has a mall in her house. If you don't
Unknown Speaker :know if you don't know it is a mall. Yeah, there's malls, shop shops with two PS energy. Many shops. shops. Yeah. So anyway, we were talking about it earlier. So the mount you had Lies and my man so those are her biggest diva moments where Yeah, where is the diva don't moments where you disagree with her where you go diva don't like Oh, don't do it diva,
Brooke McHugh :please. Um, well, this is unfortunate. The first thing I think of his her recent like Michael Jackson statement, which was like super oh god it happened like last year around this time she quickly came out and it was like I fucked up. I didn't really mean to say that. But it sounded sort of like I don't like to do the generally racial thing but it did sound like an older like when Angela Lansbury said I can't read what she said that was done but it was just like, you're like, oh, Grandma, like Oh, hi. She had like a, you know, an experimental thought about like, what do we do with child molesters? Because they came from damaged lives too. But the way she talked about it was like so she hadn't thought any of this through what she's about to say and she was like, they had good luck. You know, they ended up being great young men and I'm like,
Allen Darby :Girl Oh, sweet. No, yeah, it was on Twitter
Brooke McHugh :bad. Um, I think it was an interview, which Oh my god, cuz it's like it's one thing if she fucked up at her house talking, you know, she's talking to her son fucking saying that but like going to a magazine and just being like children about that that's really done.
Unknown Speaker :She has she has complete control over her image and so she Yeah, I had like, I would be gobsmacked if she didn't have final say on like, oh, what got in the interview. So she was like, yeah, sure you can print that.
Brooke McHugh :Yeah, because we know this because her barbara walters interview. You can look it up. I can't remember what year I think it was like, it may have been the early 90s or Oh no, I think it was during a stars born in the 70s. And she Barbara sts or Barbara, Barbara Walters, somebody Barbara's in the barbara walters starts the you know the segment about it. She's like, she's the only woman that I gave Final Cut to because that was the only way we could get this interview like she, like she had to like edit it.
Unknown Speaker :And she and I think I've seen the interview where she's like, maybe it's a different one where she's like, can you push forward? Yeah, she's so she's like, bring the light forward. There's still some shadows on you. And I'm like,
Brooke McHugh :it's, it's so it's, I mean, it's diva behavior in like, the most irritating way where it's like, I wish that didn't matter to her. But, you know, we get a lot of good stuff out of that, like level of attention to detail.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah. Like iconoclasm? Is that a word? Like iconic? Yeah. Is that the right? I don't know if it's the right word. But I'm just being like, of course, like, of course, she like she has to have final approval. It's like the same thing with Beyonce, where it's like, of course, like the Beyonce documentary. It's like it's produced, directed and written by Beyonce. So we're gonna cook dinner. Yeah, so like wine. Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. Yeah, you know, I have a diva don't I don't usually, yeah, my oh my god. But um, it's I was listening to music to get into the mood before this into the mood get in the mood to talk about Barbara. But um, I would so I was listening to her first album I found on Spotify listeners, follow along with this if you can go to Spotify, and it's her first album, it's the Barbra Streisand album and it's Yes, Brooke. It's it's this one where she's like, you can see on the screen but yeah, just describe it for the listener the
Brooke McHugh :it's just like her coming out of the shadows into the spotlight with looks like she's blowing out a candle and a giant microphone and like a cutesy schoolgirl top. Yes, yeah.
Unknown Speaker :So it's from 1963. And I listened to it because at first I listened to soon it's gonna rain from the Fantasticks. Oh, and it's encrypted. It's like this. Gorgeous Yeah, melting, you know
Brooke McHugh :Got her albums from that time are like, Oh, the production on that is like so gorgeous. And she's like she's going for notes that she's like, I don't know if I got it and she does and she No, she didn't care.
Unknown Speaker :So and then we do there's Happy days are here again, which she then covered with Judy or yes with Judy. And it's amazing. And then much more from the Fantasticks also gorgeous. Then we get to
Unknown Speaker :the supermarket in old Peking.
Brooke McHugh :Oh my god the salt right? It's the most
Unknown Speaker :racist thing I've ever heard.
Brooke McHugh :Oh, fucking racist. Not only that, they played it. The Marvelous Mrs. nasal. They like played it on the show. And and I remember like being like, Why?
Unknown Speaker :I don't, oh, let's show how racist we used to be. It's like
Brooke McHugh :yeah, and it was like, a lot of beautiful shots of like their set of New York and like, I was like, This is so this is clearly a white lady who thinks she's punk rock. Yeah this decision creatively was not Barbara but you know,
Unknown Speaker :right I can't we can't play it on the recording so it's like I'll jump ahead in this cut but you will hear our reactions afterwards. I'm gonna play a little bit into the microphone for us to hear and then just we'll do a jump cut so sorry listeners for this abrupt change but just listen to this it's so absurd
Unknown Speaker :slave that's a slave that's awfully African.
Brooke McHugh :I just I Joe that level of racism and like a song What is that song supposed to be? Like? Is it supposed to be a like a good time for somebody or is it tourism for Beijing? Like what the fuck and it sounds like the opening is as racist as like we are Siamese right like it's like that level. Yeah, so fucking like oh my god. And And
Unknown Speaker :you know what else it makes me think of is in The Drowsy Chaperone. Have you The Drowsy Chaperone or now it
Brooke McHugh :I haven't seen I've listened to the music.
Unknown Speaker :There's there's the like, intermission moment, quote unquote intermission moment or like the when the track of the record keeps going. And it's it goes to like this Asian, like storyline and it's the most racist sounding thing and you know, it's like, oh, it's supposed to be funny and it's like, Oh honey, no, it's not. Oh my god, it's it's so like, oh, maybe there's something there that I missed. But when I saw it I remember thinking this No,
Brooke McHugh :usually I have I've had this times to where I'm like, I'm trying to like give the directors of things like the benefit of the doubt. Like maybe he's like making a poll and then it's always like he's, he didn't think about it. He doesn't get a book and it is as bad as you think it is.
Unknown Speaker :Exactly. Exactly. Listen. Okay, my next segment is what I like to call defend your diva So has there been a time when you had to defend your diva? When someone didn't see eye to eye with you? And you have teach someone and be like, No, no, no, she's actually amazing. When did you do that for Barbara?
Brooke McHugh :I don't know. 100 million times. The amount, the amount that if a straight man does know who she is, if they even know anymore, the amount of times they've had to like, I actually think it's maybe extreme. It feels homophobic. It's kinda like when people talk shit on musical theater so much. Yeah, it's like, like straight men are just like, Oh, she's so annoying. She says this. And a lot of it is like, I find with with Barbara when when men specifically don't like her. It's, it's really about her being loud. It's about her being political, which also she's political. But if I was as famous as her people would be like I would be so much more political than her so yeah that's bad.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, she's like let's like
Brooke McHugh :let's have a free party fundraiser like she's not that crazy as fuck but yeah
Unknown Speaker :and that she's like she's out here fighting the good fight well as much as she can because she is you know, it is like there are some okay grandma moments like you said, but yeah, but like it is homophobic It's like she's done so and she's allowed she's allowed woman who makes a statement who isn't afraid to take up space and isn't afraid to be Yeah, fabulous and yeah talented person in the room. Yeah.
Brooke McHugh :And oh, I mean, while I don't really get it cuz I think she's so beautiful. But like a lot of people, you know, her coming up were like, You you you should be like a comedic what character actor because you like literally look like a Jewish person. I mean, that was kind of what it was like, and like,
Unknown Speaker :I think that she was like, No, I'm gonna be an ingenue.
Brooke McHugh :Yeah, exactly. And I think that she is the type of woman that A lot of men find to be like, just irritating and high maintenance and all these things, which usually is just, it's like, you know, and also when I've had these arguments, I usually say these things and they don't like it. Make it this area.
Unknown Speaker :They don't like it. Well, but, you know, I completely agree with you and that she's just like,
Unknown Speaker :like I said, she just is unapologetically the most talented person in a room. She walks into, you know, yeah,
Brooke McHugh :her voice is like other worldly and she has so much work. She's done like music, like the music, the amount of music, movies, she has a lot less but which is actually probably a favor because sometimes when people make too many movies, they're usually a lot of shitty ones there but
Unknown Speaker :she's still heard of an Oscar though, right? No, Oscar.
Brooke McHugh :She won an Oscar for funny girl. She's hot. Like the only tie tied with Katharine Hepburn. Oh, so
Unknown Speaker :weird. I truly thought that I should have done more research on this, but also like, what an iconic pairing to I need to do it.
Brooke McHugh :I know so.
Unknown Speaker :But she and like she doesn't need to get any like, she doesn't need any more accolades at this point, she's just like, No, no,
Brooke McHugh :yeah, she's in Malibu with James Brolin, and she's decorating her house. Yeah.
Unknown Speaker :What is it about her that makes you want to, like, be so protected? I mean, you kind of touched on this, but can you say more about it? Like, what is it about her that makes you want to protect her and like, make sure she's like, okay, and like, no, so yeah, that moment.
Brooke McHugh :I love this question, because I feel like it's kind of like anything you love that's, like, you know, art or a creative person that you look up to. I think it's like something like It's like she has she has It's like a part of me that I see in myself, which, you know, I'm not like exactly person, but it's like there's something that she connects, you know, with, with women and gay men and stuff. And I think it's like, it's defending her is almost like defending that part of yourself. It's like the part of yourself so loud or, you know, wants to be the most talented and the best and just say it like, no matter what you look like, or, you know, whatever, or also, you know, like really care about your lighting, you know,
Unknown Speaker :lighting and really care about like your home, which she clearly doesn't just make things nice. Like it's almost a remake. It makes me think of the housewives like the real Yeah, it's like,
Brooke McHugh :yeah, I'm thinking of Dorinda when she screams I made it. I don't even know the housewives that well, but like, they have been helping me through this time. Weirdly. Yeah. It's there's nothing like I was like, because it can be toxic but right now because life is so insane and horrible. I love their problems and like their problems are great. It's so relaxing to watch.
Unknown Speaker :And seeing someone literally just like, say how they feel. And just say unapologetically. It's like Barbara where it's like, I'm just gonna, I'm just Yeah, yeah. Barbara is a little bit more tactful. She's a bit more like, witty with it and kind of just like, yeah, I'm gonna say what I feel about this because who do I have? Yeah, no, you're wrong. She's She's bit.
Brooke McHugh :Yeah. And she, she's had that sort of like, in a great grandma in a good way. She's kind of had this like, you know, Brooklyn grandmother vibe, even when she was really young and like it out like the ingenue. Yeah, it's really it's interesting. It's such a great combination.
Unknown Speaker :Like, I want to go back to that ingenue thing for a second just because it's like, that's something I see so much being non binary and just being like, yes, everyone sees me as this. Like everyone saw her as like you said, Oh, yeah, girl, but she had this ingenue inside her and look what got her and there's this thing. Yeah, this queer thing that you're saying about like, I you see me as this but truly like, there's a universe inside me that you couldn't even fathom.
Brooke McHugh :You can't imagine Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I'm gonna live out like my creative life as an artist. The way my vision is not like, like some fucking producer who has no fucking idea what they're talking about. Exactly. Yeah. What cuz you're you're an ingenue to me.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah. You listen you are or you are an entrepreneur. You are a funny lady. You are You are everything to me. It's funny like It Wasn't this the sequel to Funny Girl. That was funny. Yeah.
Brooke McHugh :Okay. I'm a funny lady.
Unknown Speaker :Oh my god. I haven't seen
Brooke McHugh :this James Caan who I'm oddly attracted to though. I feel like he seems like a republican man. But yeah, but is it with her love interest being like,
Unknown Speaker :like Saudis, and yet you think they're like, they're all republicans at this point? Yeah,
Brooke McHugh :like Kris Kristofferson. Like he's not Republican, but he seems like that kind of like it's very, but she also like, there is just rumor that she slept with almost like every leading man which I'm not upset about. She was almost the
Unknown Speaker :she was almost the first lady of Canada. What? Yes. Wait, how do I not know that Justin Trudeau his dad she she had I don't know if it was a relationship or a liaison with Justin Trudeau his dad.
Brooke McHugh :God, that's crazy. Oh my god, she's amazing. I think maybe Prince Charles I could be wrong about Oh, I see that I so see that. She's like Prince Charles is like now I like Charles because that crown episode. Now. I never gave a shit and that crown episode che i was like, you have to be an actor. And he's an environmentalist. I love him.
Unknown Speaker :Do you want to want to know something? I've only seen one episode of the crown I can't get into.
Brooke McHugh :And I tell you that. I'll tell you the story. Maybe it'll inspire you. Okay. I watched it with my mom. And I've always like I hate the Royals because my mom loves the Royals so much
Unknown Speaker :for her mom. No shade. I say
Brooke McHugh :this love you mom, but every time I'm at, you know the home and we're watching a show I look over she's on her laptop. And there's got to be like a 90% chance it's a picture of Kate Middleton mom you're in love with her like you want to marry her.
Unknown Speaker :She's beautiful in town. Yeah,
Brooke McHugh :she's beautiful and kind of boring and you know
Unknown Speaker :all the things are Oil should be
Brooke McHugh :but I watched one episode I fucking it. I was bored as shit. I was like, I hate the show. I hate the oil like Lucas
Unknown Speaker :moss was to know who these people are. Anyway, whatever.
Brooke McHugh :I got sick one day. I was like, Alright, this is the best way to watch things on a plane where you have no other options or like when you're sick and you just have so much time trapped. I watched it like I got so hooked on it. Probably the third episode I was like, This is the only show like I got really. It took me a while to tell my mom because I actually this is a fun fact. I have seen the queen in person which is crazy. You have what wasn't it? Yeah.
Unknown Speaker :Okay. Barbara, step aside for a second the real divas in town the real way. You saw Queen Elizabeth?
Brooke McHugh :Yes. So I was backpacking, and I
Unknown Speaker :got separated from Buckingham Palace
Brooke McHugh :through Buckingham Palace, and I was like, Oh my god, you have a room available?
Unknown Speaker :Where's the loo?
Brooke McHugh :Oh, uh, so I was going sort of like, you know, we're like, what is the church talk? I'm so. Yes. Okay. And there was a huge crowd. And I had lost my friend for some reason, like, and we didn't have each other's numbers. We met at the hospital and stuff and I was walking around. I was like, Well, I'm just gonna, like kind of wander around. Maybe she'll come over here and there's a huge crowd and I was like, what are they waiting for? So I like walked over and I just kind of sat there and there's this woman. And she had her phone out. She's filming and I was like, What are you filming? She was like I don't know but I think someone's here like good enough reason for me for like 20 minutes and then the little fucking Queen came out on the way she she came up closest fuck I have a picture but I don't have it anymore Actually, I had a picture sorry Mike. I had a picture they took it away
Unknown Speaker :how time works
Brooke McHugh :in the past I had it but she she was coming out of the church because they were looking at it for a wedding Prince William's wedding. Yeah, cuz it was when I was like, What 20 is a long time ago now. Yeah, and I saw the queen and I told my mom I sent her a picture and I was like, she's just some old lady like I don't give a fuck.
Unknown Speaker :Like 20 year old answer.
Brooke McHugh :But now now I give a fuck because my god I mean, I don't give a fuck like She's my hero. Like my mom kind of acts like she's a politically like, savvy woman. That's amazing. I'm like, mom, she is like a rich lady who wants to stay rich, like, shrug off.
Unknown Speaker :How close were you to her? Like how far away? I was. I'm sorry if you're bored by this, but I want to know about
Brooke McHugh :it. Yeah. I was like four rows. Now for maybe three rows of people away. And I'm trying to think of like an equivalent. I don't know. Like, I mean, not that foot. Oh, maybe a little bit more than 10 feet. Yeah. Let's say 15 feet. Yeah, I was very close. She's very little. She had I think she was wearing yellow and she had like her hat and her little suit. course I know. I wish I would have done I wish I would have done something drastic like run up to her and then crazy because maybe I would be on the season of the crown is like the woman who got arrested doing
Unknown Speaker :that, you know, because no one one's ever done that before. I'm glad you did. Because probably I probably murder it's probably treasonous. But you know,
Brooke McHugh :just want to be on the crowd.
Unknown Speaker :You just want something like Juilliard graduate to like
Unknown Speaker :to play you and it's like, what was that moment? Like, I really just wanted to be on the crash. I want to be famous. Okay, so that reminds me of when I saw the pope when I was at the Vatican. I'm just gonna leave that story there. What I know, he was what that was like. He was giving a mass but it was truly like, a football field away
Brooke McHugh :literally as close that's like basically being as close to God as possible.
Unknown Speaker :That's what I said. My friend was like, he's not God. And I was like, but I mean, he's the, he's like, you know, VP, at least like Vice President.
Brooke McHugh :I mean, he's as close as you can get. But also, I remember this little kid in my church, went up to the priest and was like, God, it's God in Jesus and it was so loud and it was a church and I was like this is the best that's that's that's queer culture right there
Unknown Speaker :that is anyway let's get back to Barbara let's get back to Barbara I know sorry everyone but I'm not sorry. What do you what is what is if you so your you put your casting director hat on for a moment Okay. What is next? What's your what's the dream role that she needs to do besides mama rose because we're always
Brooke McHugh :yeah we all want
Unknown Speaker :that but what's her next act? what's what's next for her?
Brooke McHugh :Ah, I would love I really would love to see her have like a moment like where she's either on Broadway. It doesn't even have to be musical like I could I mean shit. I could watch her and like Long Day's Journey and tonight or something. I want to see her like, do some Mary Tyrone. Yeah, I want to see her do something like, I feel like she has it as an actress and I don't know. She's gotten to do that as she's aged. Right. And I think there's a lot of great. I think I'm thinking theater because I feel like theater has so many great roles for women that are like over 50. But, I mean, it could be a film, I'd love to have like an iconic director work with her because I feel like there was a while where she was trying to work with like, big directors and, and sort of like, you know, more that had more specific vision. And I don't know if I've gotten to see her do that. Like, I want it I want it again is what I do. Like I'm not I don't feel like she's finished. She's not going out like, like, as we're saying that in my head. I was like, well, she would never work with a Spielberg because she would need the power but like maybe like yeah, a gerwig Yeah, that's that would be amazing. If she did something like that, like something really human and, you know, maybe a lower class. I don't know if I want to see her rich I don't
Unknown Speaker :like I mean, she was in that movie with Seth wrote the roadtrip movie with
Unknown Speaker :Meet the Fockers, like
Brooke McHugh :Yeah, and it's just kind of like it's fine but it's not.
Unknown Speaker :I want to see her like not be glamorous because I feel like she but also well, because she's already done everything glamorous and I feel like it would be surprising if she do it. But also I could see I don't know I could I could see a lot I could see a lot of ways
Brooke McHugh :Yeah, I also feel like there's this I got to see Elaine may and Kenny Lonergan one the fuck how's my brain not working? Corn Waverly? Yeah, that's probably why. Waverly gallery Oh, yes. You told me about it. Yes. And it was such The performance was so like, it felt like it wasn't a performance in a good theatrical way not like one of those ways you're like, Oh, shit, yeah, yeah, showing up here. But I would not really that role but like that moment for Elaine Bay, which is like Elaine may if I don't know if everybody knows, but she was like comedic. Like improv improv improv person, and I can't talk anymore since Florentine. Yeah. And she directed films and she wrote and she's, she's such a funny, talented woman. And she kind of like, you know, there hasn't been much going on and then she's in this play. And it's such a moment of like that talent she has, like, really there. Yeah, I want that for Barbara. Like, I want her to have like a moment where everyone like, gets to go see her and like, respect her. Yeah, like this part of her life too, as an artist, which I feel like it's, you know, people like you're in your 20s and maybe early 30s, then we don't care, you know?
Unknown Speaker :And now we're like, no, no. My last two questions. I could talk about Barbara forever. I know. What do you think she's you touched on this earlier, but what do you think she's doing? Right now? Like,
Brooke McHugh :right? What do you think she's doing? Oh my god. Um, I think she's eating pancakes. Because she's stressed because that's what she does. And she's stressed. I read on Twitter. And she's like, she's sitting eating pancakes. For lunch sitting were in her white rocking chair on her porch in Malibu.
Unknown Speaker :Okay, yeah.
Brooke McHugh :She's looking at a cloud. And she is like, for sure. convinced it's her dog Sammy. talking to her.
Unknown Speaker :We didn't even talk about.
Unknown Speaker :We didn't talk about her dog. We didn't talk about her cloned dog.
Brooke McHugh :Forget about the clone.
Unknown Speaker :Because there's, there's too much to talk about
Brooke McHugh :that too. I know. It's endless. Like even when she's not entertaining us as an artist. She's entertaining us as a ridiculous woman in the funniest way.
Unknown Speaker :Oprah interviewed the speaking of light. We didn't talk about the Oprah interview, Michelle painted the
Brooke McHugh :microphone. microphone while she's all white the turtle Oh my god, that woman. Oh my god
Unknown Speaker :like I said we could talk about it so she's so she's imagining her dog in the clouds.
Brooke McHugh :Yeah, in the clouds and I think she like I bet she's thinking of like writing something and directing something to like fuck with Donald Trump because I feel like she really
Unknown Speaker :right she did she did that one that one album about like bridges not walls or limit. Oh, yeah that video. Well, she did she did the enough is enough isn't Yeah, that one. Let me look at this album. It was so it was in a few box. Not a few box.
Brooke McHugh :You know, I was
Unknown Speaker :trying. I was called balls. It's called walls and it's from 2018 don't don't Oh my God. And Lady Liberty, Lady Liberty which is like lewbert he she's giving us everything. And then she thinks happy are here oh take care of this how anyway anyway,
Brooke McHugh :so many good oh there's also a track Never will I marry which is not true for her but
Unknown Speaker :we didn't talk about her husband's well wait nevermind Mary is that from the
Brooke McHugh :it's from what album Let me see it's it's earlier I oh my god
Unknown Speaker :Audra McDonald sings that song and it she
Brooke McHugh :now knows well it's just a song to put on when you're you don't like men and you're in your car
Unknown Speaker :like me like every hour
Unknown Speaker :I like a match
Brooke McHugh :well anyway what else I mean I feel like is there anything else we should talk about with her there's too
Unknown Speaker :much there's too much husband's the the the music and movies
Unknown Speaker :nails
Brooke McHugh :the hands like her hand obsession. Yeah
Unknown Speaker :stands and listen, we have to wrap this up because my last My last question for you. Yes. If you could say one thing to Barbara right now, what would it be?
Brooke McHugh :Oh my god. That's like, well, first of all, I would be crying.
Unknown Speaker :So cry right now.
Brooke McHugh :I could say one thing to her. Um, I just would say like, I think I would say thank you, which sounds really dramatic. Oh my god. Like, just thank you. Are you being such a crazy ass bitch and not changing? Yeah, I feel like I and I'm just like really grateful for her fucking entertainment. I really, I I don't know I you know I'm curious about certain things in her her life like her relationship. With her mother, which is very strange and I want to know all her you know who she fucked and who she didn't talk because I know we're not supposed to like care about that because we care about art, but I want to know her and like Robert Redford hooked
Unknown Speaker :up. Oh, yeah. I mean, tell me the answer is always Yes. No matter what with. Yeah, I don't know. But like you. Oh, fuck, right. Yeah.
Brooke McHugh :But, you know, maybe also, I would say like, We're not done with you. Like, I really need you to keep working. And I know you're having a relaxing time in Malibu, but get off your ass, and act and sing for me.
Unknown Speaker :Yes. We didn't even talk about the duet album that came out a few years ago. duets with Daisy Ridley at the ballet.
Brooke McHugh :Voice Oh my god. I watched that video all the time. So still,
Unknown Speaker :I haven't seen that one with both of them. But
Brooke McHugh :their music video. It's just it's then recording it. And she's like, she's pregnant. She looks good. That's
Unknown Speaker :right. I guess I have seen it. Once. But as you said, I was like wait, isn't she pregnant? And there's the one where Melissa McCarthy is singing and she doesn't get the note right and she can tell that she's just like, Oh, I don't sing Why did you have me sing on this album? But this is the Barbra Streisand Oh my god. Anyway, this is listen you got to come back you have so many divas
Brooke McHugh :yes oh
Unknown Speaker :I have too many you You are an icon you RGV yourself.
Brooke McHugh :So are you the perfect podcast for you
Unknown Speaker :think well think what because you helped me start it and like I want everyone needs to know that that like this wouldn't exist without you because you helped me like discover things and he helped me come up with diva don't the first time we came up with Remember that?
Unknown Speaker :We were talking about everything you do every hairstyle be like well,
Brooke McHugh :you're gonna take it and Papa watch me fly. That's all I have to say.
Unknown Speaker :Haha, watch me fly. But
Brooke McHugh :yeah, that's what I say to you. I'm watching you fly. I mean, I'm not your papa. I'll be your
Unknown Speaker :Okay, I'm gonna stop recording we can say bye. Bye.
Unknown Speaker :Hey, divas. Thanks for listening. diva worship is a podcast hosted by me, Allen Darby. You can find me at Allen Darby on Twitter and Instagram. Audio help is from Sarah which my logo was designed by Jose Hernandez. You can follow him at j c dot art. If you like the podcast subscribe rate five stars and leave me a review on Apple podcasts. You know you want to tune in next week when I talked to my friend Shay goon about Tracy Chapman. Stay safe, stay fabulous and don't take any shit from anyone like the star you are. Also drink water. I'll see you next week. Bye divas
