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.
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.
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.
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.