By April MacIntyre Nov 30, 2009, 12:58 GMT
Elvis Costello's excellent music-centric talk show on the Sundance Channel will launch its second season this December 9. Costello broke wide last year with the critically acclaimed original series "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..."
11/18/2009 - Bono - Elvis Costello's excellent music-centric talk show on the Sundance Channel will launch its second season this December 9. Costello broke wide last year with the critically acclaimed original series "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." © Janet Mayer / PR Photos
The series kicks off on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 10:00pm et/pt with an episode featuring U2's Bono and The Edge.
The inaugural season of "Spectacle" featured an extraordinary and eclectic roster of legendary musicians and fascinating personalities including: Elton John, Tony Bennett, Lou Reed, Julian Schnabel, Smokey Robinson, The Police (Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers), James Taylor, Herbie Hancock, Rufus Wainwright, Rosanne Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Diana Krall, John Mellencamp, Jakob Dylan, She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward), Norah Jones, Jenny Lewis, Renée Fleming and President Bill Clinton.
"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." is taped in front of a live audience at Harlem's world famous Apollo Theater in New York City and The Masonic Temple in Toronto, Canada. The series will also air on CTV in Canada.
"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." combines the best elements of talk and music television and lets viewers in on intimate conversation and performances with host Costello and his guests, who range from legendary artists to promising new talent.
The series includes one-on-one interviews, unprecedented pairings and group discussions, as well as extraordinary performances, from impromptu "illustrative" moments to full band (and even multi-band) productions.
Among the confirmed guests for the seven-part season are: Bono, The Edge, Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett, John Prine, Ron Sexsmith, Neko Case, Jesse Winchester, Ray LaMontagne, Nick Lowe, Levon Helm, Richard Thompson and Allen Toussaint.
"We're thrilled to launch a second season of 'Spectacle' on Sundance Channel," said Sundance Channel EVP and GM, Sarah Barnett. "The series offers viewers unusually close access to artists through its mix of candid conversations and exciting musical performances. This season's A-list line-up is a testament to the tremendous respect that artists feel for Elvis Costello as a musician and entertainer."
"I am delighted that we can continue where we left off--making intelligent, and informative music programming," said Sir Elton John, one of the series' executive producers.
Elvis Costello was effusive the series resonated with so many people. "In the words of the great Joe Strummer, 'Let's rock again!'"
The program's depth reflect its uniquely qualified host. Costello is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee; a Grammy and Ivor Novello Award-winning (and Oscar-nominated) songwriter and performer comfortable in almost every genre imaginable; a musicologist of formidable breadth and knowledge; a contributor to Vanity Fair magazine; and a noted wit who made his bones as a guest host on The Late Show with David Letterman, a surprise performance that won rave reviews.
The schedule for Season Two of "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with ..." is as follows:
December 9th at 10:00pm--"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Bono and The Edge"
December 16th at 10:00pm--"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Sheryl Crow, Neko Case, Ron Sexsmith and Jesse Winchester"
December 23rd at 10:00pm--"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Levon Helm, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson and Allen Toussaint"
December 30th 6:00 - 10:00pm--"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." marathon
January 6th at 10:00pm--"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Elvis Costello"
January 13th at 10:00pm--"Elvis Costello with Lyle Lovett, Ray LaMontagne, and John Prine"
January 20th at 10:00pm--"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Bruce Springsteen part 1"
January 27th at 10:00pm--"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Bruce Springsteen part 2"
Season one of "Spectacle" is now available on iTunes, and a DVD/BluRay box set was released in the U.S. on November 17, 2009.
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