CBS wants to hold a Beatles special.
The network will air a two-hour program about the Fab Four, “The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles,” that will feature contemporary artists performing Beatles tunes in addition to archival footage.
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The special will air Feb. 9, the 50th anniversary of the band’s appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” for the network. Footage and other archival material from the night of the group’s “Sullivan” performance will be included, along with performers who’ll emphasize the importance of the group’s performance on the show.
The group’s initial performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” is regarded as a pivotal moment in television history, with 74 million people tuning in to watch the group perform five songs.
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“That night 50 years ago on the Ed Sullivan stage, the Beatles delivered a momentous performance, and America witnessed a historic television event and the beginning of a new era in music,” said Jack Sussman, CBS Entertainment’s executive vice president of specials & events.”We are thrilled to honor these music legends with performances from amazing Grammy-winning artists who were influenced by the Beatles’ unforgettable music through the years and that incredible performance in 1964.”
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The special will tape Jan. 27 — the day after the Grammy Awards — and air 8 p.m. Feb. 9. Tickets to the taping will be available to the general public.
In all, the Beatles won seven Grammys, including three in 1996 — more than two decades after their breakup — for the album “The Beatles Anthology” and the song “Free as a Bird.”