October 13, 2009

Bono, The Edge and The Boss are Centre Stage In Second Season of SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH… on CTV and Bravo!

- Critically-acclaimed series lines up musical heavy weights such as Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett and Ron Sexsmith join host Elvis Costello in seven-part season -
- Special episode taped with Bono and The Edge at Canada’s historic Masonic Temple -

"...the appeal of "Spectacle" has much to do with Mr. Costello's intergenerational coolness."
(New York Times)

"Spectacle: Elvis Costello With... is a marvel….It's quiet, low key and utterly fascinating."
(Canwest News Service)

"Spectacle is an engaging showcase for a curious mind."
(TIME)

Toronto, ON (October 13, 2009) – With the ultimate backstage pass, fans of rock n’ roll can rejoice! CTV and Bravo! announced today the impressive list of guests ready to entertain in the second season of the critically-acclaimed music/talk series SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH… (broadcast premieres to be announced at a later date). Bringing together the best elements of talk and music television, the program invites viewers into an intimate conversation between host Costello and his guests, which are both legendary performers and promising new artists. This season’s line-up is full of musical masters, including members of one of the greatest rock bands of all time – Grammy® and JUNO Award winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Bono and The Edge of U2, who recorded their session with Costello in Toronto, Canada, at the celebrated historic musical venue, the Masonic Temple. Produced in part by Sir Elton John and David Furnish, the series features unprecedented pairings, group discussions and impromptu, historical performances.

Among the additional confirmed guests for the seven-part season are Grammy®, Golden Globe® and Oscar® winning New Jersey rocker Bruce Springsteen, multi-Grammy®, multi-platinum artist Sheryl Crow; Grammy winners Lyle Lovett, John Prine, Levon Helm and Allen Toussaint; Neko Case, Jesse Winchester, Ray LaMontagne, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson, and JUNO Award winning Canadian Ron Sexsmith.

**Media Note** - Download photos from SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH… at www.ctvmedia.ca

“Once again, Elvis and the SPECTACLE producers completed the impressive task of gathering some of the industry’s top names, including rock idols Bono and The Edge, who taped their intimate session at the historic Masonic Temple in Toronto,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. “This season’s guest list is diverse, unpredictable, compelling and relevant – just like Elvis himself.”

“Elvis, Elton, myself and the rest of the producing team are thrilled these influential artists are joining us for our second season,” said David Furnish, Executive Producer. “We know fans of our show will be blown-away by each performance, especially the powerful talent that is Bono and The Edge.”

Embraced by both critics and viewers in its ground-breaking first season, SPECTACLE proved that there is a substantial audience for an intelligent and entertaining program about music, becoming one of last season’s top 10 new shows 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 show fuses the best of talk and music television.

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 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 one of SPECTACLE is now available on iTunes, and a DVD/BluRay box set will be released throughout North America 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. The show 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.

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.

The program's eclecticism and depth reflect its uniquely qualified host. Elvis 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 whose stint as guest host on The Late Show with David Letterman won rave reviews.

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.

CTV, Canada’s Olympic Network, is also Canada's largest private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV is Canada’s most-watched television network. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country and owns or has interests in leading national specialty channels, featuring news, sports, factual, arts, entertainment, music, youth and fashion programming. CTV Inc. is owned by CTVglobemedia Inc., Canada’s premier multi-media company, which also owns Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail. CTV is the official broadcaster of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and London 2012 Games of the Olympiad. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca.


- CTV-


* Source: BBM Nielsen Media Research, CTV Total, Global Total and CBC Total

Sept. 1, 2008 – May 24, 2009, minimum five telecasts

For more information:

Renée Horton, CTV Inc., 416.384.5374 or renee.horton@ctv.ca

Allie Page, CTV Inc., 416.384.4596 or allie.page@ctv.ca

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