Elvis' manager Col. Tom Parker originally wanted Elvis to perform in a powder blue tuxedo, singing Christmas carols. Producer Steve Binder axed this idea and came up with concept of Elvis performing his classic hits in a black leather outfit.
Though now known as the "68 Comeback Special", Elvis Presley's first television special was officially titled "Elvis" when originally broadcast on U.S. network NBC on 3 December 1968. Sponsored by the Singer sewing machine company, it was the top rated program of its week and the highest rated television special of the 1968-69 TV season.It was rerun in the Summer of 1969. Following his death, the special was expanded to 90 minutes and rebroadcast in tandem with Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii (1973) as "Memories of Elvis" hosted by Ann-Margret in November 1977, for a total broadcast time of 3 hours. This was a "TV First" for a solo performer at that time.
This is generally credited as the special that pulled Elvis Presley's career out of the doldrums and started the so-called "third act" of his career.
Cheryl Ladd is sitting on the edge of the stage wearing a big yellow ribbon in her hair.
Elvis Presley appeared on a TV special for the time since 1960, captured 42% of the television viewing audience, making it the most watched television program in America in 1968.