NBC Television Specials

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Lore & Background

The special was born from a deal struck in October 1967, when Colonel Tom Parker approached NBC West Coast vice president Tom Sarnoff with a proposal for a Christmas television special. The $1,250,000 package included financing for a motion picture, its soundtrack, the television special, and rerun costs. The special was to be sponsored by the Singer Corporation. Presley's initial reaction was negative—he felt it was another scheme and was angered by the idea of singing Christmas carols on national television. But after talks with producer Bob Finkel, the concept shifted. Finkel recruited director Steve Binder, who had directed the concert film T.A.M.I. Show and worked on Hullabaloo. Binder was initially reluctant but was convinced by his associate Bones Howe, who had met Presley in the 1950s. A meeting was arranged where Parker assured full creative control, though he stressed that publishing rights must be under Presley's name. Binder and Howe met with Presley later that week and informed him they would prepare all details by the time he returned from a planned vacation in Hawaii.

In Their Own Story

The production faced complications from the start. By June 3, Presley returned to Hollywood for two weeks of rehearsals. Bones Howe insisted on the possibility of a soundtrack album from which he would earn royalties as its producer, leading NBC to order Binder to remove him from the staff. Musical director Billy Goldenberg complained that arranger Billy Strange had not completed any musical arrangements with only two weeks before the end of preproduction; Strange left the project, alleging he was too busy. A week before rehearsals ended, the production team allowed Howe to return as producer and engineer. On June 4, Senator Robert Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after giving a live television speech; he died two days later. Binder recalled in a 2005 interview: 'One night when we were rehearsing, the television set was on the other room and all of a sudden there was this moment of silence. And I said, "I think Bobby Kennedy's just been shot." And we all rushed into the other office and that's exactly what happened.' According to Binder, this event further motivated Presley to record 'If I Can Dream' as the special's closing number. On June 17, the team moved to NBC studios in Burbank. Goldenberg asked Finkel to remove Presley's large entourage from the production area, complaining they interfered with the creative process. Binder and Howe developed the concept of the informal section after seeing Presley interacting with his entourage during breaks. Binder planned to shoot the segment in the locker room, but Parker opposed this; Binder settled for a sit-down session instead.

Reader's Guide

This special spans roughly from its initial planning in October 1967 to its airing on December 3, 1968, marking a distinct shift in Presley's artistic direction. Musically, it is characterized by a return to live performance after seven years focused on films, moving away from the formulaic movie soundtracks. The defining event was the '68 Comeback Special itself, which included a sit-down session showcasing Presley in an informal setting with a small band and fans. The special topped the Nielsen ratings for its week, earning 42% of the television audience, and became the most-watched show of the season. The lasting impact is profound: it relaunched Presley's singing career, directly leading into his later Las Vegas residency era.

Did You Know?

• The special was initially planned as a Christmas special by NBC and Colonel Tom Parker, but director Steve Binder created a concert reflecting the musical trends of the time instead.
• The $1,250,000 package deal included financing for a motion picture ($850,000), its soundtrack ($25,000), the television special ($250,000), and $125,000 for rerun costs.
• Presley's initial reaction to the special was negative—he felt it was another scheme by Parker and was angered by the idea of singing Christmas carols on national television.
• The assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy on June 4, 1968, during rehearsals, motivated Presley to record 'If I Can Dream' as the special's closing number.
• The special earned 42% of the television audience and became the most-watched show of the television season.