Elvis Costello Makes Spectacle Of Himself

11/14/08 3:33pm

The Elvis Costello talk show we told you about earlier this year is drawing closer, and the list of folks he's talking to on your television is pretty impressive.

The hour-long Spectacle: Elvis Costello With... will feature more in-depth discussions than you normally find on TV these days, as well as musical performances by Costello and his guests.

Costello will be joined on the show's 13 episodes by: Elton John; Lou Reed and film director Julian Schnabel; former U.S. president Bill Clinton; James Taylor; Tony Bennett; The Police; Rufus Wainwright; Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash, Norah Jones and John Mellencamp; opera singer Renee Fleming; Herbie Hancock; She & Him, Jenny Lewis and Jakob Dylan; Costello's wife, Diana Krall, and a return appearance from Elton John, who is also the show's executive producer; and Smokey Robinson.

Among the musicians who will contribute to some of the performances are: Davey Faragher, Pete Thomas and Steve Nieve of Costello's band, The Imposters; guitarist James Burton; producer, pianist, writer, arranger and singer Allen Toussaint; jazz bassist Charlie Haden; jazz guitarist and composer Pat Metheny; jazz pianist Bill Charlap; Larry Campbell and Tony Garnier from Bob Dylan's touring band; Barenaked Ladies keyboard player Kevin Hearn; and violinist/vocalist Jenny Scheinman.

Discovered, a short-form series spotlighting up-and-coming indie acts, will air as vignettes during breaks in the show. It will feature Canada's K'naan and Colin Munroe as well as Charlotte Sometimes, Department Of Eagles, Forro In The Dark, Richard Julian, Solange Knowles, Erin McCarley, Salt & Samovar, Thao Nguyen, PT Walkley, Matt White and The Virgins.

Spectacle: Elvis Costello With... will air on CTV in Canada, Sundance Channel in the U.S. and Channel 4 in the U.K.