Elvis (1990 TV series)

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox television

| image =

| caption =

| genre = Biography
Drama
Music

| creator = Rick Husky
Priscilla Presley

| starring = {{plainlist|

}}

| composer = Steve Tyrell

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 13 (3 unaired)

| opentheme = All Shook Up
performed by Ronnie McDowell

| runtime = 30 minutes

| network = ABC{{Cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1990/0205/lelvis.html|title=Early Years of Elvis Become Network Series|date=February 5, 1990|newspaper=Christian Science Monitor}}

| executive_producer = {{plainlist|

| producer = {{plainlist|

| company = James D. Parriott Productions
Navarone Productions
Rick Husky Productions
New World Television

| first_aired = {{Start date|1990|02|06}}

| last_aired = {{End date|1990|05|19}}

}}

Elvis (also known as Elvis – Good Rockin' Tonight) is an American drama series about the early life of Elvis Presley that aired on ABC from February 6 until May 19, 1990{{cite book|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present|year=2003|publisher=Ballantine Books|isbn=0-345-45542-8|pages=361}} before its cancellation due to the high cost of each episode. These ten episodes, along with three unaired episodes, were edited into a four-hour mini-series titled Elvis: The Early Years.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/28/movies/home-entertainment-video-and-keep-in-mind.html|title=HOME ENTERTAINMENT/VIDEO: AND KEEP IN MIND|date=January 28, 1990|newspaper=The New York Times}} The series starred Michael St. Gerard as Presley, Jesse Dabson, Blake Gibbons, Millie Perkins, and Billy "Green" Bush. Elvis voice-impersonator Ronnie McDowell provided the singing voice for St. Gerard on the series.{{Cite web|url=https://greensboro.com/family-channel-tnt-bring-elvis-back-to-life/article_9b2e0f3c-5607-5040-a299-b5ef71f00a54.html|title=FAMILY CHANNEL, TNT BRING ELVIS BACK TO LIFE|first=SUSAN KING Los Angeles|last=Times|website=Greensboro News and Record|date=11 August 1995 }}

Plot

Elvis: Good Rockin' Tonight was a series offering a dramatic re-creation of Presley's time just before becoming a major star, focusing on him in 1954 and 1955 as he was beginning his recording career at Sun Records.

Production

Michael St. Gerard had played Presley twice before, in the 1989 films Great Balls of Fire! and Heart of Dixie; and once again after this series, in a 1993 episode of Quantum Leap.

Millie Perkins starred as the real Elvis's love interest in the 1961 film, Wild in the Country. Here she plays his mother.

Matt Dillon and Scott Valentine were the first two choices for the role of Presley.{{Cite book|title = Elvis: His Life from A to Z|last = Worth|first = Fred, L.|publisher = Contemporary Books|year = 1990|isbn = 978-0809240838}}

St. Gerard's audition was a line read, and him lip syncing to "Baby, Let's Play House". He was flown to Memphis the next day to start filming. The brown-eyed St. Gerard refused to wear blue contacts for the role.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098786/trivia|title=Elvis (TV Series 1990) |website=IMDb.com|access-date=8 February 2022}}

Cast

Episodes

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; background:#fff;"
style="background:#;"| No.

! style="background:#;"| Title

! style="background:#;"| Directed by

! style="background:#;"| Written by

! style="background:#;"| Original air date

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Money, Honey

|DirectedBy = Steve Miner

|WrittenBy = Rick Husky

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1990|02|06}}

|ShortSummary = Elvis records his first demo, "My Happiness". His father injures his back, and forces Elvis to support the family. A year later, Sam Phillips calls to have Elvis come back into Sun Records, and work with some musicians, Scotty Moore and Bill Black.

|LineColor =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = The Storm

|DirectedBy = Steve Miner

|WrittenBy = James D. Parriott

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1990|02|11}}

|ShortSummary = Elvis tries out a few songs at Sun Records, which leads to the recording of his first record, "That’s All Right, Mama". The record is played on the air, and Elvis realizes his life is about to change.

|LineColor =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = The Locket

|DirectedBy = Arlene Sanford

|WrittenBy = Jason Brett

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1990|02|18}}

|ShortSummary = Elvis, Scotty and Bill play their first gig. Elvis opens with a ballad, and then tears into "Good Rockin’ Tonight", shaking his hips, driving the crowd wild. Elvis' girlfriend, fearing all the attention he is getting, gives him a locket.

|LineColor =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Bel Air Breakdown

|DirectedBy = Bruce Seth Green

|WrittenBy = Peter Z. Orton

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1990|03|04}}

|ShortSummary = Elvis, Scotty and Bill go out on the road for their first tour. On the way, they encounter many troubles as they tour the country as the first rock 'n' roll group.

|LineColor =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = Hole in the Pocket

|DirectedBy = Steve Miner

|WrittenBy = Jim McGrath

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1990|03|11}}

|ShortSummary = Elvis gets his first royalty check and spends it on a pink Cadillac.

|LineColor =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Roots

|DirectedBy = Steve Miner

|WrittenBy = Rick Husky

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1990|03|18}}

|ShortSummary = Elvis, Scotty and Bill get a show in Tupelo, Mississippi. Elvis meets up with old friends, and, after his show at the local all-white high school, sits in at an all-black blues club.

|LineColor =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|Title = Grand Ole Opry

|DirectedBy = Arlene Sanford

|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Debra Frank & Jack Weinstein|t= Debra Frank & Jack Weinstein & Jim McGrath}}

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1990|05|05}}

|ShortSummary = Elvis and the boys get the offer to perform at the Grand Ole Opry where, after their heads swell a bit, they go over like a lead balloon.

|LineColor =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|Title = Sun Sessions

|DirectedBy = Beth Hillshafer

|WrittenBy = Gary Markowitz

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1990|05|05}}

|ShortSummary = They go back to Memphis with their tails between their legs, and struggle to record their next record.

|LineColor =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 9

|Title = Bodyguards

|DirectedBy = Bethany Rooney

|WrittenBy = Susan B. Chick

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1990|05|12}}

|ShortSummary = Fans start reacting to Elvis, and it becomes more than he can handle.

|LineColor =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 10

|Title = Let It Burn

|DirectedBy = Michael Levine

|WrittenBy = James D. Parriott

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1990|05|19}}

|ShortSummary = Elvis is on the road with his band. He cheats on his girlfriend, and she catches him at it.

|LineColor =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 11

|Title = Moody's Blues

|DirectedBy = Steve Miner

|WrittenBy = Gary Markowitz

|OriginalAirDate = UNAIRED

|ShortSummary = Elvis (as a high school student), learns the blues from a Beale St. street musician.

|LineColor =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 12

|Title = Old Man

|DirectedBy = Bethany Rooney

|WrittenBy = Jim McGrath

|OriginalAirDate = UNAIRED

|ShortSummary = Scotty struggles as Elvis’ manager and guitar player, and, by the end of the episode, Bob Neal has become their manager, and Scotty can focus on the music.

|LineColor =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 13

|Title = Four Mules

|DirectedBy = Bruce Seth Green

|WrittenBy = James D. Parriott

|OriginalAirDate = UNAIRED

|ShortSummary = Elvis, Scotty and Bill book themselves at the Louisiana Hayride, the major radio show that gave Elvis his start. The subplot revolves around all of the characters being as stubborn as mules, the fourth "mule" being Sam Phillips.

|LineColor =

}}

Reception

The show struggled with low ratings and mediocre reviews.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/06/arts/review-television-elvis-abc-series-on-you-know-who.html|title=Review/Television; 'Elvis,' ABC Series on You-Know-Who|first=John J.|last=O'Connor|date=February 6, 1990|newspaper=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-02-16-ca-903-story.html|title=Will ABC Stick With 'Elvis' After Getting Rocked by Ratings?|date=February 16, 1990|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/next-up-on-tv-its-elvis-weekly-show-flatters-the-king/article_17366ae1-7929-5b7b-afe7-5416c69e47bd.html|title=NEXT UP ON TV: IT'S ELVIS WEEKLY SHOW FLATTERS THE KING|first=Alan|last=Pergament|website=Buffalo News|date=9 January 1990 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/02/06/elvis-sighting/9103da2d-d800-4ef9-b0b1-b86a140572bf/|title=ELVIS SIGHTING|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=February 8, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19900206&slug=1054688|title=ABC's 'Elvis' Explores The Early Years Of The Presley Legend |website=Archive.seattletimes.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1990-02-11-9001120458-story.html|title=BOY, IF ELVIS COULD SEE THIS ONE, HE'D JUST DIE|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}

References

{{Reflist}}