Elvis Costello has a friendly chat with Elton John in the premiere episode of his talk show for the Sundance Channel. (Wednesday at 9 p.m.)
The questions, and the conversation, focus on the music of their youth, with no anecdotes about personal fame or even the work they did once they were well established. It's a dream conversation for insiders and fans who have already heard Elton answer the oft-asked questions - and Elvis proves to be a pretty sharp interviewer. 
Here's what we learn about Elton:
On his first album, "Empty Sky," he was attempting to sound like Leonard Cohen.
Leon Russell is his biggest hero among piano-players.
He idolized Laura Nyro.
"Amoreena" was intended to sound like a Van Morrison song.
He learned stagecraft from performing with Major Lance and Patti Labelle.
Billy Stewart ("Sitting in the Park") is the most underrated R&B singer ever.
He and lyricist Bernie Taupin have never written a song in the same room together.
Hearing someone else perfom one of his songs remains a thrill, though little tops Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra singing his tunes.
Performances include Costello and his band with Allen Toussaint do "Border Song"; John dissects "Burn Down the Mission"; John and Costello duet on David Ackles' "Down River" (below). Review is here.