About
"I love the adrenalin. I'm motivated by deadlines. And I love getting everything done when it needs to be done."
In his one-hour-plus interview, Michael Gelman talks about several of his early internships and production assistant jobs, including one for the U.S. Ski Association in which he shot footage with lightweight emerging Sony camera technology while on skis. He describes his affinity for "live" television production, which began in earnest with the WABC-TV series Good Morning, New York. He recalls moving up the producing ranks at WABC and working with Regis Philbin and Cyndy Garvey on The Morning Show. He details his continued association with Regis Philbin on Regis Philbin's Health Styles, serving as the show's producer. Gelman discusses his work as the New York producer for Hollywood Squares, producing shows out of Radio City Music Hall. He speaks of being named the executive producer of A.M. Los Angeles, which he began while in his mid-twenties. He describes the show's evolving format and the show's jump to syndication. He then outlines working with Regis Philbin and his co-hosts on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and Live with Regis and Kelly. He talks about the spontaneity of the show, the chemistry of the hosts, the show's climb in the ratings, a typical workday, and his appearance on-camera in various bits. Karen Herman conducted the interview on November 1, 2006 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Michael Gelman on Regis Philbin's chemistry with Kathie Lee Gifford on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Michael Gelman on Kathie Lee Gifford's departure from Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Michael Gelman on being on camera on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and Live with Regis and Kelly
Michael Gelman on how Kathie Lee Gifford and Kelly Ripa differed
Michael Gelman on his working relationship with Regis Philbin
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on loving the outdoors and his early interest in movie-making; on his dream job during college - filming for the U.S. Ski Association
On his first professional job in television; on doing freelance work; on getting hired at WABC New York
On working with Regis Philbin on The Morning Show; on his first impressions of Regis Philbin
On becoming the New York producer for Hollywood Squares; on becoming an Executive Producer of A.M. Los Angeles in his early 20s
Chapter 2
On the format of what would become Live with Regis and Kathie Lee; on syndication; on hiring Kathie Lee Gifford and working with her and Regis Philbin
On Kathie Lee Gifford's departure from Live with Regis and Kathie Lee; on searching for a new co-host and what Kelly Ripa brought to the show; on a typical production week on Live with Regis and Kelly
On being on camera on the show; on parodies of the program and his favorite moments over the years (including the Halloween episodes)
On how Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and Live with Regis and Kelly have evolved; on the future of Live with Regis and Kelly
Chapter 3
On a funny moment from the show; on Regis Philbin on and off-camera
On advice to an aspiring producer; on his future projects
Shows
Hollywood Squares, The
Michael Gelman on becoming the New York producer for Hollywood Squares
Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Michael Gelman on the format of what would become Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Michael Gelman on hiring Kathie Lee Gifford and putting together Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Michael Gelman on Regis Philbin's chemistry with Kathie Lee Gifford on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Michael Gelman on working with Kathie Lee Gifford and Regis Philbin on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Michael Gelman on Kathie Lee Gifford's departure from Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Michael Gelman on being on camera on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and Live with Regis and Kelly
Michael Gelman on his favorite moments from Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and Live with Regis and Kelly
Michael Gelman on how Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and Live with Regis and Kelly have evolved
Live with Regis and Kelly
Michael Gelman on searching for a co-host for what would become Live with Regis and Kelly
Michael Gelman on how Kathie Lee Gifford and Kelly Ripa differed
Michael Gelman on a typical production week on Live with Regis and Kelly
Michael Gelman on being on camera on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and Live with Regis and Kelly
Michael Gelman on his favorite moments from Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and Live with Regis and Kelly
Michael Gelman on how Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and Live with Regis and Kelly have evolved
Michael Gelman on the future of Live with Regis and Kelly
Michael Gelman on a funny moment from the show
Morning Show, The
Michael Gelman on working with Regis Philbin on The Morning Show
Michael Gelman on production on The Morning Show
Regis Philbin's Health Styles
Michael Gelman on Regis Philbin's Health Styles
Saturday Night Live
Michael Gelman on the parodies of Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and Live with Regis and Kelly on Saturday Night Live
Topics
Advice
Michael Gelman on advice to an aspiring producer
Television Industry
Michael Gelman on advice to an aspiring producer
Professions
Producers
Michael Gelman on becoming an Executive Producer in his early 20s
Michael Gelman on advice to an aspiring producer
Genres
Talk Shows
Michael Gelman on working with Regis Philbin on The Morning Show
Michael Gelman on producing Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and Live with Regis and Kelly
People
Cyndy Garvey
Michael Gelman on Regis Philbin and Cyndy Garvey hosting The Morning Show
Kathie Lee Gifford
Michael Gelman on hiring Kathie Lee Gifford and putting together Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Michael Gelman on working with Kathie Lee Gifford and Regis Philbin on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Michael Gelman on Kathie Lee Gifford's departure from Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Michael Gelman on how Kathie Lee Gifford and Kelly Ripa differed
Frank Gifford
Michael Gelman on working with Frank Gifford before meeting Kathie Lee
Regis Philbin
Michael Gelman on Regis Philbin always calling him Gelman
Michael Gelman on first meeting Regis Philbin on The Morning Show
Michael Gelman on his first impressions of Regis Philbin
Michael Gelman on Regis Philbin's chemistry with Kathie Lee Gifford
Michael Gelman on his working relationship with Regis Philbin
Michael Gelman on being on camera on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and Live with Regis and Kelly
Michael Gelman on a funny moment with Regis Philbin and Regis being a good sport with practical jokes
Michael Gelman on Regis Philbin on and off camera
Michael Gelman on Regis Philbin's legacy in television, and being a World Record holder
Don Rickles
Michael Gelman on Regis Philbin being a good sport with practical jokes
Kelly Ripa
Michael Gelman on how Kathie Lee Gifford and Kelly Ripa differed
Michael Gelman on searching for a co-host for what would become Live with Regis and Kelly