Urban Myths: Joan Rivers And Barbra Streisand. Image shows from L to R: Barbra Streisand (Jessica Barden), Joan Rivers (Katherine Ryan). Copyright: Fulwell 73 Productions

Key details

Genre
Comedy Drama
Broadcast
2020
Channel
Sky Arts
Episodes
1
Stars
Katherine Ryan, Jessica Barden, Laurie Kynaston, Debbie Chazen, Ed Gaughan, Linal Haft and Joe Gallina
Writer
Sue Perkins
Director
Sue Perkins
Producers
Amber Howorth, Heather Greenwood, Benjamin Turner, Morwenna Gordon, Carolyn Parry Jones, James Corden, Ben Winston, Leo Pearlman and Gabe Turner
Company

This episode is based on Joan Rivers's recollections of a play she starred in with Barbra Streisand. Streisand has remained tight-lipped about the whole experience.

A sixteen-year-old Barbra Streisand is in rehearsals for Driftwood, an off-Broadway play, when a woman, dressed head to toe in fur, bursts through the door. She's Joan Molinsky, although the world will soon come to know her as Joan Rivers.

Joan is failing as a club comic and wants to turn her hand to more serious artistic pursuits. Unfortunately, the only part available is 'Man in Black', which Joan blithely demands is gender-swapped to 'Woman in Black'. Joan hasn't bothered to read the play, and therefore doesn't realise that the 'Woman in Black' and Barbra's character, Lorna, have a love scene together.

Additional details

Part of

Urban Myths

Also known as
  • Urban Myths: Joan Rivers And Barbra Streisand
  • When Barbra Kissed Joan (Working title)
Production
Studio
Picture
Colour

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Wednesday 14th October 2020 at 10pm on Sky Arts
Episode length
30 minutes
Most recent repeats
  • Tuesday 11th April 2023 at 1:00am on Sky Arts
  • Wednesday 14th September 2022 at 2:15am on Sky Arts
  • Thursday 7th April 2022 at 3:00am on Sky Arts

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