By Phyllis Pollack
It was announced today by The Recording Academy that the documentary film, The Grammys Will Go On: A Death In The Family" will be televised.
The documentary is a new one-hour special that looks at how the show's producers, host, and musical artists made last-minute changes to the program against the backdrop of tragic and unforeseen death of Whitney Houston.
The special program is slated to air on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.
The show features never-before-seen rehearsal footage and behind-the-scenes interviews with several artists and the Grammy production team, revisits the extraordinary 48 hours leading up to the 54th Annual Grammy Awards last February.
The dramatic film encapsulates some of the compelling drama and creative challenges faced while producing the show, particularly in regards to the unexpected death of Grammy-winning songstress Whitney Houston, just 24 hours before the telecast.
The Grammy-winning singer and actress died the night before the Grammys at the annual pre-Grammy party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
With the death of Whitney Houston 24 hours before the telecast, the show needed to address many changes.
The riveting documentary includes personal accounts of the day's occurrences and Whitney Houston's passing by Clive Davis, Dave Grohl, Jennifer Hudson, host LL Cool J, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift and Joe Walsh.
Those 24 hours are also viewed, as well, from the perspective from the Grammy production team including executive producer Ken Ehrlich, director Louis J. Horvitz, co-producer Terry Lickona, President/CEO of The Recording Academy Neil Portnow, talent producer Chantel Sausedo, and writer David Wild.
To view a clip of this unique special, please visit: http://youtu.be/VwM4QtgU4KQ.
Behind the scenes at the Grammy Awards is a fascinating subject to the general public in any year, but last year's 54th Annual Grammy Awards was particularly compelling.
The frenzied and emotional eleventh hour revisions of the show also included the addition of Grammy Awards host LL Cool J’s opening prayer, and Jennifer Hudson’s unannounced performance of Houston’s Grammy-winning classic “I Will Always Love You.”
More importantly, the death of Houston, which was international news, needed to be addressed.
All of these revisions took place within only 24 hours before broadcast time.
The inclusion of the closing medley from the Beatles historic album Abbey Road album, comprised of “Golden Slumbers” “Carry That Weight” and “The End,” featured Paul McCartney, his all-star band, and his guests, Joe Walsh, Bruce Springsteen and Grohl.
The drama that ensued demonstrates what this annual live production does best, deliver a critically acclaimed telecast despite unexpected circumstances and challenges.
The collection of unique one-of-a-kind performances and the resulting record-setting ratings, with nearly 40 million viewers, the second highest-rated Grammy viewer telecast ever, and the biggest social TV event in history to date, with more than 13 million social media comments, all make the 54th Grammy telecast a fascinating story to be told.
"A Death In The Family" was produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC, CBS, and The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich and Susan Zirinsky are executive producers.
Last year, the Grammy Awards, held at Staples Center in Los Angeles, attracted over 39 million viewers.
"A Death In The Family" also takes the viewer through the last minute arrangements made with Paul McCartney for the awards ceremony's finale, which ended the emotional show on a celebratory note.
The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards telecast received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Special at the 2011 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sept. 10 in Los Angeles.
The 53rd awards telecast received five Emmy nominations, the most ever in one year for a Grammy telecast.
Despite falling sales figures in music both digitally and at retail, the Grammys have still retained an immense viewership.
In interview for this column last year, LL Cool J, discussed the prayer he stated for the late vocalist during the awards show.
Among his comments, LL stated, “It was all we could do,” he noted. “I was in the situation where I had to do something to clear the air in the room, and also give people an opportunity to perform, without it seeming like they were dancing on someone’s grave, which it very easily could have bled over and become. And that’s why I just went for the prayer.”
LL also said he felt his prayer helped some of the artists emotionally process what had just happened to Houston, affirming, “ Yes, I think it definitely did. I think the prayer definitely helped because you know, as a host, I’m basically looking at them in the eye, and saying, ‘Hey, I know it’s tough. She had faith. We have faith. We are acknowledging her.”
LL added that he also felt it was important for the artists not to feel guilty about having to be able to have their special night.
He additionally commented that he wanted to send a message to the performers and the nominees, which was “I want you to feel free to have your night, and to have your moment. So I’m setting you free from that, at least to the best of my ability.”
In an interview prior to a screening of an earlier 26-minute version of the film, Portnow noted of the opening number, Bruce Springsteen's "We Take Care of Our Own."
Among his comments, he stated, “Sometimes things happen in music that are events, that are special, that are sort of markers of the time. We sort of felt, when Ken and I were invited to hear the track in advance of its release, we heard "We Take Care of Our Own," and we thought this is an anthem for our times.”
Portnow added, "This is a statement that reflects the state of our country at this time, the state of the world in many respects. Who better than Bruce Springsteen, and his conscience of America, and the spokesperson and the poet of America?"
"So we felt this was appropriate to have him as part of the mix. And as it turned out, I don’t think we could have had a better opening in terms of being inspiring, and given everything else that had happened," he concluded.
At one point in the film slated to air, David Grohl described playing with Paul McCartney by saying, "I felt like I was standing next to Mount Rushmore."
The documentary also notes that one of the missions of The Recording Academy, which produces the Grammy Awards, is “education," taking into account the lack of music education in schools.
The music industry's “Biggest Night of the Year” will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 10, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high-definition TV and 5.1surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8:00 to 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
The show also will be supported on radio worldwide via Dial Global, and covered online at Grammy.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube.
Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
For Grammy coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook.
The music industry's “Biggest Night of the Year” will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 10, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high-definition TV and 5.1surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8:00 to 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
The show also will be supported on radio worldwide via Dial Global, and covered online at Grammy.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube.
Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
For Grammy coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook.
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers.
The Grammy Awards are the only peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music. The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs.
For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGrammyss on Twitter, like "The Grammys" on Facebook, and join The Grammys' social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Google +, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.
Comments