Manilow: Music and Passion—Live from Las Vegas

Barry Manilow marks his 100th performance at the Las Vegas Hilton with this PBS-aired special marked by nostalgia, wit, and lots of costume changes. Performing in the same venue where Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, and Elvis Presley were resident entertainers in years past, Manilow spends most of the evening not at his piano but on his feet like an old-fashioned crooner, serving up a total of 27 tunes (12 in medleys) from a career that has so far spanned four decades. Hits include “Mandy,” “Copacabana,” “I Write the Songs,” and “It's a Miracle,” interspersed with the singer's interpretations of classics, including Manilow's tribute to the 1950s (with “Bandstand Boogie” and “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing,” among others) and an autobiographical chapter (based on songs from his Here at the Mayflower CD). Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, DVD extras on this double-disc set include a “behind-the-scenes” look at Manilow's show, a "making-of" featurette, bonus songs, a music video for "Unchained Melody," and a photo gallery. Recommended. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)