Michael Weisman

Michael Paul Weisman (born January 13, 1950) is an American television producer, specializing in sports, news and entertainment programs.

[1][2] Michael Weisman was born in Queens, NY, the middle of three children to Edward, who was a publicist at ABC and NBC Sports, and Dorothy.

[3] After college, Weisman became a page in the NBC guest relations program, working on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson when it was filmed in New York.

[8] Weisman was tapped to produce the opening ceremonies and the track and field portions of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Moscow before the U.S. decided to boycott the Games.

"[13] Weisman assembled the "Seoul Searchers," a group of specialized sports reporters tasked with following breaking news during the Games.

[17] In May 1989, Dick Ebersol, the president of NBC Sports, fired Weisman, who had two years left on his contract, and replaced him with Terry O’Neil.

[20] In 2001, 12 years after Weisman was fired by Ebersol, the two men reunited to work together on the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

[21] Weisman returned to New York in 2004, serving as the executive producer for the syndicated daytime Jane Pauley Show for one season.

[28][29] Weisman was hired to produce the 1999 MLB All-Star Game at Fenway Park, which scored an Emmy for Best Live Sports Event; and the 2001 World Series in New York.

[30] In 2000, Weisman was recruited by WWE owner Vince McMahon to be a broadcast production consultant for the XFL, which aimed to be a no-holds-barred version of the NFL.

"[45] Weisman also made a number of notable hires, including the decision to tap regional play-by-play announcer Bob Costas to host the Sunday pre-football game show on NBC in 1984.

He chose Gayle Sierens, a sportscaster turned news anchor, to call the Seattle Seahawks - Kansas City Chiefs game on the final Sunday of the 1987 regular season.

[52] Weisman was also awarded a lifetime pass by the MLB that guarantees entry to any ballpark in the country for his contributions to televised baseball.

[53] On July 12, 2018, Weisman threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals game at Citi Field to mark the 80th anniversary of Queens College, his alma mater.

[54] Weisman lives in Manhattan with his wife of 39 years Carol, who is a vice president and partner of Enterprise Asset Management in New York, a board member of the Lupus Research Alliance, and a patron of the Whitney Museum.