Barney maintains image at every turn in interview

Trying to throw some curveballs at the icon didn't get too far.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Barney the purple dinosaur doesn't front when it comes to image. What you see -- an oversized, plum-colored, extinct creature that entertains kids with recycled children's rhymes and preschool games -- is what you get.
And that's great. We get it. But in terms of previewing the all-new "Barney Live! The Let's Go Tour," which rolls into Pittsburgh Friday through Sunday, perhaps a laidback Q & amp;A would give Barney an opportunity to let his hair down and dish on the children's entertainment industry.
After all, most fans of Barney can't read the paper, so it's not as though we're leaking top-secret information regarding North Pole inhabitants or undercover tooth fairy representatives. Well, it turns out the purple dinosaur has no hair and must remain in character at all times.
Maybe it's his method acting approach or he's a Scientologist. Who knows? Image is everything to celebrities and Barney isn't about to mess around with his. So, after questions were submitted by e-mail and summarily rejected, protracted negotiations into the 11th hour between our people (me!) and his people (his publicist) began.
Took some effort
An agreement was reached that is nothing short of journalistic capitulation of the most embarrassing degree with the sole purpose of getting a preview of "Barney Live! The Let's Go Tour" in this paper. Pride was swallowed but what follows is a list of rejected questions, approved questions and Barney's clean-cut answers. Hold on for nothing.
Original question: Have you noticed all of your songs have the same melodies as popular children rhymes? Any worries about copyright infringement? (Granted this is a loaded question but you can't let the dinosaur thing keep you from asking the tough ones.)
Accepted question: "Please" and "thank you" are the magic words. Why?
Barney: Good manners are very important -- always! And one fine way to encourage good manners is to show good manners. I always like to say "please" and "thank you." And the very best thing we can do is to share with our friends and to care for our friends everyday!
Original question: Who was a better singer for Van Halen: David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar? (The publicist outright refused this question, giving credence to the rumor Barney has ties to the Gary Cherone camp.)
Accepted question: After a long day of entertaining kids and loving everybody, how does Barney unwind? (NOTE: the end of this question asked Barney if he ever vacationed in Las Vegas. It was sadly crossed out and not answered. We'll never know if Barney likes the slots, craps or betting on the ponies.)
Barney: One way I like to relax is by reading books. My friends and I have lots of books that we like to read together. We also share our books so we always have something new to read. All in all, everyday is a good day as long as I'm with my friends.
Not showin' the love?
Original question: I know your theme song is based on love but there has to be someone you don't love ... any foreign dignitaries or "Desperate Housewives" characters or professional athletes or convicted murderers or self-help therapists or Disney Channel stars? (We can only dream of a day when Barney can honestly tell us who's on his hate list.)
Accepted question: When in Cleveland, will you visit the Rock Hall?
Barney: I am so excited to see all my friends when I visit Cleveland. And it's always fun to get everyone together and visit the Rock Hall -- just thinking about it makes me want to start singing and dancing. Sometimes I use my imagination to take me places and in Cleveland, stu-u-pendous places are just a hop and a skip away. On your mark ... get set ... let's go!
Original question: Doesn't Dorothy the Dinosaur on "The Wiggles" make you sick? (Any parent who has witnessed this cheap facsimile of Barney will understand the anger.)
Accepted question: Why should families come see Barney "Barney Live! The Let's Go Tour & quot;?
Barney: BJ and Baby Bop and I are going on an adventure to a tee-rific toy factory. We're going to meet dancing teddy bears, out-of-this-world robots and a blue jay who likes to play the blues -- it's going to be so much fun! I hope you can come, too.
So there you have it. Barney talks and we didn't learn a darn thing. Hmm, Dora the Explorer is coming to town next month. Maybe she'll dish on all of the behind-the-scenes SpongeBob SquarePants and Nickelodeon dirt.