CanWest News Service Published:"Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Tony Bennett has been all over the TV in the past year, from his mentoring on Canadian Idol to an Emmy-winning tribute program on NBC. None of these, however, remotely approaches the grace, style and dignity of PBS American Masters' astounding program Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends. The producer is Clint Eastwood, the director is Bruce Ricker and the narrator is Anthony Hopkins, but the program itself is all Bennett, and then some.
The Music Never Ends' pedigree is evident from the outset, as Eastwood -- a born musician, though not one who would ever consider himself in Bennett's league -- offers a tone that's respectful without being overly reverent, deferential without being obsequious. Hopkins, an Oscar winner with a familiar set of pipes of his own, may be the narrator, but the narration is lean, sparse, and stripped down. The Music Never Ends is about the music.
What story it has it tells through anecdotes, snippets of Bennett in performance and the personal reminiscences of Bennett's friends, colleagues and admirers. Email to a friend Printer friendly Font: * * * * Martin Scorsese appears 15 minutes into the program, talking reallyreallyfast, as he recalls Bennett's influence on GoodFellas' milieu. The camera cuts to Harry Belafonte, talking in soft, hushed tones about their experiences in the Second World War and during the Civil Rights movement.
The Music Never Ends is full of emotional changeups. The concept has a certain tired feel to it -- what, yet another profile of Tony Bennett? -- but this one is special.
Watching it, you know this one will never be topped, by anyone: This is the defining portrait. Here's the true test of how good this program is. If you have no interest in Tony Bennett, if you have never particularly cared for his music, The Music Never Ends is still worth seeing.
It's a master class in how a biographical program is put together, and it captures the aura of its time in a way few films have before it. I can't help but think that if this program were shown in elementary-school classrooms, to kids who have never heard of Tony Bennett, it would foster an interest in history: It really is that good. (9 p.
m., PBS, channel 56, cable 67) - What we learned about America this past week on Power of 10: Just 17 per cent of American men would go to see the Spice Girls reunion tour if they were given free tickets. Only 74 per cent of Americans think the U.
S. will still exist as a country 100 years from now. And 10 million Americans -- last week's audience -- think Drew Carey is getting pretty good at this hosting gig.
(8 p.m., CBS, channel 62, cable 15, and Global, channel 22, cable 3) - Gentlemen, start your remotes: Ten NASCAR drivers present the Top Ten List tonight on Late Show with David Letterman.
Thursday, it's Billy Bob Thornton's turn. Dave is playing to the peanut gallery, all of a sudden. (11:30 p.
m.
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