TV Review : Tony Tony Tony, Unplugged as Always

Tony Bennett in his natural state is always unplugged, at least by the standards of the MTV generation that’s lately adopted him as a swinging father figure.

That means the latest edition of “MTV Unplugged” is pretty much business as usual for the veteran song stylist, without the shifting of musical gears that gives the acoustic showcase its reason for being.

The exception is on “Fly Me to the Moon,” where Bennett literally unplugs the microphones and proceeds to wail with remarkable power.

Other than that, it’s largely smooth and safe sailing through the classic American pop songbook, a fine if familiar performance with Bennett in perfect sync with his longtime accompanists, the Ralph Sharon Trio.

To juice it up, the show brings out two duet partners--Elvis Costello (introduced by Bennett as “my buddy from Britain”) and k.d. lang (introduced as a peer of Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf and Hank Williams--get a grip, Tony!).

Lang’s liquid tones form an intriguing contrast with the star’s rough-textured voice on “Moonglow,” but there’s less rapport in the Costello teaming on a version of “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” marked by halting interplay.

The decision to include these two “adult” artists and leave less congruent guest spots by the Lemonheads’ Evan Dando and Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis on the cutting-room floor gives the hour more of a VH-1 than an MTV personality. File under missed opportunities.

* “Tony Bennett Unplugged” airs at 10 tonight on MTV, repeating on Sunday at 9 p.m.