Ultimate Manilow!

This refreshing CBS Television special certainly lives up to its promise of "special television," as Pop Music Superstar Barry Manilow presents a concert which includes many of his greatest hits, as assembled for his 2002 compilation collection, "Ultimate Manilow," hence the title of this production, taped at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, and originally broadcast on May 18, 2002.

Handsome, mannerly, welcoming, and energetic, Barry appears in a neatly-cropped hair-style, above his three-piece suit of black vest and trousers, black patent-leather shoes, and open-neck white arrow-collar tie-less shirt, beneath interchangeable blazers of tan and black, alternating the look throughout this production.

Barry also interacts with his enthralled audience, inserting friendly facial expressions, with small talk and pleasantries among his numbers, proving that no lip-sinking transpires within this concert performance, also featuring Barry's capable talents on piano accompaniment, often rising to stand before his attentive audience, which behaves more responsibly than many, suppressing those otherwise overbearing screams to make this event all the more enjoyable for the television audience.

Before breaking for commercials, its announcer introduces song clips for upcoming numbers. With his band in the backdrop, Barry and his piano are spotlighted throughout this program. His props include a staircase, which he descends after one commercial break.

Songs from the "Ultimate Manilow" collection include "Mandy" (1974), "It's A Miracle" (1975), "Could It Be Magic" (1975), "I Write The Songs" (1975), "Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again" (1976), "This One's For You" (1976), "Weekend In New England" (1976), "Looks Like We Made It" (1977), "Daybreak" (1977), "Can't Smile Without You" (1978), "Even Now" (1978), "Copacabana (At The Copa)" (1978), "Somewhere In The Night" (1978), "Ready To Take A Chance Again" (1978), "Ships" (1979), "I Made It Through The Rain" (1980), "Somewhere Down The Road" (1981), and "The Old Songs" (1981), with "Bandstand Boogie" and "When October Goes."

Barry also introduces two new releases here: "Turn the Radio Up" and "They Dance" or something to that effect. Well, we would have to speculate about their titles because the production team does not label them with captions.

And, before signing off, Barry mentions that everyone on stage has something in common: a passion about music, himself included.

Barry Manilow says, "If there's one thing which I hope that you take away from here tonight, it's do what you want to do with your life because it's a lot more fun that way."

Well, of course his advice seems highly impractical because how many? -- less than one percent of the population? -- may ever feel content about "doing what you want to do with your life," ending up with a career as successful as Barry's, and having any fun with this in the process? But, coming from Barry, it still sounds very inspiring.