Generations gather to celebrate musical legend Late night
Television honors that rare artist who has been in the public spotlight nearly as long as TV itself. “Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) lauds the singer who turned 90 on Aug. 3.
Look for performances by Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, Elton John, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, Rufus Wainwright and Stevie Wonder, among others.
Even before he had a hit record, Bennett, a native New Yorker born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, was recognized as a major talent. In 1949, singer Pearl Bailey invited him to open for her in a Greenwich Village club that just happened to have Bob Hope in the audience. The popular entertainer hired the crooner to join his tour and advised him to shorten his name.
Producer and popular 1950s television personality Mitch Miller signed him to a Columbia records deal, where he had many hits in the pre-rock era. Bennett’s 1953 version of “Rags to Riches” was used in the title sequence to Martin Scorsese’s 1990 masterpiece “Goodfellas.” When I interviewed Bennett some years back, he expressed disappointment that the song had become associated with gangster culture.
Bennett would be a staple of television variety shows through the 1950s and would perform on the very first broadcast of “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson” in 1962, the same year he would release his signature hit, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
The rock era saw the eclipse of the American songbook standards that Bennett preferred. The next few decades were not kind to the performer.
Curiously, Bennett’s later comeback in the 1990s and beyond was made possible by his adroit use of television. Bennett would appear with David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, and sing on MTV, “The Muppets” and “The Simpsons” for a younger generation of fans who would warm to his collaborations with Elvis Costello, k.d. lang, Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga, among others.
Born in 1926, Bennett is old enough to have served in World War II. His infantry experience would have a profound impact. Bennett chafed at the Army’s official segregation. Twenty years later, he would perform at a concert in Selma, Alabama, organized by Dr. Martin Luther King. As a soldier he would help liberate a concentration camp, an experience that turned him into a lifelong pacifist and anti-war activist.
HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
“Michael Buble Sings and Swings” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) offers jazz standards, in a performance from Manchester, England.
The voice of Ray Romano animates the 2011 special “Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG).
The gang embarks on a special mission on “Toy Story That Time Forgot” (8 p.m., ABC, repeat, TV-G).
A Yuletide-loving comedian helps ordinary folk plan for the holidays on “Terry Crews Saves Christmas” (8 p.m., CW, TV-PG).
An ogre’s entourage upsets his quiet holiday plans on “Shrek the Halls” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
Kevin Frazier and Keltie Knight host “Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown 2016” (9 p.m., CW, repeat, TV-PG).
TONIGHT’S HIGHLIGHTS
The Green Meanie plans revenge on the season finale of “Scream Queens” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
A repeat “Frontline” (10 p.m., PBS, TV-PG) special “From Jesus to Christ” looks at the early days of Christianity.
A missing officer goes out with a blast on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-PG).
Jess returns from jury duty on “New Girl” (8:30 p.m., Fox, repeat, TV-14).
On two helpings of “Bull” (CBS, repeat, TV-14), marrying too well (9 p.m.), a surgeon’s arrogance hurts his case (10 p.m.).