Recently, the Police played a sold-out show in our gleaming new Sprint Center arena. The warmup act was Elvis Costello. Think about that. Elvis warming up Sting. I can remember a time when that arrangement would have been absolutely unacceptable. And as far as I'm concerned, it still is. I didn't go because I figured that Elvis would get the shorter set (true) and the Police's sound-board guys (not sure if this is true, but those who went said Costello and the Impostors sounded awful while Sting, Andy and Stewart were like the Andrews Sisters with a drum kit).
So as I'm getting ready for press tour, which starts in LA next week, I'm getting a notice that Sundance Channel will be presenting a panel to promote a new CTV series it picked up for U.S. distribution called "Spectacle." (Sundance, by the way, is responsible for bringing some of the great imports to American audiences, including Canada's "Slings and Arrows" and the soon-to-be-NBC-ized "Kath & Kim." That's why Time Warner cavalierly taking it off my TiVo for several months has me seeing red.)
Well, as you can tell from the picture, Elvis is having a little help producing this show, which looks to be a lot like HBO's "Off the Record" with Euthrymic Dave Stewart (great show, by the way; did you see the one with Ringo where he said the reason he wanted the Beatles to end was "when I hit 30, I just wanted to play blues"? I know the feeling!).
Yes, that's Sir Elton producing "Spectacle" and trying his best to overshadow the King.
Related: My debacle of an interview with Elvis at TV critics tour.
From Sundance PR:
ELVIS COSTELLO AND ELTON JOHN TO MAKE A TELEVISION “SPECTACLE”
(London/New York/Toronto - April 2, 2008) - Two of the most respected musicians in the world will collaborate on an extraordinary new television series.
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… will be hosted by its namesake and produced in conjunction with Sir Elton John’s Rocket Pictures. Elton John will be one of the program's Executive Producers.
The series will air beginning later this year, on CTV in Canada, Channel 4 in the UK and Sundance Channel in the US. FremantleMedia Enterprises, will handle sales of the show to the rest of the world.
Conceived to provide a forum for in-depth discussion and performance with the most interesting and influential artists and personalities of our time, the show fuses the best of talk and music television.
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… promises to be an unpredictable and unprecedented television experience. The series of 13 one-hour programs will feature everything from intimate one-on-ones with legendary performers and notable newcomers to thematic panel discussions, with a variety of performance elements including unique collaborations, acoustic and impromptu “illustrative” demonstrations of the creative process, and some original interpretations of others’ songs by Costello.
With all due respect to Rocket Man, I would not care two hoots about this show if he were part of it or not. But having Elvis Costello, by all accounts a great raconteur, in the room with anyone should make for a terrific show, that is, if my cable company will allow me to see it.
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