re: NOW THIS I JUST GOTTA
SEE!:
The British Are Coming: CNN Special
Presentation of "THE SIXTIES: The British Invasion",Executive Produced by Tom Hanks and Gary
Goetzman -- Premiers Thursday, January 30th -- Extraordinary series THE SIXTIES from
Playtone, Herzog and Company begins, May, 2014
Multiple Emmy® Award-winning executive
producers Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman
(HBO's John Adams and The Pacific) and Emmy®
Award-winning producer Mark Herzog (History's
Gettysburg) of Herzog and Company (HCO) will reignite the landmark
musical revolution of 1964 in this special presentation from their CNN Original
Series. The one-hour special, THE SIXTIES: The British
Invasion, will premier on CNN / US on Thursday, January 30th at 9:00 pm
ET and PT. The full 10-Part Episode CNN Original Series THE
SIXTIES will begin in May, 2014.
The British Invasion begins with the
breakthrough performance of The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan
Show, which was watched by a record-setting 73 million viewers, blazing a
culture-changing path through America fifty years ago next month. The Beatles'
success was quickly followed by other British bands hoping to conquer the hearts
of America teens. Those siren calls of The Animals,
The Kinks, The Hollies, The Dave Clark
Five, The Who and the Rolling Stones
are all revisited in this paean to the power of the music that defined a
generation -- and remain vital and relevant today.
The Ed Sullivan Show introducing
The Beatles to America aired on Feb. 9, 1964, and their
thrilling, mesmerizing appearance launched a revolution in fashion, hairstyles,
advertising, politics, and sexual mores that have influenced virtually every
aspect of modern American life. Throughout the special, soul song
legend Smokey Robinson; Graham Nash (of The Hollies and Crosby,
Stills, Nash, and Young); Ahmir“Questlove” Thompson, music
journalist, record producer and drummer for the Grammy® Award-winning
band The Roots; rock columnist David Wild; Micky Dolenz of
the American musical group, The Monkees; and more, all provide insights
into how the “British invasion” was actually a reciprocal flow of influences
back and forth with American artists. The legendary era of Bob
Dylan, Motown, The Beach Boys, and
others, laid down the beats that formed the soundtrack of a
generation.
THE SIXTIES: The British
Invasion follows the strong ratings success of THE SIXTIES:
The Assassination of JFK (1963), which was seen by 21.0 million total
viewers and 8.2 million viewers in the coveted 25 to 54 age demo. The
Assassination of JFK (1963) and The British Invasion will air
again when the full THE
SIXTIES series launches in May, 2014. The 10 episodes of THE
SIXTIES focus on the indelible impact of technology, drugs, music,
“free love,” and civil rights, bringing new insights to the landmark events and
extraordinary people which shaped our history and character as Americans – and
changed the world.
I don't know about you guys but I'm REALLY excited
about this hot new CNN / Tom Hanks series ... and I'm really tempted to watch it
... but if I do, I'm afraid I'll miss quite a few Journey songs, Steve
Miller songs and John Mellencamp songs on the radio during those ten hours ...
which, as we ALL know, EVERYBODY out there would MUCH rather hear than this forgettable
music of the '60's. (Isn't that what all the consultants keep telling us? This
music is dead ... and, for all intents and purposes, so are we?!?!?) Gee, I
wonder how many MILLIONS of viewers will prove them wrong THIS time!!! (Doesn't
really matter 'tho ... because they STILL won't get it ... they're right and
we're wrong ... even when it slaps 'em right in the face!)
kk
Forgotten Hits will be celebrating and remembering The
British Invasion all year long ... and what a GREAT year it's going to be with
specials like this, Paul and Ringo reuniting on The Grammys®, and the special
February 9th Beatles Tribute Program "The Night That Changed America" ... this
HUGE wave of nostalgia will continue throughout the year, celebrating
anniversary after anniversary ... yet radio is STILL refusing to acknowledge
(and capitalize on) the INCREDIBLE, long-lasting impact it has had on each and
every one of us ... and our hunger to relive those moments and memories. Sorry guys, but I feel cheated ... don't you???
(Would you PLEASE write to the media DEMANDING the return of the oldies to our radio dial?!?!?) kk
Personal Note to Peter Noone: I don't want you to feel slighted ... and I want you to know that I didn't leave your name off
the list ... the above is the official press release sent in by the advertising
agency helping to promote this hot new television special. Also
noticeably absent from the list are Peter and Gordon, Gerry and the Pacemakers,
Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, Chad and Jeremy, Freddie and the Dreamers,
Manfred Mann, The Searchers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, The Zombies, The
Yardbirds and more. Hopefully ALL of these great artists will be profiled in
the series. (kk)
