Al Michaels

Sportscaster
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
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.

"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.'

People Talking About ...
Al Michaels
Highlights
Al Michaels on one of his first jobs as talent coordinator on The Dating Game working for Chuck Barris
05:38
Al Michaels on ABC's role as the pre-eminent sports network by the mid-1970s, headed by Roone Arledge
03:57
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 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 reporting the earthquake during the 1989 World Series Game 3 in San Francisco
09:55
Al Michaels on Don Ohlmeyer returning to Monday Night Football and bringing in Dennis Miller
05:08
Full Interview

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

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
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
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

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?"
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
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

Chapter 4
On covering horse racing; on covering all the various sports at the Olympics
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
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

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

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

ABC's Wide World of Sports

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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

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Al Michaels on one of his first jobs as talent coordinator on The Dating Game working for Chuck Barris
05:38

Hawaii Five-O

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Al Michaels on a cameo he made on Hawaii Five-O 
02:01

Monday Night Football

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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

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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

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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
Topics

9/11

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Al Michaels on sports reporting during national tragedies like 9/11
02:30

Advice

View Topic
Al Michaels on advice to aspiring sportscasters
01:17

Bloopers

View Topic
Al Michaels on bloopers or flubs on Monday Night Football
01:22

Characters & Catchphrases

View Topic
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

View Topic
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

View Topic
Al Michales on announcing local baseball and football games on the Hawaii Islands
04:24

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
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

View Topic
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

View Topic
Al Michaels on announcing U.S. Ice Hockey team for the 1980 Winter Olympics
22:16

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
Al Michales on announcing local baseball and football games on the Hawaii Islands
04:24

Pop Culture

View Topic
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

View Topic
Al Michaels on announcing U.S. Ice Hockey team for the 1980 Winter Olympics
22:16

TV Theme Songs

View Topic
Al Michaels on Hank Williams, Jr. Monday Night Football theme song
01:29

Technological Innovation

View Topic
Al Michaels on how advancements in technology have impacted the Monday Night Football broadcasts
02:06

Television Industry

View Topic
Al Michaels on advice to aspiring sportscasters
01:17

War

View Topic
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

View Topic
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
Professions

Hosts

View Profession
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

View Profession
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
Genres

News and Documentary

View Genre
Al Michaels on announcing for Monday Night Football
20:59

Sports

View Genre
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
People

Chuck Barris

View Interview Page
Al Michaels on one of his first jobs as talent coordinator on The Dating Game working for Chuck Barris
05:38

Dennis Miller

View Person Page
Al Michaels on Don Ohlmeyer returning to Monday Night Football and bringing in Dennis Miller
05:08

Don Ohlmeyer

View Interview Page
Al Michaels on Don Ohlmeyer returning to Monday Night Football and bringing in Dennis Miller
05:08

Frank Gifford

View Interview Page
Al Michales on becoming the play-by-play sportscaster on Monday Night Football on ESPN with Frank Gifford
11:14

Howard Cosell

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Al Michaels on working with Howard Cosell on Monday Night Football and Monday Night Baseball
02:42

Jack Whitaker

View Person Page
Al Michaels on working with Jack Whitaker
01:01

Jim McKay

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Al Michaels on Jim McKay, his colleague at ABC's Wide World of Sports
02:35

John Madden

View Person Page
Al Michaels on working with John Madden on Monday Night Football
02:48

Roone Arledge

View Person Page
Al Michaels on ABC's role as the pre-eminent sports network by the mid-1970s, headed by Roone Arledge
03:57

All Interviews

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