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  • Sundance
  • Dec 3, 2008
  • Sundance
  • Dec 3, 2008
Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...

Summary Spectacle: Elvis Costello With... fuses the best elements of talk radio and music television, inviting viewers to enjoy rare musical performances and intimate conversations between the award-winning host and his iconic guests - each of whom is an influential figure from the world of music, politics or film. Explaining his approach, Elvis...

  • Sundance
  • Dec 3, 2008
  • Sundance
  • Dec 3, 2008
Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...
Season 1
Season Premiere: Dec 3, 2008
Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 13 Critic Reviews
75
User Score Generally Unfavorable Based on 5 User Ratings
2.2
My Score
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Summary Spectacle: Elvis Costello With... fuses the best elements of talk radio and music television, inviting viewers to enjoy rare musical performances and intimate conversations between the award-winning host and his iconic guests - each of whom is an influential figure from the world of music, politics or film. Explaining his approach, Elvis...

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 13 Critic Reviews
75
92% Positive
12 Reviews
8% Mixed
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 13 Critic Reviews
75
92% Positive
12 Reviews
8% Mixed
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
80
Interspersed with cover songs, Spectacle is an engaging showcase for a curious mind.
By James Poniewozik FULL REVIEW
80
The best moments in Wednesday night's chat between Elvis Costello and Elton John, which are good enough to recommend the show for fans of both men, serve up small but sparkling musical pleasures.
By David Hinckley FULL REVIEW
80
Insightful, smart and lyrical, Spectacle soars when so much of cable TV seems intent on locating the most distressing nadir of human culture.
By Jonathan Storm FULL REVIEW
80
Costello (who has subbed for David Letterman) makes a fine host--a bit reverential at times, but never as pious as, say, James Lipton can become over at the similarly configured "Inside the Actors Studio."
By Robert Lloyd FULL REVIEW
80
All the performances are rough and under-rehearsed, which makes them appealing. Costello also keeps the atmosphere relaxed during the interviews, never seeming too eager to interject his own commentary or jokes.
By Matthew Gilbert FULL REVIEW
70
While the unguarded moments and eclectic musical performances --typically Costello collaborating with a guest on one of his or her lesser-known hits--make Spectacle well worth a closer look, the show occasionally feels like a songwriter's version of "Inside the Actor's Studio," with all of the qualities and the faults that implies.
By Heather Havrilesky FULL REVIEW
50
Alas, the program has little direction and almost no flow.
FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Generally Unfavorable Based on 5 User Ratings
2.2
20% Positive
1 Rating
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
80% Negative
4 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Unfavorable Based on 5 User Ratings
2.2
20% Positive
1 Rating
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
80% Negative
4 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

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