Elvis was 33, overexposed, and nearly washed up. Then he picked up a guitar, stripped the glitter, and blew the roof off prime-time TV.
This doc is pure swagger, sweat, and salvation.
It’s neck and neck for the best Elvis documentary (you can se e “Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii” (check out “The Best Elvis Documentaries” (where I rank 17 of ’em!).
Trailer for “Elvis: The Comeback Special”
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- The broadcast pulled a 42% share of the TV audience—the highest-rated show of the season—and beat everything else on television that week.
- The original plan was to have Elvis wear a cardigan and sing Christmas songs. Instead, he wore leather and sang “Trouble.”
- The taping overlapped with the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Elvis was so moved that he insisted on ending the show with “If I Can Dream,” a civil rights anthem inspired by MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Watch “Elvis: The Comeback Special”
You can stream “Elvis: The Comeback Special” on Amazon Prime Video.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 90/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 91/100 (Users), na (Critics)
Director’s Note: Steve Binder directed this 50-minute special. He had to fight Elvis’ manager Colonel Tom Parker to steer the show away from corny Christmas crooning and toward something bold and honest.
Release Date: December 3, 1968 (NBC)
My Review of “Elvis: The Comeback Special”
The Setup
After almost a decade lost in forgettable Hollywood musicals, Elvis came back to live performance in this landmark NBC special. Dressed in head-to-toe black leather, seated in a boxing ring-shaped stage, and surrounded by fans, he ripped through his hits with a stripped-down band—and real swagger.
More Highlights from the Doc
- The “sit-down” sets were unscripted jam sessions—Elvis goofing off, swapping stories, and reworking his early hits like “Heartbreak Hotel.”
- The show helped Elvis reconnect with his roots—both musically and personally. You can see his confidence return right on camera.
- It sparked a full comeback: new albums, his 1969 hit “Suspicious Minds,” and a Vegas residency that redefined him for a new era.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Director Steve Binder ignored Colonel Parker’s orders and went straight to Elvis with his pitch to make the show “real.” Elvis immediately agreed.
- “If I Can Dream” was written overnight by Walter Earl Brown—Binder snuck the lyrics to Elvis, who insisted it be the finale.
- Filmed at NBC’s Studio 4 in Burbank, the special was shot in just a few jam-packed days in June 1968.
- Binder would later say that Elvis was nervous before filming—but transformed as soon as he stepped on stage in front of a live audience again.
Wrap Up
“Elvis: The Comeback Special” isn’t just a concert—it’s a resurrection. Watch it if you want to see a star grab back his crown in real time.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer Daily Doc