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Don Ohlmeyer

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Don Ohlmeyer
Born
Donald Winfred Ohlmeyer Jr.

(1945-02-03)February 3, 1945
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedSeptember 10, 2017(2017-09-10) (aged 72)
Indian Wells, California, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Notre Dame
Occupation(s)Entertainment executive, live broadcast director, liberal arts professor
SpouseLinda Jonsson
Children4

Donald Winfred Ohlmeyer Jr. (February 3, 1945 – September 10, 2017) was an American television producer and president of the NBC network's west coast division. He received notoriety for firing Norm Macdonald from Saturday Night Live in early 1998, a move that is widely believed to have been motivated by Macdonald's refusal to stop making jokes at the expense of Ohlmeyer's friend, O. J. Simpson.[1]

Ohlmeyer also directed the Olympics and other live sporting events while working for ABC and ESPN. He was a professor of television communications at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

Early life

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Ohlmeyer grew up in the Chicago area and attended Glenbrook North High School. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1967.[2]

Career

ABC Sports

Ohlmeyer began his career with ABC Sports. A disciple of Roone Arledge, he worked on Wide World of Sports, was the first hired producer of Monday Night Football, brought Superstars to television, and also produced and directed three Olympics broadcasts (including the Munich Olympics).

NBC Sports

Ohlmeyer later moved to NBC as executive producer of the network's sports division, a position he held from 1977 to 1982. Over those five years, he created the popular sports anthology series SportsWorld and served as Executive Producer of NBC coverage of the Super Bowl and World Series. He also earned notoriety for the prime-time series Games People Play and the made-for-television movie The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story. Ohlmeyer became well known for expanding the network's sports coverage as well as introducing innovative production techniques. He launched NFL Updates, NCAA Basketball 'Whip-arounds,' and instituted NBC's live coverage of Breakfast at Wimbledon. Ohlmeyer is credited with conceiving the one-time experiment of airing a 1980 NFL telecast without announcers.[3]

Ohlmeyer Communications Company

Ohlmeyer formed his own production company, Ohlmeyer Communications Company (OCC), in 1982. While there he produced several made-for-television movies, network series, and specials. He won an Emmy for Special Bulletin, a harrowing 1983 depiction of nuclear terrorism. His company was also responsible for producing CART IndyCar World Series race telecasts, and golf, including PGA Tour events, "The Skins Game", and Senior PGA TOUR broadcasts. While at OCC, Ohlmeyer also oversaw Nabisco's 20% stake in ESPN.[4] Ohlmeyer also gained a 49% controlling interest in Hockey Night in Canada starting in 1986,[citation needed] taking over the Canadian Sports Network that ran the program under the MacLaren Advertising agency.[5] He later sold his interest to Molstar Communications, the company which already possessed the other 51%.[citation needed]

Return to NBC

Ohlmeyer returned to NBC in 1993 to become president of its West Coast division at a time when the network was in third place in the ratings, following the conclusion of popular shows such as Cheers and The Cosby Show. During his tenure, NBC returned to first place with such hits as Seinfeld, Friends, ER, Homicide, Frasier, Providence, Will & Grace, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. While Ohlmeyer was at the helm of NBC, it was the only profitable national network in America. Ohlmeyer also spearheaded NBC's adoption of an aggressive promotional campaign to brand the network such as superimposing the Peacock logo in the corner of the screen and coining the phrase "Must See TV."[6]

During the 1997 World Series, Ohlmeyer caused a stir when he publicly wished that the World Series would end in a four-game sweep so that its low ratings wouldn't derail NBC's primetime leading Thursday "Must See TV" entertainment schedule.[7] The series went the full seven games.

Firing of Norm Macdonald

In early 1998, Ohlmeyer had Norm Macdonald fired from his role as anchor of Saturday Night Live's popular Weekend Update segment, falsely citing declining ratings and a drop-off in quality. It is widely speculated that the actual reason for the decision was retaliation for Macdonald's inclusion of a series of lacerating jokes calling O. J. Simpson a murderer during and after his murder trial (1994–95).[8] The jokes were written primarily by Macdonald and longtime SNL writer Jim Downey, who was fired from SNL outright at the same time (he was rehired in 2000). Downey said later that Ohlmeyer and Simpson were good friends.[9]

Shortly after Macdonald was taken off the Weekend Update desk, David Letterman (during a taping of the Late Show) called Ohlmeyer an "idiot" and referred to him as "Happy Hour Don" (a reference to Ohlmeyer's alcoholism[10]). Letterman later reconsidered and had the remarks removed for broadcast, but the comment (which was heard by the live studio audience) was publicized shortly thereafter in a report in the New York Post.[11] During subsequent televised interviews with Macdonald, Letterman stated that Ohlmeyer "fancies himself creative" and ridiculed that notion, saying "Here's a man who could not create gas after a bean dinner".[12]

In an appearance on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, Macdonald said, "Ohlmeyer is best friends with O.J. Simpson. If he can like O.J. Simpson, he can like me."[13]

Ohlmeyer's vindictiveness toward Macdonald continued when he caused NBC to block a promo spot for Macdonald's Dirty Work from airing and would not allow the film studio to buy air time during other times to promote the film.[14] Ohlmeyer reportedly said, "I just don't think it would be appropriate for us to turn around and take a check for a movie that's promoting somebody who has badmouthed Saturday Night Live and NBC."[15] However, Ohlmeyer was later overruled by his bosses.[16]

In September 2021, following Macdonald's death, Late Night host Conan O'Brien revealed that Ohlmeyer had ordered him to stop booking Macdonald as a guest. O'Brien objected and ultimately won out, later booking him numerous times in the years that followed while he was at NBC.[17]

Return to Monday Night Football

After his time at NBC, Ohlmeyer was lured out of retirement in 2000 to spark interest and provide some vigor to the MNF broadcast. Besides the on-air talent, Ohlmeyer's changes included clips of players introducing themselves, new graphics, use of a sideline Steadicam, and music. In another temporary change, the score bug used nicknames of teams, such as "Skins" and "Fins", instead of the teams' actual names or cities (the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins, in this instance). He also made the controversial decision to hire comedian Dennis Miller to join Al Michaels and Dan Fouts in the broadcast booth, an experiment widely regarded in hindsight as a failure.[18][19][20][21]

Ohlmeyer left Monday Night Football after one season. Ratings for the program had dropped 7% compared to the previous year.[22]

He later served as ombudsman for ESPN.com for 18 months between 2009 and 2011.[23]

Death

After a month of poor health, Ohlmeyer died from cancer in Indian Wells, California, on September 10, 2017, at the age of 72.[24][25]

Personal life

In 1996, Ohlmeyer was admitted into rehab for alcohol abuse.[26] Earlier, Jamie Tarses, an executive at NBC, had accused Ohlmeyer of sexual harassment. Both parties refused to talk about it on the record, and charges were dropped. Tarses was let out of her contract and became president at ABC.[27]

Awards and honors

Ohlmeyer was honored with 16 Emmys, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, two Peabody Awards, Cine Golden Eagle Award, Miami International Film Festival Award, National Film Board Award, Glaad Media Award, and three Humanitas Prizes. In 2007, he received the Lifetime Achievement in Sports Broadcasting from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and in 2008 was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Credits (partial)

Television series

  • 1972–76 Monday Night Football (producer)
  • 1980 Games People Play
  • 1990 Lifestories (director/executive producer)
  • 2000–01 Monday Night Football (executive producer)

Made-for-television movies

Television specials

References

  1. ^ Young, Kathleen Rizzo (June 18, 1998). "The Unfunny Revenge of Norm MacDonald". The Buffalo News. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  2. ^ Stewart, Larry (May 28, 1993). "Ohlmeyer, a Big Shot at NBC, Calls Shots for ABC at Indy 500". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ Julian Rubenstein, "Monday Night Football's Hail Mary," Archived November 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine New York Times Magazine, September 3, 2000.
  4. ^ "Ohlmeyer to begin term as ombudsman". July 14, 2009, ESPN.com.
  5. ^ "Why Dave Hodge was cut from the Hockey Night in Canada team | CBC Archives".
  6. ^ "Master of Its Domain"[permanent dead link‍], EW.com, issue #343, September 6, 1996.
  7. ^ Charles Krauthammer, "Requiem for the Summer Game," Time.com, April 3, 2000.
  8. ^ Bill Carter (June 3, 1998). "TV Notes; Ohlmeyer Vs. Macdonald". The New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  9. ^ Mike Sacks (June 24, 2014). "'SNL's James Downey on Working with Norm Macdonald and Getting Fired for Making Fun of OJ Simpson". Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  10. ^ Richmond, Ray (December 6, 1996). "Ohlmeyer checks into Ford Center". Variety. Cahners Business Information. Archived from the original on April 18, 2007.
  11. ^ Buckman, Adam (July 28, 1999). "Situation Norm-al: Macdonald show forced to change name". New York Post. News Corporation.
  12. ^ "Norm Macdonald Collection on Letterman, Part 3 of 5: 1998", videos of Macdonald on the CBS weeknight program Late Show with David Letterman; begin compilation at timestamp 21:18, which is part of the March 6, 1998 episode and subtitled "'Dirty Work' opening in May (later, moved back to June)"; all videos, uploaded by Don Giller, November 23, 2019. Retrieved via YouTube (San Bruno, California), May 27, 2023.
  13. ^ Norm Macdonald Live with Regis and Kathie Lee 06 04 1998. June 4, 1998.
  14. ^ Ryan, Joal (June 2, 1998). "NBC Nixes Norm...Again!". E!Online. Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2018..
  15. ^ Norm, Don Feud is Down and Dirty. Sun Sentinel. June 4, 1998.
  16. ^ Hontz, Jenny (July 13, 1998). "Norm warms to TV". Variety. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  17. ^ Holub, Christian. "Conan O'Brien says ex–NBC exec tried to ban Norm Macdonald from his show". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  18. ^ Chris Chase (September 15, 2015). "Ranking every 'Monday Night Football' announcer ever". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  19. ^ Jaime-Paul Falcon (October 21, 2013). "Dennis Miller Is a Jerk, and Other Lessons Learned in Allen Last Saturday". Dallas Observer. Voice Media Group. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  20. ^ Ryan Yoder (January 25, 2012). "Top 10 Sports Media Busts". Awful Announcing. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  21. ^ "TV Guide Network's "25 Biggest TV Blunders"". The Futon Critic. March 2, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  22. ^ Gabriel Spitzer, "Ohlmeyer exits Monday Night Football," Archived October 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine Media Life.
  23. ^ Don Ohlmeyer,"Can you hear me now?",ESPN.com January 26, 2011
  24. ^ Sandomir, Richard (September 10, 2017). "Don Ohlmeyer, 'Monday Night Football' Producer, Dies at 72". The New York Times.
  25. ^ Rahman, Abid (September 10, 2017). "Don Ohlmeyer, Former NBC West Coast President, Dies at 72". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. ISSN 0018-3660.
  26. ^ "Archives". Los Angeles Times. December 6, 1996.
  27. ^ Hirschberg, Lynn (July 13, 1997). "Jamie Tarses' Fall, as Scheduled". The New York Times.
Business positions
Preceded by
position established
 President, West Coast NBC
1993-1999 		Succeeded by
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