NBC (1968-12-03) - Elvis' '68 Comeback Special - Singer commercials

[fromthesidelines]

This pre-empted part of "NBC TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES" on December 3, 1968, at 9pm(et). Following this special, at 10pm(et), was a now-forgotten one, "SPECIAL BARDOT", featuring actress Brigitte Bardot in her first (and only) TV variety special, filmed in Paris and London. It did not receive the same 42 percent of viewers who tuned in to see Elvis, though.

[wmbrown6]

@fromthesidelines - I presume that, while 'Bebe' did not get the same numbers as Elvis, she still got a higher number than a "CBS News Special" in which Eric Sevareid and Martin Agronsky interviewed Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black - let alone a "That's Life" episode on ABC where Sid Caesar was a guest.

[wmbrown6]

P.S. I have since read in a book on the Supreme Court and the media, that Bardot's special all but slaughtered Justice Black's hour-long interview show in the ratings (the only such TV interview he ever gave, as it turned out), despite her show not even approaching the level of Elvis' audience; thus allowing NBC to win the night.

[fromthesidelines]

The official title of this special was "SINGER PRESENTS ELVIS", and was publicized as such in their print ads, as well as the special RCA Victor "Singer Presents Elvis Singing Flaming Star and Others" album {PRS-279, featuring previous recordings} you could buy at Singer dealers for $1.95, "one to a customer" (3:16). In later years, it was repeated (and repackaged on home video) as "The '68 Comeback Special", minus the Singer title and ads.

[SuperWatson63]

my 5th birthday..

[joeblowthehot]

I have a Pfaff

[3dogsdesert]

I just had a flashback...OMG...the commercials are the best, and then there's Elvis and the Comebackl Special was so great

[PinkParkaGirl]

THANK YOU for posting this! My grandfather was the creator of the slogan "What's new for tomorrow is at Singer today," and he worked on many of the commercials for the company during this era. The flag that says "Bobby" at 0:35 is a reference to my father, who was almost ten at the time this show aired (he was told to pay special attention to that particluar commercial!). It''s really amazing to see this - thank you again for uploading these great ads!

[3dogsdesert]

@PinkParkaGirl how cool is that!!!

[noahf67]

Where can I get ahold of that portable color TV...? Would be great to connect the DVD player for those FBI and Mod Squad episodes...!

[olivem100]

$298 for a color portable? Some things have improved since 1968!

[hebneh]

I watched the Elvis special when it was first shown, so I must've also seen these commercials - but I have to say I don't remember 'em. Well...it has been 40 years.