Claim: Elvis was directed by Steve Binder.

Elvis , starring Elvis Presley , is a United States television special that aired on December 3 , 1968 on the NBC television network . The special is commonly referred to as the 68 Comeback Special , because of subsequent developments in Presley 's career . It was directed by Steve Binder and produced by Binder and Bones Howe . Music from the special was released before the broadcast , on the album Elvis -LRB- NBC TV Special -RRB- .   Presley 's informal jamming in front of a small audience in the special is regarded as a forerunner of the `` unplugged '' concept , later popularized by MTV .