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Don Pardo

Announcer

"Live, from New York...It's Saturday Night!"

About This Interview

In his three-and-one-half hour Archive interview, Don Pardo talks about joining NBC in 1944. He defines his duties as a staff announcer and lists several of the radio and early television series on which he worked. He describes his trademark announcing style and speaks of his long association with several game shows, including the original The Price Is Right, Choose Up Sides (where he appeared on-camera as "Mr. Mischief"), and the original Jeopardy! (which launched the pop culture catchphrase: "Don Pardo, tell her what she's won!"). Lastly, Pardo details the series with which he is most closely associated, Saturday Night Live. He then recalls leaving his post as staff announcer at NBC, having held the position for a record 60 years and 6 months. David Schwartz conducted the interview on August 18, 2006 in Tuscon, AZ.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Professions

Shows

  • Animal Fair
  • Follow Your Heart
  • Jeopardy!
  • Judge For Yourself
  • Price is Right, The
  • Saturday Night Live

People

  • Hugh Downs

Topics

  • Characters & Catchphrases
  • JFK Assassination and Funeral
  • Kennedy
  • Pop Culture
  • Sports
  • Technological Innovation
  • Television and the Presidency

Professions

  • Hosts

Featured Content

Don Pardo has been inducted into the 19th Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.Emmy Hall of Fame Logo

Video: Watch Don Pardo on The Price is Right:
YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
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Highlights

  • Don Pardo on the catch-phrase "Thank you, Don Pardo", first mentioned on <i>Jeopardy!</i> by Art FlemingDon Pardo on the catch-phrase "Thank you, Don Pardo", first mentioned on Jeopardy! by Art Fleming
    Clip begins at: 15:55, Duration: 01m 44s
  • Don Pardo on working with Fred Allen on <i>The Price is Right</i> and how he got the job announcing on that showDon Pardo on working with Fred Allen on The Price is Right and how he got the job announcing on that show
    Clip begins at: 07:36, Duration: 03m 11s
  • Don Pardo on a skit where he plays "Ron Lardo" and recites his famous line "It's Saturday Night Live"Don Pardo on a skit where he plays "Ron Lardo" and recites his famous line "It's Saturday Night Live"
    Clip begins at: 05:14, Duration: 01m 43s
  • Don Pardo on his announcing style and keeping his voice in shape<br/>Don Pardo on his announcing style and keeping his voice in shape
    Clip begins at: 14:35, Duration: 02m 54s
  • Don Pardo on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and having to read the announcement of his deathDon Pardo on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and having to read the announcement of his death
    Clip begins at: 05:22, Duration: 03m 22s

Interview

  • Part 1
  • On his family, growing up in Massachusetts
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On high school and college memories
    Clip begins at: 05:10
  • On meeting resistance from his father in choosing a vocation: he wanted to be a dentist
    Clip begins at: 05:49
  • On how deciding he wanted to pursue a career in acting
    Clip begins at: 09:28
  • On how he got into radio, working at WJAR in Providence, R.I.; on getting hired as a radio announcer
    Clip begins at: 12:25
  • On how his wife convinced him to take his first job in announcing for radio at WJAR; his job duties as an announcer
    Clip begins at: 17:22
  • On his first trip to New York and meeting other announcers: Hal Sims, Mark Goodson
    Clip begins at: 19:47
  • On becoming a "hitchhike" announcer for commercial radio, along with Mark Goodson as the main announcer
    Clip begins at: 21:11
  • On first working for NBC radio in New York; meeting Patrick J. Kelly
    Clip begins at: 23:01
  • On hearing Frank Gallup and Charles Stark announce when he visited NBC and approaching Patrick Kelly about a job there
    Clip begins at: 26:01
  • Part 2
  • On meeting Patrick Kelly at NBC
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On getting a job offer from NBC to become an announcer
    Clip begins at: 04:40
  • On the announcer's role to the story on radio
    Clip begins at: 07:37
  • On delivering a news announcement and having to double as an engineer
    Clip begins at: 11:20
  • On first working in early television; on the process of broadcasting early television 
    Clip begins at: 13:12
  • On announcing a baseball game in 1946 on television; on not being interested in working in early television
    Clip begins at: 19:37
  • On working on children's television: Animal Fair
    Clip begins at: 24:40
  • Part 3
  • On meeting and working with with Bill Cullen; on working on Follow Your Heart, an early soap opera on NBC
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On working with Fred Allen and regretting not having taken a photograph with any of the Hollywood stars
    Clip begins at: 03:19
  • On working with Fred Allen on The Price is Right and how he got the job announcing on that show
    Clip begins at: 07:36
  • On the children's show Choose Up Sides (does voice); on "continuous performance" (speaking over a B movie); on how he preferred radio over television
    Clip begins at: 10:47
  • On The Price is Right; on a typical day and his duties as announcer; on appearing on-camera while filling in for Bill Cullen; on blowing the surprise of a contestant winning a trip to "Rooooooome" on an early Price is Right episode
    Clip begins at: 14:26
  • On rehearsing for The Price is Right; on doing a lot of readings
    Clip begins at: 23:25
  • On Sid Caesar and working on Caesar's Hour, Your Show of Shows; on the Jonathan Winters Show and meeting Carol Burnett
    Clip begins at: 25:39
  • Part 4
  • On a sample announcement: Use Shorter Words!
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On Stanley; on working with Buddy Hackett, Carol Burnett, Paul Lynde, and Max Liebman
    Clip begins at: 01:39
  • On the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and having to read the announcement of his death on-air
    Clip begins at: 05:22
  • On his decision not to follow The Price is Right to ABC; on becoming the announcer on Saturday Night Live
    Clip begins at: 08:44
  • On Jeopardy! and working with Art Fleming; on how the catchphrase "Thank you, Don Pardo" developed on that show
    Clip begins at: 14:44
  • On how Senator John McCain appeared on Saturday Night Live , and told him he had actually met him as a contestant on Jeopardy! when Pardo was the announcer
    Clip begins at: 17:55
  • On working with Bill Cullen on Jeopardy!
    Clip begins at: 19:39
  • On his various jobs at NBC radio and TV remotes: Peppy's Young Family, Magnificent Montague, and Monitor
    Clip begins at: 21:19
  • On becoming the announcer on Saturday Night Live; on meeting Lorne Michaels
    Clip begins at: 26:57
  • Part 5
  • On the beginning of Saturday Night Live and how the announcer gig was described to him; on flubbing the opening for the very first show- misstating the Not Ready for Prime Time players
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On Lorne Michaels; on appearing on-camera occasionally on SNL; on a skit where he plays "Ron Lardo" and recites his famous line "It's Saturday Night Live"; on the initial reaction to SNL; on what rehearsals were like
    Clip begins at: 04:48
  • On working at Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center for SNL
    Clip begins at: 10:40
  • On his SNL recollections; on Tina Fey, and Dick Ebersol; on Lorne Michaels leaving the show and his replacement, Jean Doumanian
    Clip begins at: 17:29
  • Part 6
  • On working with Frank Zappa; on a music video with Weird Al
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On his work in commercials; on his announcing style; on his then-current projects
    Clip begins at: 06:41
  • Part 7
  • On special moments from his career; on getting recognized; on how microphones have changed over the years
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On advice to aspiring announcers; on how he'd like to be remembered
    Clip begins at: 11:20
  • Part 8
  • On advice to aspiring announcers
    Clip begins at: 0:0

Shows


    • Clip begins at: 00:00
  • Animal Fair
    • Don Pardo on working on children's television: Animal Fair
      Clip begins at: 24:40, Duration: 01m 26s
  • Caesar's Hour
    • Don Pardo on working on Caesar's Hour with Sid Caesar; on being replaced by Hugh Downs
      Clip begins at: 25:39, Duration: 01m 19s
  • Choose Up Sides
    • Don Pardo on the children's show Choose Up Sides (performs his announcing voice from that show)
      Clip begins at: 10:47, Duration: 00m 44s
  • Follow Your Heart
    • Don Pardo on working on Follow Your Heart, an early soap opera on NBC
      Clip begins at: 00:33, Duration: 02m 46s
  • Jeopardy!
    • Don Pardo on the catch-phrase "Thank you, Don Pardo", developed on Jeopardy! , by Art Fleming
      Clip begins at: 15:55, Duration: 01m 44s
    • Don Pardo on how Senator John McCain appeared on Saturday Night Live , and told him he had actually met him as a contestant on Jeopardy! when Pardo was the announcer; working with Bill Cullen
      Clip begins at: 17:55, Duration: 01m 44s
  • Judge For Yourself
    • Don Pardo on working with Fred Allen on Judge for Yourself and regretting not having taken a photograph with any of the Hollywood stars
      Clip begins at: 03:19, Duration: 04m 17s
  • Price is Right, The
    • Don Pardo on working with Fred Allen on The Price is Right and how he got the job announcing on that show
      Clip begins at: 07:36, Duration: 03m 11s
    • Don Pardo on The Price is Right; on a typical day and his duties as announcer and appearing on-camera
      Clip begins at: 14:26, Duration: 01m 50s
    • Don Pardo on appearing on-camera on The Price is Right to fill in for host Bill Cullen
      Clip begins at: 15:32, Duration: 00m 44s
    • Don Pardo on The Price is Right moving to ABC; on the original format of the show
      Clip begins at: 16:16, Duration: 03m 33s
    • Don Pardo on blowing the surprise of a contestant winning a trip to "Rooooooome" on an early Price is Right episode
      Clip begins at: 19:49, Duration: 03m 18s
  • Saturday Night Live
    • Don Pardo on becoming the announcer on Saturday Night Live; on meeting Lorne Michaels
      Clip begins at: 26:57, Duration: 01m 37s
    • Don Pardo on the beginning of Saturday Night Live and how the announcer gig was described to him
      Clip begins at: 00:24, Duration: 02m 41s
    • Don Pardo on flubbing the opening for the very first Saturday Night Live show - misstating the Not Ready for Prime Time players
      Clip begins at: 03:05, Duration: 01m 43s
    • Don Pardo on an SNL skit where he plays "Ron Lardo" and recites his famous line "It's Saturday Night Live"
      Clip begins at: 05:14, Duration: 01m 43s
    • Don Pardo on the initial reaction to SNL; on what rehearsals were like
      Clip begins at: 06:57, Duration: 03m 43s
    • Don Pardo on working at Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center for SNL
      Clip begins at: 10:40, Duration: 06m 49s
    • Don Pardo on his SNL recollections; on Tina Fey, and Dick Ebersol; on Lorne Michaels leaving the show and his replacement, Jean Doumanian
      Clip begins at: 17:29, Duration: 06m 13s

People

  • Fred Allen
    • Don Pardo on working with Fred Allen on Judge for Yourself and regretting not having taken a photograph with any of the Hollywood stars; on working again with Allen on The Price is Right and how he got that job
      Clip begins at: 03:02, Duration: 04m 13s
  • Bill Cullen
    • Don Pardo on appearing on-camera on The Price is Right to fill in for host Bill Cullen
      Clip begins at: 15:32, Duration: 00m 44s
    • Don Pardo on working with Bill Cullen on Jeopardy! "tell them what they've won, Don"
      Clip begins at: 19:39, Duration: 01m 44s
  • Jean Doumanian
    • Don Pardo on his SNL recollections; on Tina Fey, and Dick Ebersol; on Lorne Michaels leaving the show and his replacement, Jean Doumanian
      Clip begins at: 17:29, Duration: 06m 13s
  • Hugh Downs
    • Don Pardo on working on Caesar's Hour with Sid Caesar; on being replaced by Hugh Downs
      Clip begins at: 25:39, Duration: 01m 19s
  • John F. Kennedy
    • Don Pardo on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and having to read the announcement of his death
      Clip begins at: 05:22, Duration: 03m 22s
  • Lorne Michaels
    • Don Pardo on Lorne Michaels; on appearing on-camera occasionally on SNL
      Clip begins at: 04:48, Duration: 02m 09s
  • Frank Zappa
    • Don Pardo on working with Frank Zappa
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 06m 41s

Topics

  • Historic Events and Social Change > JFK Assassination and Funeral
    • Don Pardo on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and having to read the announcement of his death
      Clip begins at: 05:22, Duration: 03m 22s
  • Pop Culture
    • Don Pardo on an SNL skit where he plays "Ron Lardo" and recites his famous line "It's Saturday Night Live"
      Clip begins at: 05:14, Duration: 01m 43s
  • Pop Culture > Characters & Catchphrases
    • Don Pardo on an SNL skit where he plays "Ron Lardo" and recites his famous line "It's Saturday Night Live"
      Clip begins at: 05:14, Duration: 01m 43s
  • Sports
    • Don Pardo on announcing a baseball game in 1946 on television
      Clip begins at: 19:37, Duration: 04m 39s
  • Technological Innovation
    • Don Pardo on how microphones have changed over the years
      Clip begins at: 06:20, Duration: 05m 00s
  • Television and the Presidency
    • Don Pardo on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and having to read the announcement of his death
      Clip begins at: 05:22, Duration: 03m 22s
  • Television and the Presidency > Kennedy
    • Don Pardo on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and having to read the announcement of his death
      Clip begins at: 05:22, Duration: 03m 22s

Genres

  • Commercials
    • Don Pardo on his work in commercials
      Clip begins at: 06:41, Duration: 07m 43s
  • Game Shows
    • Don Pardo on The Price is Right; on a typical day and his duties as announcer; on appearing on-camera while filling in for Bill Cullen; on blowing the surprise of a contestant winning a trip to "Rooooooome" on an early Price is Right episode; on rehearsals
      Clip begins at: 14:26, Duration: 10m 21s
    • Don Pardo on working with Bill Cullen on Jeopardy! "tell them what they've won, Don"
      Clip begins at: 19:39, Duration: 01m 44s
  • Late Night
    • Don Pardo on becoming the announcer on Saturday Night Live; on meeting Lorne Michaels
      Clip begins at: 26:57, Duration: 01m 37s
    • Don Pardo on announcing for SNL
      Clip begins at: 00:24, Duration: 23m 18s
  • Sports
    • Don Pardo on announcing a baseball game in 1946 on television
      Clip begins at: 00:19, Duration: 23m 57s

Professions

  • Hosts
    • Don Pardo on the announcer's role to the story on radio
      Clip begins at: 07:37, Duration: 03m 43s
    • Don Pardo on delivering a news announcement and having to double as an engineer
      Clip begins at: 11:20, Duration: 01m 52s
    • Don Pardo on the process of broadcasting early television as an announcer
      Clip begins at: 15:24, Duration: 04m 13s
    • Don Pardo on announcing a baseball game in 1946 on television
      Clip begins at: 19:37, Duration: 04m 39s
    • Don Pardo on working on children's television: Animal Fair
      Clip begins at: 24:40, Duration: 01m 26s
    • Don Pardo on his announcing style and keeping his voice in shape
      Clip begins at: 14:35, Duration: 02m 54s
    • Don Pardo on advice to aspiring announcers
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 02m 58s
  • Hosts > Announcer
    • Don Pardo on the announcer's role to the story on radio
      Clip begins at: 07:37, Duration: 03m 43s
    • Don Pardo on delivering a news announcement and having to double as an engineer
      Clip begins at: 11:20, Duration: 01m 52s
    • Don Pardo on the process of broadcasting early television as an announcer
      Clip begins at: 15:24, Duration: 04m 13s
    • Don Pardo on announcing a baseball game in 1946 on television
      Clip begins at: 19:37, Duration: 04m 39s
    • Don Pardo on his announcing style and keeping his voice in shape
      Clip begins at: 14:35, Duration: 02m 54s
    • Don Pardo on advice to aspiring announcers
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 02m 58s
  • Hosts > Children's Show Host
    • Don Pardo on working on children's television: Animal Fair
      Clip begins at: 24:40, Duration: 01m 26s
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Submitted by Anonymoose on Fri, 2011-12-02 19:22.

So often, these video transfers are sub-par. The sound track is out of sync. The sound quality is poor (at times unintelligible). The video itself is fairly faded-looking, too. Too much volunteer, unpaid labor.
Great to see Don. I miss his work on Live at Five, on WNBC. His discourse, of course, is great.

Submitted by AtomicRooster77 on Sun, 2011-06-26 14:59.

Its always great when we can put a face to one of the greatest voices in history!!!

Submitted by HOSSOFCOURSE on Mon, 2011-02-14 03:05.

Being 90+ isn't an excuse to be irritable and disrespectful. What an arse

Submitted by snickpickle on Sat, 2010-09-11 08:00.

This is the first time I've ever seen Don Pardo -- also didn't know his real name is DOM -- as in Dominick! Who knew? :-) Thank you SO MUCH for taping this!

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