Trivia

Elvis' manager Col. Tom Parker originally wanted Elvis to perform without any dialogue, wearing a cardigan sweater like that worn by Perry Como, in front of a fireplace and a Christmas tree, and sing 20 Christmas songs. Producer Steve Binder axed this idea and came up with the concept of Elvis' performing in a black leather outfit and entirely improvising, for two hours, with an acoustic guitar, songs he had performed in private, dressing-room sessions with his fellow musicians.

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.

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.

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.