Alan Cumming. (Getty)
Tony winner Alan Cumming is bringing his talents to your television tonight thanks to PBS. The network is airing a performance from his acclaimed Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs cabaret tour on Friday, November 18. Read on for a preview of the show and to learn when it airs.
In 2015, Cumming began his Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs tour with shows at the Cafe Carlyle in New York. He then toured the U.S., Canada and Australia. Next year, he has a U.K. tour planned. In February 2016, who took the show back to New York City to perform at Carnegie Hall.
The PBS special is only an hour, but typical setlists from the tour include up to 15 songs. He also fits a wide range of songs to fit his style, mixing Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb” with Billy Joel’s “Goodnight Saigon.” He also often performs a mash-up of songs by Adele, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, as well as a mash-up of Stephen Sondheim songs.
“Though Cumming may not be the typical “pinkies out, shirt tucked in” Carnegie Hall headliner, this is precisely why he’s an icon to behold — he is unapologetically himself, and with a talent like that, he has no need to apologize,” Billboard wrote in its review.
DATE: November 18, 2016
TIME: 9 p.m. ET
CHANNEL: PBS (To find out what your local PBS station is, click here to go to PBS.org and click “Look up a new station.” Enter your zip code or state to search.)
SYNOPSIS: Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs is the name of the hugely acclaimed cabaret show Cumming premiered in 2015 at New York’s legendary Cafe Carlyle. He has since toured the show extensively throughout the US, Canada and Australia, and soon the UK. In February 2016 he returned with the show to NYC and made his sold out, solo debut at Carnegie Hall, and released a live album of the same name. Having gained an expansive following from his roles on the hit series The Good Wife and from the Spy Kids film trilogy among other notable works.