Dick Ebersol
Executive
About This Interview
In his six-and-a-half-hour interview for the Archive of American Television, Dick Ebersol talks about his career in both sports and entertainment programming. He discusses his early work in sports programming at ABC -- before, during and after his time at Yale University -- and shares tales of his involvement with the 1968 Winter and Summer Olympics. He recounts the tragedy of the 1972 Munich Olympics, and his friendships with Howard Cosell, Jim McKay, and Roone Arledge. Ebersol then describes his shift into entertainment programming and becoming co-creator of Saturday Night Live with Lorne Michaels. He outlines the show's production schedule, memorable cast members, and his long association and friendship with Lorne Michaels. He details the plane crash he was in that took the life of his youngest son, Teddy, and speaks of how the loss affected him and his wife, actress Susan Saint James. Ebersol discusses several other shows he produced, including Friday Night Videos and Later with Bob Costas, and talks of his time as President of NBC Sports, where his career has come full circle and he's once again involved with, this time overseeing, coverage of the Olympic games. Dan Pasternack conducted the interview in New York, NY in two sessions on June 23 and 24, 200.
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Highlights
Dick Ebersol on why
Saturday Night Liveis a great television institution
Clip begins at: 16:09, Duration: 03m 26s
Dick Ebersol on Jim McKay announcing the death of the Israeli Olympic team - "They're all gone"
Clip begins at: 24:31, Duration: 02m 01s
Dick Ebersol on reviving
Saturday Night Live
Clip begins at: 53:52, Duration: 01m 30s
Dick Ebersol on dress rehearsals in front of a live audience on
Saturday Night Live
Clip begins at: 54:39, Duration: 00m 51s
Dick Ebersol on how Muhammed Ali came to be involved with the Atlanta Olympics
Clip begins at: 55:39, Duration: 54m 17s
Interview
- Part 1
- On his childhood and early influences; on the lessons he learned from his father; on his early association with ABC Sports and Wide World of Sports; on Jim McKay and Roone Arledge; on helpful advice he received
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France; on the Mexico Summer Olympics in 1968; on Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell and Don Meredith
Clip begins at: 34:22 - Part 2
- On graduating from Yale; on producing his first film for the Olympics; on the 1972 Munich Olympics
Clip begins at: 0:33 - On moving from ABC to NBC Sports; on what would become Saturday Night Live
Clip begins at: 29:30 - On the "live" part of Saturday Night Live; on selling Saturday Night Live to affiliates; on advice from Johnny Carson
Clip begins at: 49:50 - Part 3
- On maintaining his relationship with ABC Sports guys; on key people joining the cast and staff of Saturday Night Live
Clip begins at: 0:26 - On the logistics of SNL's production; on Andy Kaufman
Clip begins at: 25:01 - On the success of the show; on Richard Pryor hosting the show; on "Bee Movie"; on Chevy Chase playing Gerald Ford; on the show's involvement with politics; on Saturday Night Live winning 4 Emmys at the end of the first season; on successful hosts
Clip begins at: 45:22 - Part 4
- On Steve Martin's time on Saturday Night Live; on leaving the show in 1976 and returning in 1981; on working for NBC as head of comedy/variety programming and hiring Brandon Tartikoff; on being fired by Fred Silverman
Clip begins at: 0:7 - On the years he was gone from Saturday Night Live when Jean Doumanian was head of the show; on reviving Saturday Night Live; on meeting Susan Saint James, who would become his wife; on how Muhammed Ali came to be involved with the Atlanta Olympics
Clip begins at: 42:03 - Part 5
- On a typical week of putting together an episode of Saturday Night Live; on the tradition of the cast party after each episode; on 30 Rockefeller Plaza; on Eddie Murphy's ideas for the show - on killing "Buckwheat"; on censorship issues on Saturday Night Live
Clip begins at: 0:44 - On Tuesday through Saturday of the production week of Saturday Night Live - makeup and costumes, set design, writing, and keeping the host calm; on John Madden hosting Saturday Night Live and the scariest moment he's ever had as a producer
Clip begins at: 24:05 - Part 6
- On dress rehearsal and the live show of Saturday Night Live; on his friendship with Lorne Michaels; on the plane crash he was in with two of his sons, and the death of his son, Teddy
Clip begins at: 0:4 - On leaving Saturday Night Live; on Friday Night Videos and Later with Bob Costas; on Brandon Tartikoff asking him to run NBC's Sports division and becoming Chairman
Clip begins at: 36:28 - Part 7
- On the on the Beijing Olympics
Clip begins at: 0:20


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