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August 14 - 20, 2023 Page 3 By Jay Bobbin Elvis Presley's legendary 1968 television special was a turning point not only for him, but for many of the other people involved in it. One was producer-director Steve Binder, who candidly told the "King" of music that the latter's ca- reer was "in the toilet," so he needed to do the NBC-televised hour. The result quickly became a legendary piece of television, and Paramount+ looks back at it in the new offering "Reinventing Elvis: The '68 Come- back," which starts streaming Tues- day, Aug, 15 — the night before the 46th anniversary of Presley's death, and following the project's limited showings in movie theaters globally. While incorporating many seg- ments from the original show, "Re- inventing Elvis" examines Presley's relationship not only with Binder (who narrates the bulk of the film), but also with Col. Tom Parker, the famously strict manager who kept tight control over Presley. Singers Darius Rucker and Drake Milligan are among those who offer com- ments, along with journalist Alanna Nash and Anita Mann, who was a dancer on the 1968 special. Also an executive producer of "Reinventing Elvis," Binder main- tains that he's "real pleased with what they did" creatively with the documentary, though he admits he was skeptical at first. "When I was approached to get involved, I said, 'There are so many third-party stories about Elvis, why do we need another one?' Then they pitched me their idea, and it really covered 1968 as a whole. I was rooting for them from the sidelines, and I certainly was responsive to any of their re- quests for more material." Music-documentary veteran John Scheinfeld — who also has done projects on John Lennon, John Col- trane, Herb Alpert and Harry Nils- son — directed "Reinventing Elvis," which also has music-industry legend Spencer Proffer, a longtime Binder associate, as the executive producer who conceived it. "There are so few of us alive today who were there when it all happened," Binder reflects of the 1968 Elvis show. "There have been specials and books about it, but I never felt that anybody who was there told the real story. ACROSS 1 u.K. award 4 Part of an ear 7 Place for a pampering 10 "Mad Men" star Jon 12 Tempe school, for short 13 start of a conclusion 14 Olive genus 15 "Friends" alumnus Court- eney 16 "Cheers" foam 17 Judd of "Taxi" 19 TV "shark" Kevin 21 It's past due 22 "The Producers" (1967) and "Young Frankenstein" (1974) director Brooks 23 Oscar-winning Marisa of "My Cousin Vinny (1992) 26 "Modern Family" star Nolan 30 Bouquets 31 Come as a result 32 Entice 33 Marsh of mystery 34 Writer Fleming 36 Driller's deg. 37 Old Pierce Brosnan detec- tive drama "Remington ___" 40 Chemical cousin 44 Math class, for short 45 Big bird 47 Au naturel 48 Animated anvil supplier 49 Cartoonist Browne 50 "I'm rubber and you're ___!" 51 Diddley and Derek 52 Devious 53 Kind of TV screen DOWN 1 Excited cry 2 Indonesian island 3 Like a 911 call: Abbr. 4 secret stockpile 5 Bear, in Barcelona 6 Full-bodied beauty 7 Where the Mets once played 8 Bosc or Bartlett 9 Conan's sidekick 11 PBs anthology series that airs British productions 13 2018 BBC miniseries set in colonial Jamaica 18 Bic product line 20 DC series "___ of Tomor- row" 23 "sesame street" watcher 24 Poetic tribute 25 sitcom that starred Allison Janney 27 g7 country 28 Him, to Henri 29 "In excelsis ___" 35 "The Big Bang Theory" characters 36 Children's series "Nicky, Ricky, ___ & Dawn" 37 someone who crosses the line? 38 Tex-Mex snack 39 Trees afflicted by a Dutch disease 41 "Roseanne" and "Arrest- ed Development" actor Martin 42 Cabinet dept. 43 "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) star Donna 46 Painter's medium CoverStory Rocking reflections: Paramount+ revisits Elvis Presley's 1968 comeback special Solution is on page 2. Elvis Presley in his 1968 comeback special I FOUND IT! Whether you are looking for the latest garage sale bargain, a reliable car, a home or a new job. You are sure to find what you want in the classified section of … Nobody Covers Your Hometown Better!

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