Microphone check! CTV announced today the return of Season 2 of SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH…, kicking off on Saturday, March 20 at 10 p.m. ET on CTV (visit ctv.ca to confirm local broadcast times). After the much buzzed-about December sneak peak of Episode 1, featuring Bono and The Edge, all seven new episodes roll out with additional artists such as Ron Sexsmith, Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett and the legendary Bruce Springsteen, whose season finale episode airs in two parts. Viewers can also catch encore episodes on Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET, starting March 21, on Bravo!
“Season 2 of SPECTACLE continues to showcase not only musical legends, but Elvis’ personal musical icons as well,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. “Through revealing conversations and memorable performances with Elvis, what becomes apparent is the mutual admiration between subject and host.”
In December 2009, the critically acclaimed original music/talk series delivered a rocking Season 2 sneak preview featuring music superstars Bono and The Edge of U2. The special episode was filmed at one of the most renowned musical venues in Canada, the Concert Hall at CTV’s legendary Masonic Temple. Fans can catch the memorable episode again on April 3. The musically historic venue also plays backdrop to one of the most important upcoming episodes of the series dedicated to the work of the legendary host himself, Elvis Costello, on April 10.
In the Season 2 premiere (March 20), host Elvis Costello is joined by guests Neko Case, Sheryl Crow, Ron Sexsmith and Jesse Winchester for an old fashioned “guitar pull”; a swapping of songs and stories amongst this amazing group of singer/songwriters. Highlights include Crow’s “If It Makes You Happy”, a Sexsmith and Elvis duet of a Costello classic, and Jesse Winchester reducing the audience (and his cohorts) to tears with his gentle lyrics and voice. Other songs performed during the episode include “Payday”, “Secret Heart”, “Don’t Forget Me”, “Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding”, “Everyday I Write the Book”, “Leaving Las Vegas”, “Brand New Tennessee Waltz”, “Prison Girls” and “Ring Them Bells”.
The schedule for the entire season is as follows:
Airdate Guests
Saturday, March 20 Neko Case, Sheryl Crow, Ron Sexsmith and Jesse Winchester
Saturday, March 27 Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson, Allen Toussaint and Levon Helm
Saturday, April 3 Bono and The Edge
Saturday, April 10 Mary Louise Parker interviews Elvis Costello
Saturday, April 17 John Prine, Lyle Lovett and Ray Lamontagne
Saturday, April 24 Bruce Springsteen, Part 1
Saturday, May 1 Bruce Springsteen, Part 2
Listed as one of the top shows of 2009 by U.S. heavy weight publications such as TIME Magazine, Entertainment Weekly and the New York Times, SPECTACLE proved that there is a substantial audience for an intelligent and entertaining program about music. It also became one of last season’s Top 10 new television series in Canada*. Designed to provide a forum for in-depth discussion and performance with the most interesting and influential artists and personalities of our time, the CTV original series fuses the best of talk and music television. SPECTACLE also features 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.
SPECTACLE’s inaugural season featured an extraordinary and eclectic roster of legendary musicians and fascinating personalities, starting with Sir Elton John, before delving into an astonishing range of musical genres, including pop, rock, jazz, country and even opera. Guests ranged from The Police to President Bill Clinton, and the series won rave reviews all over the world, airing on CTV and Bravo! in Canada and on Sundance Channel in the U.S., as well as on Channel 4 in the UK, ABC in Australia, HBO throughout Latin America, and in a number of other international territories. Season 1 of SPECTACLE is now available on iTunes, and a DVD/BluRay box set was released throughout North America on November 10, 2009.
Co-produced by Toronto’s reinvention entertainment, SpyBox Pictures and Prospero Pictures, along with London-based Rocket Pictures in association with CTV and Sundance Channel, SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH… is an unpredictable and unprecedented television experience. The series of one-hour programs features everything from intimate one-on-ones with legendary performers and notable newcomers to thematic panel discussions. Season 2 of the series was taped in front of a live audience at Harlem’s world famous Apollo Theater in New York City and Toronto’s historic Masonic Temple.
Consistent with Sir Elton John’s long-standing commitment to philanthropy and music, the series producers have struck an exciting association with the (Product) RED (www.joinred.com) campaign created to raise awareness and money for the Global Fund (www.theglobalfund.org) to fight AIDS in Africa. Select program excerpts and performances will be distributed in a variety of new media and conventional platforms, with a portion of the profits directed to the Global Fund.
SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH… is produced by Rocket Pictures, SpyBox Pictures, Prospero Pictures and reinvention entertainment, in association with CTV and Sundance Channel. Executive Producers are Sir Elton John, Elvis Costello, David Furnish, Steve Hamilton-Shaw, Jordan Jacobs, Martin Katz and Stephen Warden. Co-Executive Producer is Alex Coletti. For CTV, Susanne Boyce is President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.
