A strong new Netflix documentary, watch “Sunday Greatest: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan,” is ready to premiere on July 21, unveiling a lesser-known but deeply impactful facet of the legendary tv host. This movie, govt produced by Kerry Gordy, son of Motown founder Berry Gordy, and partnered with the late director Sacha Jenkins (who handed away in Might 2025), together with producer Margo Speciale, Ed Sullivan’s granddaughter, is a ravishing musical love letter. Their connections to Ed Sullivan infuse this movie with a depth of emotion that goes past a mere retrospective—it’s a cultural restoration. The documentary tells the story of Ed Sullivan, broadly considered probably the most highly effective man within the historical past of tv, who was revered for connecting generations of Individuals via his seminal present, The Ed Sullivan Present, which ran for 23 years and launched the careers of icons like Elvis Presley and The Beatles. However Sullivan’s lesser-known legacy could also be his most enduring: a daring dedication to range and illustration. At a time when America was deeply divided, Sullivan introduced Black performers to primetime, integrating American tradition one efficiency at a time.
“Sunday Greatest” is a transformative journey that sheds mild on how Sullivan’s platform helped uplift artists who would go on to alter music and historical past ceaselessly. With commentary from cultural figures and music historians, the movie illustrates how Sullivan was not solely a tastemaker but additionally a quiet revolutionary within the combat for civil rights and media fairness. This documentary has the ability to alter views and encourage a brand new understanding of American leisure historical past.
That includes uncommon archival footage, private letters, and never-before-seen residence movies from the Ed Sullivan Property, the movie captures the gravity of the second. Audiences will witness highly effective early performances from artists corresponding to Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Harry Belafonte, Stevie Marvel, and The Jackson 5, providing a vibrant window right into a defining period of American leisure.
Kerry Gordy, who grew up surrounded by Motown greatness, described the expertise as deeply private. “After I was a child, the one place I may see somebody who appeared like me on tv was The Ed Sullivan Present,” Gordy shared. “This undertaking is not only about Ed—it’s about preserving the legacy of our tradition and the individuals who helped form it.”
Margo Speciale, as each Sullivan’s granddaughter and the documentary’s producer, ensures that her grandfather’s influence is absolutely honored. “He didn’t care about race—he cared about expertise,” she mentioned. “And that dedication gave so many legendary artists their first nationwide stage.”
Directed by the late, acclaimed filmmaker Sacha Jenkins (who handed away in Might 2025)—whose earlier credit embody documentaries on Biz Markie and Rick James—”Sunday Greatest” is an intergenerational dialog between the previous and the current. It seeks to reframe the narrative round Ed Sullivan, revealing how one man quietly defied tv norms to turn into a conduit for cultural change.
At a time when most community programming ignored Black audiences, Sullivan’s choice to characteristic Black performers was nothing in need of revolutionary. “He was a door opener,” mentioned Otis Williams of The Temptations, reflecting on the late host’s influence. “Particularly for Black artists.”
With early buzz from journalists and insiders who’ve seen the screener, “Sunday Greatest” is poised to turn into a big cultural occasion. It’s not simply leisure—it’s a wealthy supply of schooling, historical past, and celebration rolled into one. As Kerry Gordy famous, “We’re the longest-living era. It’s our duty to cross these tales on to the youth earlier than they’re forgotten.” This documentary is a useful instructional useful resource that brings to life an important chapter of American cultural historical past.
Sunday Greatest: Ed Sullivan premieres on Netflix July 21. Don’t miss this opportunity to find the story behind the display and honor the person who utilized tv to bridge America’s cultural divide. Be a part of us on July 21 to look at this highly effective documentary and respect the cultural influence of Ed Sullivan.
