Cinema often relies on tropes to tell a story. The familiar rags-to-riches, Pygmalion, fish-out-of-water motifs all surface in the two films theatre professor Kirk Vichengrad and entertainment journalist Matthew Chernov explore in this episode: Barbra Streisand's 1976 hit A Star Is Born and Sylvester Stallone's 1984 flop Rhinestone. With music woven into their narratives, both movies try to convince audiences that supernova stars like Streisand and Stallone can dim their shine and quiet their egos to make their transformations believable. Essential to these classic teacher-student showbiz tales is strong chemistry between co-stars as they attempt to create beautiful music together. Discover whether these two icons find harmony… or hit a few sour notes.

We look forward to hearing from you on our social media accounts! You can find us at @BabsAndSly on Facebook, X and Instagram, or via email at BabsAndSly@gmail.com. And we invite you to subscribe to the podcast to stay informed about new episodes and other surprises. Also, please click the SEND US A TEXT button below to share your thoughts directly to us. We'd love to hear your opinions of these films, our two superstars, and of course, the podcast itself. As we grow, we are so grateful for your feedback and support, which helps us spread the word of Babs and Sly: A Streisand and Stallone Podcast.

Show theme music composed and provided by Brian Kinler.

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Every actor yearns to stretch, proving their range of capabilities with each role. For superstars like Barbra Streisand and Sylvester Stallone, that desire also means transcending the "persona" that made them stars in the first place. In this episode, our silver screen icons trade the big studio picture for something resembling the emerging independent film scene that exploded in the late 80s - auteur character studies, artistically told with limited budgets but bountiful grit. For many, these films provide an opportunity for a new cinematic voice to be heard; for established performers like Streisand and Stallone it's a shot at reinvention, culminating in that ultimate sign of approval: an Academy Award.

Join theatre professor Kirk Vichengrad and entertainment journalist Matthew Chernov on a fascinating and unexpected exploration of the atypical performances by our legends in their respective Oscar-bait films, "Nuts" and "Cop Land."

We look forward to hearing from you on our social media accounts! You can find us at @BabsAndSly on Facebook, X and Instagram, or via email at BabsAndSly@gmail.com. And we invite you to subscribe to the podcast to stay informed about new episodes and other surprises.

Also, please click the SEND US A TEXT button below to quickly share your thoughts directly with us. We’d love to hear your opinions of these films, our two superstars, and of course, the podcast itself. As we grow, we are so grateful for your feedback and support, which helps us spread the word of Babs and Sly: A Streisand and Stallone Podcast.

Show Theme Music composed and provided by Brian Kinler.

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Despite the old adage that "the book is always better than the movie," our hosts Kirk Vichengrad, a theatre professor, and Matthew Chernov, an entertainment journalist, argue that a successful adaptation should capture the essence of its source material while standing on its own as an achievement in a different medium. In this episode, they explore the film adaptations of the best-selling novels The Prince of Tides and First Blood, both of which earned critical and commercial success — and the enthusiastic approval of their authors, Pat Conroy and David Morrell. Through a deep dive into Barbra Streisand's 1991 directorial triumph and Sylvester Stallone's 1982 launch of the blockbuster Rambo franchise, the conversation uncovers surprising common themes and compelling insights into "the memories that haunt us and the truth that sets us free."

We look forward to hearing from you on our social media accounts! You can find us at @BabsAndSly on Facebook, X and Instagram, or via email at BabsAndSly@gmail.com. And we invite you to subscribe to the podcast to stay informed about new episodes and other surprises. Also, please click the "Send Us a Text" button below to share your thoughts with us directly. We’d love to hear your opinions of these films, our two superstars, and the podcast itself. As we grow, we're grateful for your feedback and support, which helps us spread the word of Babs and Sly: A Streisand and Stallone Podcast.

Our show's theme music is composed and provided by Brian Kinler

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