Elvis (also known as Elvis – Good Rockin' Tonight) is an American drama series about the early life of Elvis Presley that aired on ABC from February 6 until May 19, 1990[2] before its cancellation due to the high cost of each episode. These ten episodes, along with three unaired episodes, were edited into a four-hour mini-series titled Elvis: The Early Years.[3] The series starred Michael St. Gerard as Presley, Jesse Dabson, Blake Gibbons, Millie Perkins, and Billy "Green" Bush. Elvis voice-impersonator Ronnie McDowell provided the singing voice for St. Gerard on the series.[4]
| Elvis | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Biography Drama Music |
| Created by | Rick Husky Priscilla Presley |
| Starring |
|
| Opening theme | All Shook Up performed by Ronnie McDowell |
| Composer | Steve Tyrell |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 (3 unaired) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers |
|
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production companies | James D. Parriott Productions Navarone Productions Rick Husky Productions New World Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC[1] |
| Release | February 6 – May 19, 1990 |
Plot
editElvis: Good Rockin' Tonight was a series offering a dramatic re-creation of Presley's time just before becoming a major star, focusing on him in 1954 and 1955 as he was beginning his recording career at Sun Records.
Production
editMichael St. Gerard had played Presley twice before, in the 1989 films Great Balls of Fire! and Heart of Dixie; and once again after this series, in a 1993 episode of Quantum Leap.
Millie Perkins starred as the real Elvis's love interest in the 1961 film, Wild in the Country. Here she plays his mother.
Matt Dillon and Scott Valentine were the first two choices for the role of Presley.[5]
St. Gerard's audition was a line read, and him lip syncing to "Baby, Let's Play House". He was flown to Memphis the next day to start filming. The brown-eyed St. Gerard refused to wear blue contacts for the role.[5][6]
Cast
edit- Michael St. Gerard as Elvis Presley[7]
- Millie Perkins as Gladys Presley
- Billy Green Bush as Vernon Presley
- Jesse Dabson as Scotty Moore
- Blake Gibbons as Bill Black
- Kelli Williams as Mattie Walker
- Jordan Williams as Sam Phillips
- Howard French as Harley “Red” Calder
Episodes
edit| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Money, Honey" | Steve Miner | Rick Husky | February 6, 1990 | |
|
Elvis records his first demo, "My Happiness". His father injures his back, and forces Elvis to support the family. A year later, Sam Phillips calls to have Elvis come back into Sun Records, and work with some musicians, Scotty Moore and Bill Black. | |||||
| 2 | "The Storm" | Steve Miner | James D. Parriott | February 11, 1990 | |
|
Elvis tries out a few songs at Sun Records, which leads to the recording of his first record, "That’s All Right, Mama". The record is played on the air, and Elvis realizes his life is about to change. | |||||
| 3 | "The Locket" | Arlene Sanford | Jason Brett | February 18, 1990 | |
|
Elvis, Scotty and Bill play their first gig. Elvis opens with a ballad, and then tears into "Good Rockin’ Tonight", shaking his hips, driving the crowd wild. Elvis' girlfriend, fearing all the attention he is getting, gives him a locket. | |||||
| 4 | "Bel Air Breakdown" | Bruce Seth Green | Peter Z. Orton | March 4, 1990 | |
|
Elvis, Scotty and Bill go out on the road for their first tour. On the way, they encounter many troubles as they tour the country as the first rock 'n' roll group. | |||||
| 5 | "Hole in the Pocket" | Steve Miner | Jim McGrath | March 11, 1990 | |
|
Elvis gets his first royalty check and spends it on a pink Cadillac. | |||||
| 6 | "Roots" | Steve Miner | Rick Husky | March 18, 1990 | |
|
Elvis, Scotty and Bill get a show in Tupelo, Mississippi. Elvis meets up with old friends, and, after his show at the local all-white high school, sits in at an all-black blues club. | |||||
| 7 | "Grand Ole Opry" | Arlene Sanford | Story by : Debra Frank & Jack Weinstein Teleplay by : Debra Frank & Jack Weinstein & Jim McGrath | May 5, 1990 | |
|
Elvis and the boys get the offer to perform at the Grand Ole Opry where, after their heads swell a bit, they go over like a lead balloon. | |||||
| 8 | "Sun Sessions" | Beth Hillshafer | Gary Markowitz | May 5, 1990 | |
|
They go back to Memphis with their tails between their legs, and struggle to record their next record. | |||||
| 9 | "Bodyguards" | Bethany Rooney | Susan B. Chick | May 12, 1990 | |
|
Fans start reacting to Elvis, and it becomes more than he can handle. | |||||
| 10 | "Let It Burn" | Michael Levine | James D. Parriott | May 19, 1990 | |
|
Elvis is on the road with his band. He cheats on his girlfriend, and she catches him at it. | |||||
| 11 | "Moody's Blues" | Steve Miner | Gary Markowitz | UNAIRED | |
|
Elvis (as a high school student), learns the blues from a Beale St. street musician. | |||||
| 12 | "Old Man" | Bethany Rooney | Jim McGrath | UNAIRED | |
|
Scotty struggles as Elvis’ manager and guitar player, and, by the end of the episode, Bob Neal has become their manager, and Scotty can focus on the music. | |||||
| 13 | "Four Mules" | Bruce Seth Green | James D. Parriott | UNAIRED | |
|
Elvis, Scotty and Bill book themselves at the Louisiana Hayride, the major radio show that gave Elvis his start. The subplot revolves around all of the characters being as stubborn as mules, the fourth "mule" being Sam Phillips. | |||||
Reception
editThe show struggled with low ratings and mediocre reviews.[8][9][10][11][12][13]
References
edit- ^ "Early Years of Elvis Become Network Series". Christian Science Monitor. February 5, 1990.
- ^ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 361. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
- ^ "HOME ENTERTAINMENT/VIDEO: AND KEEP IN MIND". The New York Times. January 28, 1990.
- ^ Times, SUSAN KING Los Angeles (11 August 1995). "FAMILY CHANNEL, TNT BRING ELVIS BACK TO LIFE". Greensboro News and Record.
- ^ a b Worth, Fred, L. (1990). Elvis: His Life from A to Z. Contemporary Books. ISBN 978-0809240838.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Elvis (TV Series 1990)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ "'Elvis' lives! At least, he has been reincarnated in..." Upi.com.
- ^ O'Connor, John J. (February 6, 1990). "Review/Television; 'Elvis,' ABC Series on You-Know-Who". The New York Times.
- ^ "Will ABC Stick With 'Elvis' After Getting Rocked by Ratings?". Los Angeles Times. February 16, 1990.
- ^ Pergament, Alan (9 January 1990). "NEXT UP ON TV: IT'S ELVIS WEEKLY SHOW FLATTERS THE KING". Buffalo News.
- ^ "ELVIS SIGHTING". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
- ^ "ABC's 'Elvis' Explores The Early Years Of The Presley Legend". Archive.seattletimes.com.
- ^ "BOY, IF ELVIS COULD SEE THIS ONE, HE'D JUST DIE". Chicago Tribune.