I actually saw Peters in "The Goodbye Girl" and agree that she was not shown to good advantage. I think there were problems with the show and some of the keys some of her songs were in, as there were lots of new songs being put in and taken out, if I recall correctly. Even worse, though, was her part, which is a real stick-in-the-mud. Any time that Martin Short's character wants to do something fun, she puts up an argument and wants to put the kibosh on it. It was a pretty dreadful show with a not very good score. Short's performance was the only thing really enjoyable in it. I knew there was something wrong with a show in which I didn't want to hear Bernadette Peters sing another song; her songs all sounded the same and they just lay there. I don't recall her being unprofessional; I think that her part just wasn't musicalized well. I'm not discounting your experience though -- it's possible she had a really off night. Marsha Mason in the film plays the character as a very difficult lady as well, but somehow she became more palatable in the screenplay.
Otherwise, I've seen Peters give superb performances in "Sunday in the Park with George", "Into the Woods", "Gypsy" (yes, she was excellent by the time I saw her, as well as on the Tony broadcast), "Song and Dance" and "A Little Night Music". Her Sally in "Follies" was controversial, and some keys for the songs showed off a break between head and chest voice which she was having some difficult negotiating the night I went; plus her characterization of playing her as extremely needy and unhinged from the get-go must have passed muster with the director (or possibly started with him).
She has always been professional when I've seen her, and for the most part, on stage, screen and television, and recordings like "Mack and Mabel", usually wonderful.
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