"For years, when I broke in, I thought that my first name was Irreverent. I was the Irreverent Bob Costas. Then, all of the sudden, I became the Venerable Bob Costas. People like easy labels and caricatures and categories they can toss people into. I think if people watch what I do, they see that there's a lot of lightheartedness in it. There's some goofiness and irreverence. I hope it all fits within a style that has some texture to it."

    About This Interview

    In his one-and-a-half-hour interview, Bob Costas talks about his early interest in sports broadcasting. He describes his approach to sportscasting, chronicles his early jobs as a play-by-play announcer, and recounts getting hired by Don Ohlmeyer at NBC Sports. He recalls how Ohlmeyer encouraged him to allow his personality to come through on television and how he developed his broadcasting style. Costas discusses various aspects of sports play-by-play: prepping for a broadcast, splitting his view between the field and the monitor on air, and the importance of historical sports knowledge. He outlines his expanded work at NBC, starting with Today and subsequently Later with Bob Costas. He speaks of helming On the Record with Bob Costas, and details his role as prime-time host of the Olympics. Karen Herman conducted the interview on October 24, 2008 in New York, NY. 

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

    Bob Costas on hosting the Olympics

    00:48
    Thumbnail of Bob Costas

    Bob Costas on the Centennial Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

    01:54
    Thumbnail of Bob Costas

    Bob Costas on his style of delivery

    01:43
    Thumbnail of Bob Costas

    Bob Costas on an amazing story guest Anthony Quinn told on Later with Bob Costas

    03:38
    Thumbnail of Bob Costas

    Bob Costas on covering the 1982 World Series and the 1984 "Sandberg game"

    01:19
    Thumbnail of Bob Costas

    Bob Costas on Kirk Gibson hitting the home-run off Dennis Eckersley in the 1988 World Series

    01:36
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his childhood and early influences; on wanting to be a broadcaster; on developing his voice and broadcasting style

    09:52

    On studying Public Communications at Syracuse University and working at the campus radio station; on his first professional job - broadcasting hockey; on joining KMOX in St. Louis and announcing for the local ABA team (alternative league to the NBA)

    08:09

    On getting hired at NBC and Don Ohlmeyer recognizing his talent, but thinking Costas looked very young; on learning to loosen up on television; on his preparations for broadcasts

    08:58

    On being paired with announcer/former baseball player Tony Kubek; on memorable sports moments he called during the 1980s: 1982 World Series, and the 1984 "Sandberg Game"; on his interest in history

    09:55

    On expanding his role at NBC - appearing on Today, and hosting Later with Bob Costas and the Olympics; on interviewing guests on Later with Bob Costas

    14:15

    On the first time he served as prime-time host of the Olympics - 1992 in Barcelona; on how he handles live and taped events; on what he anticipates for the 2012 London Olympics

    05:23

    Chapter 2

    On hosting The Olympics and accenting the human interest stories; on decisions Dick Ebersol has to make as producer of The Olympics

    07:21

    On the Centennial Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics; on the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2004 Athens Olympics; on the response he gets to his Olympic coverage and the dynamics of international sports

    10:03

    On hosting HBO's On the Record with Bob Costas; on filling in for Larry King on Larry King Live

    05:37

    On covering NBC Football

    01:41

    On how the business of televised sports has changed; on how his style affects telling the story of sports; on the importance of new media platforms

    07:40

    Larry King Live

    Bob Costas on filling in for Larry King on Larry King Live

    00:49

    Later with Bob Costas

    Bob Costas on Dick Ebersol wanting Costas for a late night show, Later with Bob Costas

    00:26

    Bob Costas on interviewing guests on Later with Bob Costas

    02:35

    Bob Costas on an amazing story guest Anthony Quinn told on Later with Bob Costas

    03:38

    Bob Costas on the charm of Later with Bob Costas and guests who wanted to be on the show

    05:04

    Olympics

    Bob Costas on hosting the Olympics

    00:45

    Bob Costas the first time he served as prime-time host of the Olympics - 1992 in Barcelona; on how he approaches hosting

    05:23

    Bob Costas on covering the Olympics and why it's so captivating; on the tone of the Games and the Centennial Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

    09:15

    Bob Costas on the 2000 Sydney Olympics

    01:34

    Bob Costas on the 2004 Athens Olympics

    00:42

    Bob Costas on the response he gets to his Olympic coverage; on the dynamics of international sports

    05:53

    Bob Costas on decisions Dick Ebersol has to make as producer of The Olympics

    01:11

    On the Record with Bob Costas

    Bob Costas on hosting On the Record with Bob Costas

    04:48

    Today

    Bob Costas on filling in on Today

    00:19

    Coverage

    Bob Costas on covering the Olympics and why it's so captivating; on the tone of the Games and the Centennial Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

    09:15

    Bob Costas on the 2000 Sydney Olympics

    01:34

    Bob Costas on the 2004 Athens Olympics

    00:42

    Bob Costas on the response he gets to his Olympic coverage; on the dynamics of international sports

    05:53

    Bob Costas on decisions Dick Ebersol has to make as producer of The Olympics

    01:11

    Bob Costas on how his style affects telling the story of sports

    01:46

    Memorable Moments on Television

    Bob Costas on covering the 1986 World Series when the Red Sox almost beat the curse, and the Red Sox finally beating it in 2004

    02:35

    Bob Costas on Kirk Gibson hitting the home-run off Dennis Eckersley in the 1988 World Series

    01:36

    Bob Costas on the Centennial Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

    01:54

    Olympic Games

    Bob Costas on the first time he served as prime-time host of the Olympics - 1992 in Barcelona and how he approaches hosting

    05:23

    Bob Costas on covering the Olympics and why it's so captivating; on the tone of the Games and the Centennial Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

    09:15

    Bob Costas on the 2000 Sydney Olympics

    01:34

    Bob Costas on the 2004 Athens Olympics

    00:42

    Bob Costas on the response he gets to his Olympic coverage; on the dynamics of international sports

    05:53

    Bob Costas on decisions Dick Ebersol has to make as producer of The Olympics

    01:11

    Sports

    Bob Costas on covering the 1986 World Series when the Red Sox almost beat the curse, and the Red Sox finally beating it in 2004

    02:35

    Bob Costas on covering the 1982 World Series and the 1984 "Sandberg game"

    01:19

    Bob Costas on Kirk Gibson hitting the home-run off Dennis Eckersley in the 1988 World Series

    01:36

    Bob Costas on the first time he served as prime-time host of the Olympics - 1992 in Barcelona and how he approaches hosting

    05:23

    Bob Costas on covering the Olympics and why it's so captivating; on the tone of the Games and the Centennial Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

    09:15

    Bob Costas on the 2000 Sydney Olympics

    01:34

    Bob Costas on the 2004 Athens Olympics

    00:42

    Bob Costas on the response he gets to his Olympic coverage; on the dynamics of international sports

    05:53

    Bob Costas on decisions Dick Ebersol has to make as producer of The Olympics

    01:11

    Bob Costas on hosting On the Record with Bob Costas

    04:48

    Bob Costas on how his style affects telling the story of sports

    01:46

    Bob Costas on how the business of televised sports has changed

    01:29

    Television Industry

    Bob Costas on how the business of televised sports has changed

    01:29

    World Series

    Bob Costas on covering the 1986 World Series when the Red Sox almost beat the curse, and the Red Sox finally beating it in 2004

    02:35

    Bob Costas on covering the 1982 World Series and the 1984 "Sandberg game"

    01:19

    Bob Costas on Kirk Gibson hitting the home-run off Dennis Eckersley in the 1988 World Series

    01:36

    Hosts

    Bob Costas on how his style affects telling the story of sports

    01:46

    Sportscaster

    Bob Costas on how he became a television sportscaster

    04:34

    Bob Costas on how he prepares for a sportscast; on how he calls a game

    04:24

    Bob Costas on wanting to be a baseball player, then a broadcaster

    02:11

    Bob Costas on how his style affects telling the story of sports

    01:46

    Bob Costas on advice to aspiring sportscasters

    01:59

    Sports

    Bob Costas on how he prepares for a sportscast; on how he calls a game

    04:24

    Bob Costas on the first time he served as prime-time host of the Olympics - 1992 in Barcelona; on how he approaches hosting

    05:23

    Bob Costas on covering the Olympics and why it's so captivating, and on the tone of the Games and the Centennial Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

    09:15

    Bob Costas on the 2000 Sydney Olympics

    01:34

    Bob Costas on the 2004 Athens Olympics

    00:42

    Bob Costas on the response he gets to his Olympic coverage and on the dynamics of international sports

    05:53

    Bob Costas on hosting On the Record with Bob Costas

    04:48

    Talk Shows

    Bob Costas on filling in for Larry King on Larry King Live

    00:49

    Red Barber

    Bob Costas on broadcasting for radio versus television and the strengths of Vin Scully and Red Barber

    01:13

    Tom Brokaw

    Bob Costas on the Centennial Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

    01:54

    Robert Duvall

    Bob Costas on the charm of Later with Bob Costas and guests who wanted to be on the show

    00:07

    Dick Ebersol

    Bob Costas on Dick Ebersol wanting Costas for a late night show, Later with Bob Costas

    00:26

    Bob Costas on decisions Dick Ebersol has to make as producer of The Olympics

    01:11

    David Letterman

    Bob Costas on going on David Letterman's show to do elevator races and learning to loosen up on television

    01:13

    Rosie O'Donnell

    Bob Costas on Rosie O'Donnell, a fellow famous alumnus from his high school

    00:37

    Don Ohlmeyer

    Bob Costas on Don Ohlmeyer recognizing his talent, but thinking Costas looked very young

    03:20

    Anthony Quinn

    Bob Costas on an amazing story guest Anthony Quinn told on Later with Bob Costas

    03:38

    Vin Scully

    Bob Costas on broadcasting for radio versus television and the strengths of Vin Scully and Red Barber

    01:13

    Bob Costas on Kirk Gibson hitting the home-run off Dennis Eckersley in the 1988 World Series (called by Vin Scully)

    01:36

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