On Oct. 17, 50 years ago, Willie Nelson did a live performance captured by TV cameras for a public TV show pilot – a series that would end up getting the green light and be known the world over by three letters: ACL.
“Austin City Limits” is the longest-running show of its kind in television history. Early on, people might have been tempted to pigeonhole it as a country music show – but then producer Terry Lickona arrived on the scene.
His vision would transform the program and the image of Austin as an eclectic center for all types of music, often catching performers way before the rest of the world caught on. This May, he was awarded the PBS Beacon Award, public television’s highest honor.
Lickona joined Texas Standard to celebrate 50 years of ACL.
This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:
Texas Standard: Let’s begin with Willie – am I right in saying he’s made more appearances on ACL than anyone else?
Terry Lickona: He has. He’s appeared at least, I’d guess, 18 to 20 times. But you know, who’s counting? His own shows; he’s also been a guest with other artists. There were times he would just pop into the studio and get up on stage and sing a song with whoever happened to be performing that night.
And to cap it all, we are about to do a new show with Willie on Oct. 17, the very same day, 50 years later from when he did the original pilot show. And it’s going to take place on Auditorium Shores at the Long Center directly across from downtown Austin with the real Austin skyline as our backdrop instead of the, shall we say, fake one that we use in our studio.