Ol’ Blue Eyes is back. TV and radio salute singer Frank Sinatra – who was born 100 years ago this month – with great old concerts, his movies, a new Grammy tribute, and a telecast of a rare 1957 Christmas show with Bing Crosby.
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) devotes Wednesdays in December to Sinatra, the voice of the World War II generation who died in 1998 at 82.
And WVXU-FM, WMUB-FM and wvxu.org will air “Sinatra - A Voice in Time” at 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, on his birthday.
The opening act: “Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music,” his first TV concert (1965) at the peak of his career, at 8 p.m. Wednesday on TCM. Sinatra sings all his hits while accompanied by the Nelson Riddle Orchestra.
Two films follow: “Guys and Dolls” (9 p.m.) with Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons and Sinatra from 1955, and “Pal Joey” (11:45p.m.) with Rita Hayworth, Kim Novak and Sinatra from 1957.
TCM also will air:
“Sinatra Sings” (8 p.m. Dec. 9), a collection of clips from his shows and concerts.
“Ol’ Blue Eyes Is Back” (8 p.m. Dec. 16), Sinatra’s 1973 comeback special.
“Happy Holidays with Bing and Frank” (8 p.m. Dec. 23), when Bing Crosby was a guest on ABC’s weekly “Frank Sinatra Show” in 1957. Sinatra directed the episode when they sing Christmas favorites on a Victorian England set and in a hip 1950’s bachelor pad.
CBS celebrates Sinatra’s centennial with "Sinatra 100 – An All-Star Grammy Concert" (9 p.m. Sunday, Channel 12, CBS) with Tony Bennett, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Adam Levine and Usher singing Sinatra’s signature songs.
Here is the full list of 39 Sinatra shows on TCM, and a profile of the channel’s “star of the month.”
