Don Ohlmeyer
Executive / Producer
About This Interview
Don Ohlmeyer was interviewed for four hours in Malibu, CA. Ohlmeyer talks about his early years in television as an associate director for ABC sports. He shares memorable moments from his experiences directing the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City and the 1972 Olympics in Munich. He describes producing the popular series of specials Battle of the Network Stars, his transition to NBC sports, and the creation of Ohlmeyer Communications, under which he produced the Emmy-winning television movie Special Bulletin. He details his move back to NBC, where he served as President of West Coast Operations and reinvigorated the network with "Must See TV" and post-Johnny Carson late-night television. Finally, he chronicles his departure from NBC, his brief return to Monday Night Football, and his current passions: painting, teaching, and writing. Dan Pasternack conducted the interview on November 17, 2004.
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Highlights
Don Ohlmeyer on the battle for late night between Dave Letterman and Jay Leno while he was at NBC
Clip begins at: 00:01
Don Ohlmeyer on the decision to pull Norm MacDonald from SNL 's Weekend Update
Clip begins at: 00:02
Don Ohlmeyer on the core of ABC Sports - storytelling
Clip begins at: 13:05, Duration: 00m 45s
Don Ohlmeyer on Jim McKay's amazing job covering the 1972 Munich
Olympics
Clip begins at: 20:50, Duration: 02m 01s
Interview
- Part 1
- On his childhood and early influences; on his early interest in sports; on attending college at the University of Notre Dame; on watching sports on television with his father; on how television viewing habits have changed over the years
Clip begins at: 0:45 - On working for ABC Sports out of college; on hustling pool; on The 1968 Olympics; on mentor Roone Arledge
Clip begins at: 13:50 - Part 2
- On The 1968 Olympics (contd.); on mentor Roone Arledge; on Wide World of Sports; on the core of ABC Sports - great storytelling; on creative innovations pushing technology forward
Clip begins at: 0:26 - On Monday Night Football; on Pete Rozelle getting ABC to pick up Monday Night Football; on working with director Chet Forte; on Monday Night Football announcers Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell
Clip begins at: 18:23 - Part 3
- On Monday Night Football (contd.); on negotiating contracts; on Monday Night Football announcer Howard Cosell
Clip begins at: 0:40 - On winning an Emmy in 1975 for Monday Night Football; on the 1972 Munich Olympics
Clip begins at: 16:01 - On Battle of the Network Stars and The Superstars, precursor to Battle of the Network Stars
Clip begins at: 22:59 - Part 4
- On leaving ABC for NBC Sports in 1977; on mentoring a new generation of sports executives; on producing the World Series; on the U.S. boycotting the 1980 Olympics in Moscow
Clip begins at: 0:23 - On leaving NBC in 1982; on producing the 1977 Emmy Awards; on creating his own company and producing the television movie Special Bulletin
Clip begins at: 12:39 - Part 5
- On producing the television movie, Under Siege; on the power of made-for-TV movies; on producing the Indianapolis 500
Clip begins at: 0:28 - On heading West Coast Operations at NBC in 1993; on creating "Must See TV" on Thursday nights; on the "Walk the Dog" Theory
Clip begins at: 11:50 - Part 6
- On Warren Littlefield; on executives staying in touch with audience interests; on the importance of research
Clip begins at: 0:24 - On the importance of the 18-49 demographic; on the biggest misconception about television
Clip begins at: 07:58 - On the Late Night battles - Leno v. Letterman; on supporting Conan O'Brien to take over The Late Show; on removing Norm MacDonald from SNL's "Weekend Update"
Clip begins at: 13:10 - Part 7
- On the decision to pull Norm MacDonald from Saturday Night Live 's "Weekend Update"; on making NBC the number one network; on the costly negotiations to keep ER at NBC
Clip begins at: 0:26 - On the business model for NBC; on Seinfeld and Cheers
Clip begins at: 11:46 - On NBC's coverage of the 1997 World Series interfering with the launch of the Fall schedule; on leaving NBC, recovering from addiction and alcoholism, and changing his outlook on life
Clip begins at: 23:49 - Part 8
- On returning to Monday Night Football and how it had changed; on leaving Monday Night Football and his next three projects: painting, writing and teaching
Clip begins at: 0:26 - On Frank Gifford, Brandon Tartikoff and Lorne Michaels; on how television has changed and where it's headed; on advice to aspiring producers, his proudest career achievement, and how he'd like to be remembered
Clip begins at: 10:46
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hELLO TO U DONNIE OLYMER.
DO U REMEMBER ME?
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