On Sunday, precisely 50 years – to the minute – after
The Ed Sullivan Show presented The Beatles to a U.S. viewing audience on live TV for the first time, CBS presented a giant, sprawling special salute to the Fab Four – part biography and documentary, part interview (with David Letterman, at the site of that seminal 1964 broadcasting event, now Letterman’s home studio) – and lots and lots of music. Tonight, because of the popularity of that Sunday special, CBS repeats it in its entirety – precisely 50 years and three days after the original anniversary. Okay, so that doesn’t have quite the same ring. It does, however, have the same Ringo, as well as the same Paul. The two surviving former Beatles are there for the festivities, as both respectful audience members and eventual concert closers. Other acts include Dave Grohl and
Traveling Wilbury member Jeff Lynne doing “Hey Bulldog” (one of the Beatles’ best, most neglected rockers), Alicia Keys and John Legend doing “Let It Be,” and Ed Sheeran on a nice version of “In My Life.” For a full rundown, see
Bianculli’s Blog.