"The announcer's role is to enhance your enjoyment of the game by bringing you things you don't have access to. The game is a melody and you're going to provide the lyrics.. I want the viewer to look at me and say 'We can trust this guy.'

    About This Interview

    In his nearly three-hour interview, Al Michaels speaks about his early years as a sports enthusiast who, as a child, wanted to become an announcer. He talks about the practical experience he gained announcing college games before becoming a professional. He also discusses one of his first jobs, as a contestant interviewer for Chuck Barris Productions. He then chronicles his illustrious sportscasting career, which began as a three-year stint in Hawaii for minor league baseball. He speaks about his long tenure at ABC Sports featuring Wide World of Sports and Monday Night Football. He relates his approach to announcing and how he prepares for broadcasts. He discusses some of his announcing highlights including the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" Olympic hockey game and the 1989 World Series where a major earthquake disrupted the game. He also speaks in detail about working with his broadcast colleagues: Howard Cosell, Dan Dierdorf, Frank Gifford, Chick Hearn, and Jim McKay. Jennifer Howard conducted the interview on August 31, 2005 in Brentwood, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Al Michaels

    Al Michaels on one of his first jobs as talent coordinator on The Dating Game working for Chuck Barris

    05:38
    Thumbnail of Al Michaels

    Al Michaels on ABC's role as the pre-eminent sports network by the mid-1970s, headed by Roone Arledge

    03:57
    Thumbnail of Al Michaels

    Al Michaels on his experience of calling U.S. Hockey team defeating the Soviets at the Winter Olympics and on coming up with "Do you believe in miracles?"

    06:40
    Thumbnail of Al Michaels

    Al Michaels on how the U.S. Hockey team playing the Soviets at the Winter Olympics played into the Cold War narrative at the time

    05:24
    Thumbnail of Al Michaels

    Al Michaels on reporting the earthquake during the 1989 World Series Game 3 in San Francisco

    09:55
    Thumbnail of Al Michaels

    Al Michaels on Don Ohlmeyer returning to Monday Night Football and bringing in Dennis Miller

    05:08
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his childhood and early interest in sports; on his family's move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles; on one of his first jobs as talent coordinator on The Dating Game working for Chuck Barris

    16:39

    On doing some PR work for the Lakers; on announcer Chick Hearn; on announcing local baseball and football games on the Hawaii Islands

    11:50

    Chapter 2

    On his sports broadcasts from Hawaii; on a cameo he made on Hawaii Five-O ; on announcing for Cincinnati Reds baseball broadcasts and on covering the 1972 World Series

    12:53

    On his years announcing for the San Francisco Giants; on being hired by ABC Sports to announce for various events including ABC's Wide World of Sports ; on ABC's role as the pre-eminent sports network by the mid-1970s, headed by Roone Arledge

    09:13

    On the kinds of events covered on ABC's Wide World of Sports ; on Jim McKay, his colleague at ABC's Wide World of Sports; on working with Jack Whitaker

    06:01

    Chapter 3

    On the original prospects of and expectations for the U.S. Ice Hockey team for the 1980 Winter Olympics; on how the U.S. Hockey team playing the Soviets at the Winter Olympics played into the Cold War narrative at the time; on his experience of calling U.S. Hockey team defeating the Soviets at the Winter Olympics and on coming up with "Do you believe in miracles?"

    18:27

    On announcing the U.S. verses Finland game where the U.S. won the Gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics; on how his announcing the 1980 Winter Olympics hockey broadcasts impacted his career

    03:49

    On working with Howard Cosell on Monday Night Football and Monday Night Baseball; on what a sportscaster brings to a game; on announcing a boxing match

    06:16

    Chapter 4

    On covering horse racing; on covering all the various sports at the Olympics

    07:28

    On becoming the play-by-play sportscaster on Monday Night Football; on how the transition on Monday Night Football worked for Frank Gifford when he took over as the play-by-play commentator; on working with Frank Gifford and Boomer Esiason on Monday Night Football

    11:14

    On Don Ohlmeyer returning to Monday Night Football and bringing in Dennis Miller; on working with John Madden on Monday Night Football; on his longevity on Monday Night Football

    11:42

    Chapter 5

    On the production schedule and doing research on Monday Night Football; on how the production team makes Monday Night Football look so easy; on his equipment and why he chooses to stand not sit on Monday Night Football

    07:17

    On how advancements in technology have impacted the Monday Night Football broadcasts; on Hank Williams, Jr. Monday Night Football theme song; on how games are selected for Monday Night Football and on keeping the games interesting

    05:17

    On dealing with celebrities visiting the booth on Monday Night Football; on favorite Monday Night Football games; on bloopers or flubs on Monday Night Football

    03:56

    On Monday Night Football being a "mini" superbowl every week; on the then-future of Monday Night Football; on the legacy of Monday Night Football

    04:29

    On reporting the earthquake during the 1989 World Series Game 3 in San Francisco

    09:55

    Chapter 6

    On his sportscasting style; on calling a "perfect game" and keeping his voice healthy; on covering various types of sporting event; on advice to aspiring sportscasters

    10:43

    On sports reporting during national tragedies like 9/11; on career highlights; on how he'd like to be remembered

    05:35

    ABC's Wide World of Sports

    Al Michaels on being hired by ABC Sports to announce for various events including ABC's Wide World of Sports

    02:18

    Al Michaels on the kinds of events covered on ABC's Wide World of Sports

    02:21

    Dating Game, The

    Al Michaels on one of his first jobs as talent coordinator on The Dating Game working for Chuck Barris

    05:38

    Hawaii Five-O

    Al Michaels on a cameo he made on Hawaii Five-O 

    02:01

    Monday Night Football

    Al Michaels on working with Howard Cosell on Monday Night Football and Monday Night Baseball

    02:42

    Al Michales on becoming the play-by-play sportscaster on Monday Night Football on ESPN with Frank Gifford. He calls it "the greatest thing that ever happened to me"

    03:14

    Al Michaels on how the transition worked for Frank Gifford when he took over as the play-by-play commentator, and Gifford has a new role

    02:29

    Al Michaels on working with Frank Gifford and Boomer Esiason on Monday Night Football

    05:31

    Al Michaels on Don Ohlmeyer returning to Monday Night Football and bringing in Dennis Miller

    05:08

    Al Michaels on working with John Madden on Monday Night Football

    02:48

    Al Michaels on his longevity on Monday Night Football

    03:46

    Al Michaels on the production schedule and doing research on Monday Night Football

    03:45

    Al Michaels on how the production team makes Monday Night Football look so easy

    01:10

    Al Michaels on his equipment and why he chooses to stand not sit on Monday Night Football

    02:22

    Al Michaels on Monday Night Football being a "mini" superbowl every week

    01:41

    Al Michaels on the then-future of Monday Night Football

    01:30

    Al Michaels on how advancements in technology have impacted the Monday Night Football broadcasts

    02:06

    Al Michaels on Hank Williams, Jr. Monday Night Football theme song

    01:29

    Al Michaels on how games are selected for Monday Night Football and on keeping the games interesting

    01:42

    Al Michaels on dealing with celebrities visiting the booth on Monday Night Football

    01:26

    Al Michaels on favorite Monday Night Football games

    01:08

    Al Michaels on bloopers or flubs on Monday Night Football

    01:22

    Al Michaels on the legacy of Monday Night Football

    01:18

    Olympics

    Al Michaels on the original prospects of and expectations for the U.S. Ice Hockey team for the 1980 Winter Olympics

    06:23

    Al Michaels on how the U.S. Hockey team playing the Soviets at the Winter Olympics played into the Cold War narrative at the time

    05:24

    Al Michaels on his experience of calling U.S. Hockey team defeating the Soviets at the Winter Olympics and on coming up with "Do you believe in miracles?"

    06:40

    Al Michaels on announcing the U.S. verses Finland game where the U.S. won the Gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics

    01:10

    Al Michaels on how his announcing the 1980 Winter Olympics hockey broadcasts impacted his career

    02:39

    Al Michaels on covering all the various sports at the Olympics

    05:15

    World Series

    Al Michaels on covering the 1972 World Series on NBC between the Oakland A's and the Cincinnati Reds

    06:07

    Al Michaels on reporting the earthquake during the 1989 World Series Game 3 in San Francisco

    09:55

    9/11

    Al Michaels on sports reporting during national tragedies like 9/11

    02:30

    Advice

    Al Michaels on advice to aspiring sportscasters

    01:17

    Bloopers

    Al Michaels on bloopers or flubs on Monday Night Football

    01:22

    Characters & Catchphrases

    Al Michaels on his experience of calling U.S. Hockey team defeating the Soviets at the Winter Olympics and on coming up with "Do you believe in miracles?"

    06:40

    Cold War

    Al Michaels on how the U.S. Hockey team playing the Soviets at the Winter Olympics played into the Cold War narrative at the time

    05:24

    First Big Break

    Al Michales on announcing local baseball and football games on the Hawaii Islands

    04:24

    Historic Events and Social Change

    Al Michaels on how the U.S. Hockey team playing the Soviets at the Winter Olympics played into the Cold War narrative at the time

    05:24

    Al Michaels on sports reporting during national tragedies like 9/11

    02:30

    Memorable Moments on Television

    Al Michaels on his experience of calling U.S. Hockey team defeating the Soviets at the Winter Olympics and on coming up with "Do you believe in miracles?"

    06:40

    Al Michaels on reporting the earthquake during the 1989 World Series Game 3 in San Francisco

    09:55

    Olympic Games

    Al Michaels on announcing U.S. Ice Hockey team for the 1980 Winter Olympics

    22:16

    Pivotal Career Moments

    Al Michales on announcing local baseball and football games on the Hawaii Islands

    04:24

    Pop Culture

    Al Michaels on his experience of calling U.S. Hockey team defeating the Soviets at the Winter Olympics and on coming up with "Do you believe in miracles?"

    06:40

    Al Michaels on Hank Williams, Jr. Monday Night Football theme song

    01:29

    Sports

    Al Michaels on announcing U.S. Ice Hockey team for the 1980 Winter Olympics

    22:16

    Technological Innovation

    Al Michaels on how advancements in technology have impacted the Monday Night Football broadcasts

    02:06

    Television Industry

    Al Michaels on advice to aspiring sportscasters

    01:17

    TV Theme Songs

    Al Michaels on Hank Williams, Jr. Monday Night Football theme song

    01:29

    War

    Al Michaels on how the U.S. Hockey team playing the Soviets at the Winter Olympics played into the Cold War narrative at the time

    05:24

    We Celebrated

    Al Michaels on his experience of calling U.S. Hockey team defeating the Soviets at the Winter Olympics and on coming up with "Do you believe in miracles?"

    06:40

    Hosts

    Al Michaels on what a sportscaster bring to a game

    02:20

    Al Michaels on his sportscasting style

    03:06

    Al Michaels on calling a "perfect game" and keeping his voice healthy

    01:54

    Al Michaels on advice to aspiring sportscasters

    01:17

    Sportscaster

    Al Michaels on what a sportscaster bring to a game

    02:20

    Al Michaels on wanting the viewers to trust him

    01:55

    Al Michaels on his sportscasting style

    03:06

    Al Michaels on calling a "perfect game" and keeping his voice healthy

    01:54

    Al Michaels on advice to aspiring sportscasters

    01:17

    News and Documentary

    Al Michaels on announcing for Monday Night Football

    20:59

    Sports

    Al Michales on doing some PR work for the Lakers, and on announcer Chick Hearn

    07:26

    Al Michales on announcing local baseball and football games on the Hawaii Islands

    04:24

    Al Michales on his sports broadcasts from Hawaii

    00:48

    Al Michales on announcing for Cincinnati Reds baseball broadcasts

    03:57

    Al Michaels on covering the 1972 World Series on NBC between the Oakland A's and the Cincinnati Reds

    06:07

    Al Michaels on his years announcing for the San Francisco Giants

    02:58

    Al Michaels on being hired by ABC Sports to announce for various events including ABC's Wide World of Sports

    12:12

    Al Michaels on how he came up with "Do you believe in miracles?" when covering the 1980 Olympics

    04:41

    Al Michaels on announcing a boxing match

    01:14

    Al Michaels on covering horse racing

    02:17

    Al Michales on becoming the play-by-play sportscaster on Monday Night Football

    03:14

    Al Michaels on reporting the earthquake during the 1989 World Series Game 3 in San Francisco

    09:55

    Al Michaels on announcing for auto racing

    00:55

    Al Michaels on announcing for golf

    01:02

    Al Michaels on announcing for basketball

    01:14

    Roone Arledge

    Al Michaels on ABC's role as the pre-eminent sports network by the mid-1970s, headed by Roone Arledge

    03:57

    Chuck Barris

    Al Michaels on one of his first jobs as talent coordinator on The Dating Game working for Chuck Barris

    05:38

    Howard Cosell

    Al Michaels on working with Howard Cosell on Monday Night Football and Monday Night Baseball

    02:42

    Frank Gifford

    Al Michales on becoming the play-by-play sportscaster on Monday Night Football on ESPN with Frank Gifford

    11:14

    Chick Hearn

    Al Michales on doing some PR work for the Lakers, and on announcer Chick Hearn

    04:24

    John Madden

    Al Michaels on working with John Madden on Monday Night Football

    02:48

    Jim McKay

    Al Michaels on Jim McKay, his colleague at ABC's Wide World of Sports

    02:35

    Dennis Miller

    Al Michaels on Don Ohlmeyer returning to Monday Night Football and bringing in Dennis Miller

    05:08

    Don Ohlmeyer

    Al Michaels on Don Ohlmeyer returning to Monday Night Football and bringing in Dennis Miller

    05:08

    Jack Whitaker

    Al Michaels on working with Jack Whitaker

    01:01

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