Arena (1975)

Stop Making Sense (1987x21)

Air date: Dec 11, 1987

Arena presents the first television showing for Jonathan 'Something Wild' Demme's superlative concert-movie featuring Talking Heads. David Byrne's innovatory visual flair and virtuosity as a performer surmount the cliches of both the tinsel vacuity of pop videos and the tired posturing of rock shows. Demme does away with the visual jargon of the rocumentary - no shots to adoring fans - and by dispensing with shaggy perms, straining leather trousers and squealing red guitars, 'Stop Making Sense' drags the pop concert into the 80s.