Don Roy King

Director


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Don Roy King discusses his early years, and his internship at KDKA. He talks about directing local television in New York, and eventually going on to direct The Mike Douglas Show. He recalls his years directing morning television, including Good Morning America and CBS This Morning. He details many aspects of his then-current job as director of Saturday Night Live, including working with producer Lorne Michaels, and outlining a typical workweek. King also chronicles rehearsal for the show, working with various guest stars, and he opines on the legacy of the show. He concludes by discussing what makes a good television director and talking about his career achievements. Jenni Matz conducted the interview on November 14, 2017 in New York, NY.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Directing for television is like a football game. I get the same adrenaline rush every time I say 'Fade up on camera one,' and it stays straight through to the point where I say, 'Fade to black, audio and video.' It's teamwork at the highest level. It’s being a part of something that feels worth doing and electric and alive."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Don Roy King on moving to New York to direct Midday Live, and on an on-air blooper
05:35
Don Roy King on directing the short-lived NBC showAmerica Alive! after leaving The Mike Douglas Show then going on to direct the pilot for Entertainment Tonight and what those experiences taught him
06:55
Don Roy King on auditioning to be an MTV VJ, and on being part of the MTV launch
04:24
Don Roy King on working with Lorne Michaels on Saturday Night Live, and on learning to direct the show
04:58
Don Roy King on a typical work week on Saturday Night Live, and on Ludacris hosting the show
08:48
Don Roy King on directing coverage of 9/11 for CBS
04:43
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on television he watched while growing up; on his very first directing project
On interning and working at KDKA; on moving to New York to direct Midday Live, and on an on-air blooper; on the challenges he faced moving from a smaller market to a big market; on being one of the three directors working at WNEW and their different directing styles
On going to direct at CBS; on directing The Mike Douglas Show; on working with Mike Douglas on The Mike Douglas Show and working with the various guest co-hosts
On what it was like to direct The Mike Douglas Show; on winning an Emmy Award for The Mike Douglas Show; on directing America Alive! and on helping to create Entertainment Tonight

Chapter 2

On auditioning to be an MTV VJ, and on being part of the MTV launch; on directing Good Morning America, and on working with David Hartman and Charlie Gibson; on directing The CBS Early Show, and on working on the graphic design for The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather
On directing Olympics updates, and on memorable moments of directing for CBS News and Good Morning America; on directing Survivor finales; on leaving CBS, and on directing coverage of 9/11
On his daughter (Ed. note: Mr. King would like to clarify that his daughter was born in 1997); on being hired by Lorne Michaels to direct Saturday Night Live; on working with Lorne Michaels on Saturday Night Live, and on learning to direct the show
On his first Saturday Night Live directing job, and on his role as director on the show; on the key crew members he works with on Saturday Night Live; on a typical work week on Saturday Night Live, and on Ludacris hosting the show
On working with the guest hosts of Saturday Night Live, and on the show dealing with politics; on working with Lorne Michaels on Saturday Night Live
On a typical work week on Saturday Night Live; on working with the designers, music groups, and cue cards on Saturday Night Live; on rehearsing sketches on the show

Chapter 3

On working with the musical acts of Saturday Night Live; on dealing with last minute changes before going live on-air while directing Saturday Night Live
On the dress rehearsal and going live on-air on Saturday Night Live; on what he does after a Saturday Night Live broadcast, and on how writers and cast members leaving the show impacts it; on his comfort level with directing Saturday Night Live, and on winning Emmys for the show
On what makes a sucessful episode of Saturday Night Live from a directing standpoint; on directing Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary special; on the legacy of Saturday Night Live
On how he views his career; on his style of directing; on what makes a good live television director, and on how technology has impacted directing for television
On a live broadcast becoming the director's show once it starts, and on his creative freedom as a live television director; on never having an agent or manager, and on how directing for television has changed since he started; on advice to aspiring directors
On career achievements; on what he loves about directing, and on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows

CBS Early Show, The

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Don Roy King on directing The CBS Early Show, and on working on the graphic design for The CBS Evening News
05:12

CBS Evening News with Dan Rather

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Don Roy King on directing The CBS Early Show, and on working on the graphic design for The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather
05:12

CBS News

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Don Roy King on directing Olympics updates, and on memorable moments of directing for CBS News and Good Morning America
04:54

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

View Show Page
Don Roy King on winning an Emmy for The Mike Douglas Show
06:08

Good Morning America

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Don Roy King on directing Good Morning America, and on working with David Hartman and Charlie Gibson
06:04
Don Roy King on directing Olympics updates, and on memorable moments of directing for CBS News and Good Morning America
04:54

Mike Douglas Show, The

View Show Page
Don Roy King on directing The Mike Douglas Show
03:42
Don Roy King on working with Mike Douglas on The Mike Douglas Show and working with the various guest co-hosts
02:54
Don Roy King on what it was like to direct The Mike Douglas Show
04:54
Don Roy King on winning an Emmy Award for The Mike Douglas Show
06:08

Olympics

View Show Page
Don Roy King on directing Olympics updates, and on memorable moments of directing for CBS News and Good Morning America
04:54

Saturday Night Live

View Show Page
Don Roy King on being hired by Lorne Michaels to direct Saturday Night Live
06:05
Don Roy King on working with Lorne Michaels on Saturday Night Live, and on learning to direct the show
04:58
Don Roy King on his first Saturday Night Live directing job, and on his role as director on the show
04:42
Don Roy King on the key crew members he works with on Saturday Night Live
03:24
Don Roy King on a typical work week on Saturday Night Live, and on Ludacris hosting the show
08:48
Don Roy King on working with the guest hosts of Saturday Night Live, and on the show dealing with politics
06:50
Don Roy King on working with Lorne Michaels on Saturday Night Live
02:22
Don Roy King on a typical work week on Saturday Night Live
06:35
Don Roy King on working with the designers, music groups, and cue cards on Saturday Night Live
06:58
Don Roy King on rehearsing sketches on Saturday Night Live
04:32
Don Roy King on working with the musical acts of Saturday Night Live
03:00
Don Roy King on dealing with last minute changes before going live on-air while directing Saturday Night Live
09:35
Don Roy King on the dress rehearsal and going live on-air on Saturday Night Live
09:04
Don Roy King on what he does after a Saturday Night Live broadcast, and on how writers and cast members leaving the show impacts it
06:02
Don Roy King on his comfort level with directing Saturday Night Live, and on winning Emmy Awards for the show
03:43
Don Roy King on what makes a sucessful episode of Saturday Night Live from a directing standpoint
03:44
Don Roy King on directing Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary special
05:41
Don Roy King on the legacy of Saturday Night Live
01:28

Survivor

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Don Roy King on directing Survivor finales
05:32
Topics

9/11

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Don Roy King on directing coverage of 9/11 for CBS
04:43

Bloopers

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Don Roy King on an on-air blooper on Midday Live
03:44

Emmy Awards

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Don Roy King on winning an Emmy for The Mike Douglas Show
06:08
Don Roy King on winning Emmys for his work on Saturday Night Live
03:13

Historic Events and Social Change

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Don Roy King on directing coverage of 9/11 for CBS
04:43
Professions

Directors

View Profession
Don Roy King on being one of the three directors working at WNEW and their different directing styles
04:37
Don Roy King on his style of directing
04:02
Don Roy King on what makes a good live television director, and on how technology has impacted directing for television
01:31
Don Roy King on a live broadcast becoming the director's show once it starts, and on his creative freedom as a live television director
04:56
Don Roy King on never having an agent or manager, and on how directing for television has changed since he started
03:38
Don Roy King on advice to aspiring directors
07:05
Don Roy King on what he loves about directing, and on how he'd like to be remembered
02:05
Genres

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Don Roy King on directing Saturday Night Live
55:17
Don Roy King on directing Saturday Night Live
42:21

News and Documentary

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Don Roy King on directing Good Morning America, and on working with David Hartman and Charlie Gibson
06:05
Don Roy King on working at CBS News
10:06

Reality TV

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Don Roy King on directing Survivor finales
05:32

Talk Shows

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Don Roy King on directing The Mike Douglas Show
17:40
People

Mike Douglas

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Don Roy King on directing The Mike Douglas Show
17:39

Charlie Gibson

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Don Roy King on directing Good Morning America, and on working with David Hartman and Charlie Gibson
06:05

Lorne Michaels

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Don Roy King on working with Lorne Michaels on Saturday Night Live
31:05

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